By Eileen Zhuge, @eileenzhuge | Winston Churchill High School, MD
This Thanksgiving, Winston Churchill DECA is spotlighting our advisor, Ms Showen, whose dedication and leadership have helped our chapter thrive. I had the chance to sit down with Ms Showen to talk about her journey as an advisor and her reflections on being part of the DECA community!
Her Journey
How long have you been involved with DECA, and what first inspired you to become an advisor?
“I’ve been involved with DECA for around nine years. I started because a small group of students asked me if I was willing to sponsor this club. They didn’t participate in many extracurricular activities, so they really wanted to start DECA. After looking into it and seeing the work of this organization and the number of opportunities it offered, I knew I wanted to be a part of this!”
How has your role as an advisor changed since you first began?
“When I first started, we were a tiny chapter with just a couple of students. We didn’t have many ICDC qualifiers, so we often traveled alongside other high schools. As our chapter expanded, my role grew in tandem. I had to do more planning, involvement, organizing trips, and overall had a much bigger responsibility in shaping the club. It has definitely become a much more hands-on role over the years.”
About the Chapter
What’s your favorite part about leading your DECA chapter?
“Definitely the students. DECA attracts such motivated and thoughtful individuals. I get to see sides of them that I never would have seen in the classroom. It’s just such an absolutely amazing group of kids to work with.”
What is one memory with your chapter that stands out the most?
“Winning DECA glass for the first time in 2022. Seeing my students up on that stage, surrounded by 20,000 people, felt utterly unreal. We weren’t a big chapter at all, but at that moment, it felt like we were. That was a feeling I'll never forget.”
Thanksgiving
What are you most thankful for about your DECA experience?
“I’m thankful for how proactive my students are. Leading a group of students that constantly pushes themselves and genuinely wants to grow is so rewarding as an advisor.”
How have your students inspired or surprised you this year?
“They’re always ready to push themselves further. No matter what goals I set, they exceed them in ways I never expected. They always thrive when given a challenge, and watching that inspires me.”
Leadership & Impact
What has DECA taught you, not just as an advisor, but as a leader and educator?
“DECA has taught me the power of giving students space. When you allow them to make mistakes and learn from them, they can grow into their full potential. A supportive environment is what brings out the best in students.”
What advice would you give to new DECA advisors or chapters just getting started?
“Don’t micromanage! I am a big believer that students do their best when given clear goals, but also the freedom to figure out the path themselves. If you try to control every step, they stop thinking independently. It’s definitely important to guide them, but even more important to trust them!”
On behalf of Winston Churchill DECA, thank you, Ms Showen, for everything you do!
Questions?
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