Soon, many of you will be heading to conferences to present all you have learned this year. While it is very exciting to prepare and travel for DECA, it’s important to remember your responsibilities in school. Here are tips to balance school and DECA.
Set and Make Deadlines
The work you do for DECA can be like taking another class, so treat it like one! Set deadlines just like your advisors and teachers would in school. Make progress, set expectations for your work, and grade yourself each week based on your efforts. If you’re struggling, ask chapter officers, experienced members and your advisor for help. Keeping this format will keep DECA in the same perspective as a school.
Work with Your Teachers
Keep teachers in the loop about your DECA commitment. Inform them at least one week in advance of any travel. If your advisor emails teachers, remind them again so they know you will be out. Not only will this help with their lesson planning, but you can also create a plan for making up missed work, getting worksheets and taking tests before you leave. If you make their lives easier, they’ll make yours easier too!
Keep Up, Not Catch Up
While attending conferences, it’s easy to forget about schoolwork with exciting events and free time to have fun with friends. But, in your downtime, you should work on some opportunities to complete some assignments and prep for competition. Setting aside an hour of what could be a full day of free time isn’t a lot, so make good use of it!
Build Off Previous Success
You most likely have more senior members surrounding you who went through the same situation, so ask them for help! Find the best strategies for managing time and doing the best in both worlds. You can even feature advice on your chapter’s Instagram page to help your members.
