From January 30th to February 1st, students from Mill Creek High School traveled to the Atlanta Hyatt Regency to compete in the DECA State competition. Over the three-day event, participants competed in role-plays and manuals, aiming for a spot at the International Career Development Conference (ICDC).
As students from schools all across Georgia arrived at the hotel, the lobby was packed with students in their blazers and professional attire, clutching their note cards and computers. Conversations buzzed, excited but nervous. Day 1 of the State Career Development Conference was for manuals. Groups huddled in corners running their practice presentations over and over as they prepared for their actual presentations later in the day. The competition room was packed with students waiting for their turn to present. Judges did their best to score, listen, and maintain eye contact to keep on schedule. After a long day of manuals, it was finally time for the opening ceremony. People from schools all over the county filled the rows of chairs as they listened to the exhilarating music. The vice presidents of Georgia DECA took over the stage as they introduced themselves and talked about the exciting events that were to come. The ceremony concluded around 10:30 p.m. with students and teachers rushing out of the auditorium to get to their hotels for their long-awaited rest.
Day 2 was the day for role-play competitors. Nervous pacing and pep talks filled the room as competitors only got 10 minutes to prepare for their presentations. The rest of the students who were not participating in role-plays attended workshops. One of the workshops was, “How to Become a Better Presenter,” with former ICDC winner Curtis Haley as the speaker. The workshop was all about quick thinking and tips on becoming creative. The most awaited part of the day was Silent Disco. Silent Disco is an event where people get colorful headphones to listen to music in a big room to dance, sing, and have fun with friends! People danced around holding their glow sticks and glowing sunglasses having the time of their lives. Silent Disco ended with people drenched in sweat, wanting more time to dance. Usually, the winners are announced the following morning at the awards ceremony, but this year with a total of around four thousand attendees, unfortunately not everyone could attend the ceremony. So, teachers were told to announce the winners at the end of day 2. Screams were heard all around the hotel as people realized that they had moved on to the next level, ICDC! Mill Creek High School was one of the only schools that decided it was best that all students attended the ceremony and built up a sense of anticipation.
The following morning was the final day of the conference. This was the most nerve-racking day for Mill Creek students because this was when the winners were announced. One event at a time, starting from role-plays, placed contestants were called up on stage to receive their medals. Cheers erupted as shaking hands received their trophies. Some sighed in disappointment, already planning on how to do better next year while others celebrated. Eventually, the ceremony came to an end. Marissa Smith, 9 said, “Even though me and my partner didn’t place, I’m still proud of us because we were the only freshmen from Mill Creek to compete.” Georgia DECA State CDC 2025, had finally come to an end.
As the buses departed from the hotel, everyone knew one thing. Win or lose, the past 3 days would be unforgettable.
