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5 Things I Wish I Knew Before Joining DECA
If you’re a first-year DECA member and, much like I used to, think that DECA is just roleplays and exams, think again. Here are five things I wish I knew before joining.

Celebrating 10 Years of Partnership with the National Society of High School Scholars
DECA is proud to celebrate a decade of partnership with the National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS).

What Will You Build This October? Five Ways to Get Involved in DECA
A business idea? A stronger chapter? The confidence to share your next big pitch? Here are five ways to start your Next Big Thing this October.

Apply for a 2026-2027 DECA Scholarship by January 11, 2027
The deadline to apply for DECA's 2026-2027 scholarship program is January 11, 2027! More than $200,000 in scholarships will be awarded to current DECA members.

November is Calling: Are You In?
DECA Month is the perfect opportunity to get your entire chapter involved, celebrate your members and show your school what DECA is all about.

Role-play Strategies from 4 ICDC Finalists
Success at ICDC initially felt shrouded in mystery, with glass winners’ performances reserved for the judges who graded them.

Fall Into FLC Season
As fall begins and the DECA year continues to take shape, one of the most exciting parts of the season is right around the corner: Fall Leadership Conferences!

Crushing Community Service: Your Chapter's Next Big Thing
The first time I ever went to ICDC, I was at the Elevate Leadership Conference, and a member at my table mentioned that her chapter back home in Wisconsin made cookies for first responders every year on 9/11.

3 Ways to Expand Your DECA Chapter’s Community Reach
Lots of things happen in school like your math class, your english, and your chapter’s DECA meetings! But how about outside of school and in your community?

DECA Announces A'ric Jackson as #DECAPowerTrip Closing Session Speaker
A'ric's high-energy, heart-reaching keynote, Generation Leadership, will challenge students to see leadership differently and find new ways to show up as a leader.

Work-Life-DECA: How to Fit DECA Into Your Schedule
As high school students, school, extracurricular activities, clubs, and even work can take up most of the very limited 24 hours we have each day.

Meet the Louisville Business Professionals Speaking at the 2026 Ultimate DECA Power Trip
What does it take to create experiences people remember? At the 2026 Ultimate DECA Power Trip in Louisville, members will hear from four professionals who do it every day!

DECA Direct Magazine: De-stress
Between school, volunteering, extracurricular activities and DECA, there’s never a shortage of things to do! Learn how to hit pause, slow down and discover the best ways to manage your stress.

5 Apps to Ease Your Stress
Looking to beat bad stress? Rather than endlessly scrolling through Instagram or stress-shopping on Amazon, turn to these apps to breathe, play and move your way to less stress!

Build Better Habits (and Break Your Bad Ones!)
Having the right habits is more important than ever as you navigate a busy school year. Read on to learn how you can create better habits in any area of your life, plus our tips and tricks for getting rid of your bad habits for good!

Mindfulness Your Way
You may have heard about mindfulness in one of your classes, and perhaps you’ve even tried meditating a time or two. For many people, meditation and other mindfulness practices are a go-to source for stress relief, getting in the zone before a role-play or resetting emotions after encountering an upsetting situation.

De-stress for Success
Life will always throw challenges your way, but the biggest challenges present opportunities for the greatest rewards. So, what’s the best way to manage stress? While there is no one-size-fits-all answer, here are some of the ways that work best for me.

Stress to Success: How to Use "Good Stress" to Succeed in Competition
Stress is often perceived as a negative experience, but the right kind of stress can actually fuel your success in competition and beyond. Read on to learn about "good stress", how to distinguish it from the bad and ways you can harness it to take your competitive edge to the next level!

Work Out the Stress
Today’s teens pack a lot into their busy schedules, which has caused stress levels and anxiety to increase in recent years. D’Andre Vasquez, DECA’s 2019-2020 High School Division President, discusses how he handles the stress in his life and how you can too!

How to Fight Off Zoom Fatigue
Whether it’s trying to combat Zoom fatigue or attempting to deal with the strain and stress that comes from staring at a screen all day, here are three tips to help you de-stress in an age of virtual living.

Take the Stress Out of DECA Scholarship Applications
Each year, DECA awards over $200,000 in scholarships to deserving high school and college members. Here are five tips to help take the stress out of applying for DECA scholarships.

5 Tips to Take Your Productivity to the #NextLevel
Schoolwork, volunteering, extracurricular activities, DECA... can you really do it all without endless all-nighters? We think so! Check out five of our favorite ways to level-up your schedules, to-do lists and priorities for peak productivity.

Managing Stress as a Small Business Owner
After six years as a small business owner and entrepreneur, I’ve adapted a few habits and philosophies that have helped me along the way. Here’s what I’ve learned.

Good Stress, Bad Stress: Find Your Sweet Spot
We all experience stress on a daily basis, but the amount we experience depends on how well we cope with the various stressors in our lives. Here are a few tips to help you identify good versus bad stress and find the perfect balance.
