Okay so… whoops.

About that last post where I dramatically said my DECA career was over.

Yeah.

Plot twist.

I’M GOING TO ATLANTA.

Yes. You heard that right.

I know. I know. I was shocked too.

Let me explain.

The Plot Twist Nobody Expected

So when you’re a DECA state finalist, you’re technically an alternate for ICDC.

Now if you’re reading this and thinking, Bella what does that even mean, let me break it down quickly in case you haven’t been keeping up with DECA Diaries.

Here’s how DECA competitions work:

First, you choose an event.
Then you compete at districts, where around 22–25 people move on.

At states, there are about 100 people competing in each event.

Then they split everyone into sections. Usually around 10 sections with about 10 people each.

And here’s the key part: you’re only competing against the people in your section, because you all have the same judge.

So if you place first in your section, you qualify for ICDC along with the other section winners.

If you place second in your section, you become a state finalist. You get a medal… and technically you’re an alternate for ICDC in case the first-place person from your section drops out.

And that basically never happens.

Like… ever.

But guess what.

It happened.

And now I’m going to ICDC.

Wait… What?

Yes.

Somehow, some way, the person who placed first in my section dropped out, which means the alternate (me) moves up.

Which means I’m going to Atlanta.

Which means my DECA career… actually isn’t over yet.

Which is honestly insane.

And It Gets Even Crazier

The craziest part?

It didn’t just happen to me.

It also happened to another girl from my school in Entrepreneurship Series.

So now two Dripping Springs alternates are suddenly going to ICDC.

What are the odds of that?

Actually insane.

What This Means

For me, this means something pretty big.

It means I get one more chance.

One more chance to compete.
One more chance to do a role play.
One more chance to walk into a room, shake a judge’s hand, and pretend the business I invented five minutes ago has been operating successfully for years.

And yes.

One more chance at glass.

Last year I got second place in the world, which still feels crazy to say.

So naturally my brain is already thinking… okay but what if…

What if this year is the year.

What if I somehow do even better.

Say… first place???

(Manifesting. Obviously.)

The Best Part of ICDC

But honestly, the competition isn’t even my favorite part of ICDC.

The best part is just being there.

ICDC is basically thousands of people who all love DECA as much as you do. Everyone is there for the same reason. The energy is completely different from states.

You’re meeting people from all over the world, talking about competitions, sharing role play ideas, celebrating wins, and just… existing in the most chaotic, business-competition-filled environment possible.

It’s honestly the highlight of DECA every year.

Atlanta Plans

And the Atlanta experiences this year are actually insane.

For example:

We’re doing a Six Flags DECA night, where the entire park is rented out just for DECA competitors.

Yes.

An entire Six Flags.

Only DECA kids.

Imagine thousands of people in suits riding roller coasters.

Incredible.

And we’re also going to a Braves game.

Actually—scratch that.

A Phillies game.

Because the Atlanta Braves just happen to be playing the Philadelphia Phillies, which are my favorite team of all time.

Which means I accidentally ended up going to a Phillies game in Atlanta during ICDC.

This was not planned.

But I’m not complaining.

So Yeah…

Last week I thought my DECA career was over.

Now suddenly I’m going to ICDC.

Life moves fast.

And I think it’s safe to say…

I’m more than excited for Atlanta.