Nowadays, universities can seem nearly impossible to get accepted to. With high grades being common, students need more to their resume to stand out. When considering competitive majors like business, this is extremely important to consider. One way to stand out is to join clubs revolving around your desired major. A great way to do this, especially if interested in business, is to join FBLA. FBLA stands for Future Business Leaders of America, and although revolved around business, it provides great resources and experience for any major.
An example of a unique experience given through FBLA is competitions. Members can choose to compete in multiple topics from Business Communication to a mock job interview. Within this variety there is also the choice of taking a multiple choice test, doing a roleplay (ex. job interview) or give a presentation (ex. sales pitch). Board member Elizabeth Horner (10) advised that “competition is good for students just like it is good for a business. If there are others striving toward the same prize you are, it drives you to increase the quality of your work. In a more practical way, placing high among different events is a great item to include in your resume. Students can earn a rank in a particular event with the Southern Section of California, the entire State of California, and even nationally.” Furthermore, it gives members a taste of the real world of business and professionalism in general. Competing allows students to really discover what they are good at and what they would like to major or have a career in.
FBLA members also get the opportunity to attend question-and-answer events with professionals in certain fields. This opens up interest and allows members to get answers directly from someone with experience. Lychee Li (10) commented that “during one of our meetings, we were actually able to talk with a past mayor of Yorba Linda and current councilwomen via Zoom. It was really interesting to hear the behind-the-scenes of running our community. I think it definitely piqued interest in government fields for me and inspired me to learn more.”
Finally, one of the best opportunities members can have in FBLA is becoming an FBLA board member. President of FBLA, Grace Peng (12) shared that “As FBLA president, creating a strong member experience begins with meticulous planning and close collaboration. Our board works together to design events that balance fun and engagement with professional skill-building. Through FBLA, we work to provide students with meaningful personal and professional development experiences that they will carry with them beyond high school.” So even though being on board is a lot of hard work, it pays off in experience and builds bonds with other members.
Overall, FBLA is a great club to be involved in. Members earn recognition and achievements that boost their resumes, but more importantly have amazing experiences that build character in both the academic and professional world.
