Walking into testing day at ICDC Orlando, I had one mission: intimidate my competition. My plan was to look sharp, sit down at that massive testing ballroom table, and psych out the people next to me. If they thought I was confident, maybe they’d second-guess themselves.

Except… it didn’t work. At all.

Instead of death stares, I got smiles. The people at my table were ridiculously friendly. Within five minutes, we were trading stories about how our states ran DECA differently, laughing about our worst role plays, and even swapping contacts. By the time the proctor called us to order, I realized my “intimidation” strategy had completely backfired—in the best way possible.

The Test

Once the papers were in front of us, the nerves hit. A hundred questions, ninety minutes, and the air so quiet you could hear every pencil scratch. The exam itself? Honestly, I thought it was fine. There were a lot of straightforward ones that I felt confident about, but then there were sections where I was flat-out guessing. I circled back to questions I wasn’t sure of, used every test-taking trick in the book, and tried not to overthink it.

The best part, though, was walking out and realizing everyone thought they bombed. It’s almost a ritual—everyone huddles up, whisper-argues about which answer was right for “pure risk,” and no one agrees. But it felt less like a battle and more like community.

Pre-Role Play Connections

Before my first role play, the holding area was buzzing. And instead of silently stressing, most of us were chatting. There were circles of people talking about DECA differences across states, pin trading, and just plain hanging out like we weren’t about to compete at the international level.

That’s where I met Remy. He was standing off to the side, clearly nervous, so I introduced myself. Turns out, he had never done DECA before. No idea how he’d even made it to ICDC. He was so unsure of himself that I figured the least I could do was share a quick strategy or two. Since we weren’t in the same section, there was no risk in helping him out—and honestly, it felt good to calm someone else’s nerves when mine were buzzing too.

A few hours later, before my second role play, I saw him again. This time he seemed more relaxed. We chatted, and he asked if I wanted to trade pins. I didn’t have any on me, but he pressed a sunflower pin into my hand anyway. That sunflower pin has been my “lucky pin” ever since. More on that later.

The Role Plays

The first role play went smoothly. It was a marketing prompt, and my judge was engaged, nodding along, asking a couple of questions that I felt prepared for. Nothing spectacular, but solid.

The second one, though—different story. The second I opened the prompt and saw it was economics, my brain went: uh oh. Economics wasn’t my strongest area, and the temptation to panic was real. But I reminded myself of my process: structure, confidence, three solutions. I built out a plan, leaned into my delivery, and hoped for the best.

And then something incredible happened—my judge loved it. He was smiling, nodding, even making comments and suggestions like it was a real business meeting. Instead of a stiff presentation, it felt like a collaboration. I walked out of that room thinking, “Okay, maybe I actually did something right.”

Surviving the Madness

The rest of the week was a blur. Between testing, competing, and running around the convention center, it felt like I lived in my blazer. Meals were quick, usually fast food eaten in a corner with my team. Sleep was optional. My hydration source? Mostly iced coffee.

But that’s ICDC. It’s chaotic, exhausting, and yet somehow the most fun you’ll ever have in a business suit.

One of the highlights was DECA Night at Universal. They literally shut down the park for us, and thousands of DECA kids in blazers took over roller coasters, Harry Potter World, and every snack stand in sight. There’s nothing quite like screaming on a ride next to someone who, twelve hours earlier, was debating performance indicators with you in a convention center ballroom.

What I Took Away

Looking back, Orlando taught me that ICDC isn’t just about competing—it’s about connecting. I went in thinking I had to psych out my competition, but I left with new friends, new confidence, and a sunflower pin that I still call my lucky charm. The test pushed me, the role plays challenged me, and the chaos forced me to adapt. But in the middle of it all, I found my rhythm.

And little did I know—this was the year it all came together.

Stay tuned for Part 3: the awards ceremony, the tears, the sunflower pin, and the finale.