During this year's DECA ICDC in Orlando, DECA members selected the leaders that will serve during the upcoming school year. As they prepare for the next year, discover more about who they are and where they come from.
Read on to learn about the 2023-2024 High School Executive Officer Team!
Describe yourself in three words.
Alex (High School Division President): Consistent, Optimistic, Passionate
Holly (Central Region Vice President): Independent, Ambitious, Personable
Trinjan (North Atlantic Region Vice President): Passionate, Innovative, Compassionate
Olivia (Southern Region Vice President): Servant-leader, Outgoing, Ready
Eva (Western Region Vice President): Optimistic, Passionate, Driven
What's your all-time favorite DECA memory?
Alex: My all-time favorite DECA memory would be at this year’s ICDC in Orlando, Florida! This favorite memory would be being elected as the next High School Division President for DECA Inc. This milestone is a dream come true as I get to work alongside such fabulous women and work with over 220,000 DECA members internationally.
Holly: Bonding with my association team while ice skating. Ice skating has always been one of my favorite hobbies, and I had a fantastic time getting to experience something that I love with my team. We had a lot of ups and downs, but it brought us closer than ever.
Trinjan: My all-time favorite DECA memory would be having my family in the front row at my association conference while I served as an officer. Seeing their pride-filled smiles every time I looked into the audience is a feeling I will never forget and strive to recreate through everything I do.
Olivia: The Parade of Flags at the 2022 ICDC. Standing on the stage in the Mercedes-Benz and looking out at 17,000 DECA members was so thrilling! This moment showed me our energy as an organization and how much we’re capable of when we come together.
Eva: My all-time favorite DECA memory is making Tiktoks with Colorado DECA at the CO DECA state conference in 2023!
What’s a DECA-related accomplishment that you’re really proud of?
Alex: A DECA-related accomplishment I’m really proud of is the two recognitions Nevada DECA received in Orlando, Florida. Nevada DECA won the Membership Impact Award (most impact in Membership internationally) and was awarded the most DECAcated (dedicated) Association in the Western Region. Our membership growth and overall impact stood out internationally, which I will forever be proud of.
Holly: I am very proud that I raised substantial funds for Missouri DECA members. In my previous association officer term, I raised prize money to give back to our members directly. I was so proud of this because it was the first time my home association could give out prize money at our SCDC.
Trinjan: I was an international finalist in Start-Up Business Plan last year, but this accomplishment was special because it taught me about the real world. Through this one written project, I discovered a career space that I had never even considered and realized how much opportunity there is to pursue a career I enjoy. This project taught me what it is like to work with passion and how easy it is to work tirelessly when you truly enjoy your work.
Olivia: My competitive achievements in DECA. I was a two-time ICDC Finalist in SBER and AAM. Competition was the main reason I joined DECA, and I have gained so many skills because of it!
Eva: I am most proud of seeing my chapter grow! I am a founding officer of my chapter, and seeing our membership and accomplishments grow is so exciting!
What's your dream future career?
Alex: My dream future career would be to work in the Hotel Management and Travel and Tourism Industry.
Holly: My dream future career is to be a CEO of an international marketing firm.
Trinjan: My dream career would be working towards bringing technology into the fashion or hair industry.
Olivia: My dream career is to serve as a United States Senator.
Eva: My dream career is becoming the CFO of a publicly traded company.
What inspires you?
Alex: People inspire me. In any environment, the ability to get along with those you work with is a positive trait. In fields such as customer service or sales, understanding people is essential. I enjoy meeting and talking with people from all walks of life and learning about various cultures. I enjoy working with people to understand how individuals think and feel.
Holly: I'm inspired by people who are passionate about what they do and work hard to achieve their goals. Seeing others succeed and make positive changes in the world motivates me to do the same.
Trinjan: My family inspires me more than anything else in the world. I am the youngest in my family and have grown up seeing how everyone in my family works their hardest constantly and does everything possible to make life easier for each of us. They inspire me to be a better person, a harder worker, treat others with compassion and stay humble.
Olivia: Hearing success stories from my peers and role models inspires me to work hard and make the most of the opportunities presented to me.
Eva: I am inspired by the possibilities our future holds!
How do you stay motivated?
Alex: To stay motivated, I always try to work out when I can, get eight hours of sleep every night and get some form of social interaction each day.
Holly: I break down my goals into smaller, more manageable tasks to stay motivated. That way, I can progress daily and feel accomplished rather than looking at huge tasks that may seem impossible.
Trinjan: I stay motivated by thinking about what matters most in a lifetime: impact. I want to leave behind a legacy in whatever I choose to do in the future, and to do that, I must have the education and put in the hard work to make a meaningful impact.
Olivia: I stay motivated by surrounding myself with friends and mentors who support me. By feeding off their positive energy, I can keep going just a little longer!
Eva: I listen to background music while studying, which helps me focus on the work before me. I also always keep a water bottle on my desk so that if I feel like I'm losing concentration, I drink some water and then re-focus.
If you had to listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Alex: Stereo Love by Edward Maya and Vika Jigulina
Holly: New Romantics by Taylor Swift
Trinjan: Ivy by Frank Ocean or Lover is a Day by Cuco (English), Maula Jaane by Amrinder Gill and Yo Yo Honey Singh or Chite Suit Te by Geeta Zaildar (Punjabi), Ouda by Hamid Al Shaeri (Arabic), Dulhe Ka Sehra by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan (Hindi) and Udaari by Hadiqa Kiani and Farhan Saeed (Urdu)
Olivia: New Romantics by Taylor Swift
Eva: Teardrops on My Guitar by Talor Swift
If you got a free vacation anywhere, where would you go?
Alex: If I had a free vacation anywhere, I would go to the Bahamas. I’ve always wanted to learn more about the culture, the gorgeous sea, the scenery and see the country with my own eyes!
Holly: If I could go anywhere, I would love to visit Greece. It has such beautiful aspects at every turn, and I think it would be a phenomenal experience.
Trinjan: If I got a free vacation anywhere, I would like to go to Alaska as the natural landscape of Alaska has always amazed me.
Olivia: My dream vacation is to see Machu Picchu in Peru.
Eva: Greece, specifically Santorini or Mykonos! Who doesn't love Mama Mia?!
Who is your fictional character doppelgänger?
Alex: My fictional character doppelgänger would be Tris from Divergent. She’s a very silent mover when it comes to making an impact on others and with her success. I relate to her because I’m not very loud about my moves or my successes, as I’m more of a take-action individual than a vocal one.
Holly: My fictional character doppelgänger is the princess Merida from the Disney movie Brave. I often get referred to her because of our similar hair color and style. I love being compared to her because of her inspirational determination to define her own path in life.
Trinjan: My fictional character doppelgänger would be Anne Shirley from Anne of Green Gables. I read the book for the first time in fifth grade and immediately fell in love with her character. She is fierce, ambitious, creative and very human. Through reading about her recognizing her flaws and necessarily changing, but rather adapting to them, I learned to be the most authentic version of myself.
Olivia: I’ve often been told I look like Lucy from Despicable Me!
Eva: My fictional doppelgänger is Violet Parr from The Incredibles! Violet is passionate about improving the world and supporting the people she cares about!
What is your go-to comfort book/tv series/movie?
Alex: My go-to comfort movie would have to be Pretty Woman or Ten Things I Hate About You. I’m a big chick flick enthusiast and love to watch these two movies with my mom.
Holly: I love Gilmore Girls because it's a heartwarming show with relatable characters and witty dialogue. The show's setting in a small town also reminds me of my own upbringing in a close-knit community.
Trinjan: Go-to comfort book: Anne of Green Gables. Go-to comfort tv series: New Girl. Go-to comfort movie: Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani.
Olivia: Every Fall, I rewatch Gilmore Girls - my all-time favorite comfort show.
Eva: Movie: Legally Blonde. TV Series: New Girl. Book: The Percy Jackson series
