On March 23 to the 26, the Steinbrenner FBLA- Future Business Leaders of America- club took on the state leadership conference in Orlando. This was the final contest before deciding whether or not students will move on to the national conference. FBLA focuses on students building leadership, communication, and team-building skills, while allowing them to interact with other students who are interested in business and technology.
“The goal is to educate students and get them ready for the business world. It teaches them how to speak in front of adults and other students, how to dress for success, interviewing skills, and other things like that,” said club sponsor Virginia Scherch, who is the District 13 adviser of the year.
At the convention, students were able to attend workshops, listen to speakers, as well as participate in competitions. There were over 50 competitions to participate in ranging from economics, to journalism, to public speaking. While some were written presentations where students must present in front of judges, others were written tests where they had to answer questions. However, they all shared the common goal of preparing students for successful careers in business.
“The experience also provides students with skills in networking, working with other students, competing at a state level, and it’s also a great travel experience getting to go to Orlando. It’s nice for them to attend workshops and listen to inspirational speakers involving business and technology,” said Scherch.
The leadership conference not only provided the students with the opportunity to bond with their fellow FBLA club members, but also with new knowledge and new skills that they can use in their careers.
Grace Becker// Staff Writer
