Thank you to BPA for being my home away from home. I moved to Norman, Oklahoma, in the middle of my senior year, so when I joined Moore Norman Technology Center, I knew I had to get out of my comfort zone and make friends. When I learned about Business Professionals of America, I knew I wanted to be a part of the organization. The people involved in this organization would be those with the same ambitions as me to develop our future and gain business networking experiences. I know these friends I have made will be the ones I keep. I want to give a special shout-out to my accountability buddy, Thomas Branson. Thank you for helping me through this year when things got stressful. I have learned that accountability buddies are the best.

Over the summer, I learned more about being a student leader. I got to experience leadership training for all Career Tech Student Organization State Officers. I learned that a leader should show others the way and go out of their way to help and support them. I had the opportunity to meet and learn more about other Career Tech Student Organizations and realized that everyone involved in these leadership organizations is a fantastic person.

My favorite experiences have been more casual experiences, from learning how to be a good leader at career tech university camp to meeting our members at leadership activities like the student leadership summit with the national officers, dodger’s day, and the quality chapter tours. As a reporter, I see the involvement and emotions and capture these little moments, which makes these more personal activities even better.

This year has been a lot of learning and growing personally and professionally. I have been able to experience what it is like to have a great leadership organization in my life. I have gotten to know the Oklahoma members and other career tech organizations. And I can’t say how grateful I am for this opportunity.

-Madalynn