As this school year ends and this year in DECA wraps up, it is easy to let the connections you made fade. But we are DECA members — we don’t settle for easy. You need to hold onto those bonds as if they were gold!
Read below to learn why your connections matter, how to keep them, and why starting now sets you up for future success. Let’s get to it.
Your Connections Matter
- Bonds Through Challenge: Late-night prep, ICDC wins and competition stress forge lasting bonds. A Harvard Business Review article on “How to Bounce Back from Adversity” notes that shared challenges—like DECA events—create trust deeper than casual meetups.
- A Unique Network: Your DECA network is full of ambitious peers and pros who will be successful in many work fields. A Forbes piece titled “On Not Underestimating The Power Of Youth Leadership” suggests that groups like DECA produce future leaders—your DECA peers will be very valuable, ambitious and successful connections!
- More Than Memories: These aren’t just school-year pals. An article written by the Schultz Family Foundation and the Harvard Business School Project shows that 85% of professionals attest that strong, early connections significantly boosted their careers—your DECA peers can provide you with that foundation or boost you need.
Staying in Touch
- Reach Out Often: Text or call your DECA friends frequently. Even a simple holiday or birthday greeting will help you keep that connection alive and tell the other person —“Hey, let’s stay in touch.” Read Inc.’s guide on “Maintaining Relationships” to learn how quick check-ins keep networks alive long-term!
- Link Up Online: Adding your DECA contacts on LinkedIn, Instagram or any other social media platform will help you stay in touch with each other's lives. The Forbes article ”Strategic Networking: How To Build Connections, Not Just Contacts" highlights that personalized social media connections can boost relationship strength.
- Have a Conversation: Plan coffee or a Zoom call with your DECA pal. A study, Face-To-Face Communication: Healthier Than Digital? Found that in-person or live interactions build loyalty 30% more than digital-only contact.
Future Opportunities
- Doors Will Open: Your DECA peer could open the door to a job for you or invite you to join them for one. A McKinsey report, When Harvard MBAs Can’t Find Jobs: How the Job Market Has Changed, found that most high-quality jobs come through your networks.
- Tap Into Alumni: Join DECA’s alumni network when you graduate! The NACE 2023 Job Outlook says alumni groups, such as DECA’s network, greatly enhance career ties and opportunities!
- Mentors Await: Message a college or DECA alumni you admire for a 15-minute chat and ask them for career advice and pointers. Harvard Business Review’s “Mentoring Matters” shows that mentees are 5 times more likely to get promoted, and DECA alumni are eager to guide you.
START Today
Your DECA story is just beginning. Pick up your phone, reach out and get involved—these connections are your edge if you act now. Make it happen today.
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