FBLA Experience Paper

The Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), an organization and club at many schools, of the Inland Section once again hosted the Inland Section Leadership Conference (ISLC) in Los Osos High School on February 4, 2017. During the ISLC, students from several schools came to Los Osos to participate in a variety of competitive events ranging from testing on computers to giving speeches. At the end, there was an awards ceremony that honored the top placers, usually top ten, in each event.
As a new member of FBLA, this whole event was a new experience for me. As I arrived at the entrance of Los Osos at 6:50 a.m., I saw a fairly empty school, but there were still FBLA members from other schools as well as our own walking in. Of course, as “business
The theater was quite filled, and some schools “competed” with chants. Once we all settled down, the Opening Session began and we listened to the different speeches of some FBLA members. After every speech, the FBLA members decided to create a clapping system of clapping three times in rhythm instead of clapping randomly. We truly are business leaders on a mission trying to lead people and develop a clapping system. After the opening session, all of the FBLA members exited and began to line up for the In-N-Out food trucks, despite the fact that there were about 15 minutes before the burgers were given out. Once we ate lunch, I went to back studying for
Since I knew that I most likely did not do well on Business Calculations, I was not expecting to place anywhere near the top ten. However, I really wanted to place top six for Agribusiness because it would mean I qualified for the State Leadership Conference. In addition, I did not want to let all of the hard work I put into Agribusiness go to waste.
Once the announcements for the top ten began for Agribusiness, I anxiously waited. As the number of people called up increased, I was still waiting, and it made me much more nervous. Finally, near the end of the announcements, I was called up. I was quite surprised because I thought I missed too many questions to even be in the top ten. Once I got up onto the stage, it was time to see how well I did against the other FBLA members.
One dropped out. I was still up there. Another one. I was still up there. And finally, my name was announced. I earned fifth place, which was a huge shock to me. I expected myself to place a lot lower, but I was able to beat 27 other people in this event and place high enough to qualify for state, which made me really proud and happy that all of that studying paid