FBLA states website competition. Winners of the massive event in 2024.

I will be sharing my experience at the website design competition at FBLA.

Introduction


I competed in a website design competition at Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) this year and at the state level hosted in Hershey, PA my team got first place. We developed a website for a non-real animal shelter called “Paws Of Love”. The website was about the gala that was being held in Harrisburg by Paws Of Love.

How did it start?

My cousin Anisha wanted me to join FBLA because she wanted more people in that club so I said “Yes I would join”. On our first meeting (I think), Mrs.Rowe shared some information about the competitive events that were being held by FBLA. She suggested that I should join the website design competition so I said “Yes I would love to”.

I wanted some other people on my team so I talked to my teacher Mr.Choate and he said that I should take Layla on my team. I talked to Layla and she said “Yeah I will join your team”. I wanted someone else on my team but I didn’t know who and then I realized that Daniel wanted to leave Web because of too much work, Mr. Choate said that if we compete then he would give us less work.

So I went up to Daniel and asked him if he wanted to do it but he said “No”. Then I told him “Mr.Choate will give you less work” and then he got happy and said, “Yeah I will compete”. Then I had my team of 3 (Prakash, Layla, Daniel), the team that went to the state level of website design competition and won 1st place.

FBLA logo

Hershey


We had our event at 10:46 am on the day we went to Hershey, April 8th (nightmare). We arrived at the Hershey Lodge at around 7:00 am so we decided to practice for 3 hours then it was 10:46 and we had to present. While I was entering the presentation hall I was very scared and I could feel my heart beating very fast (faster than a Bugatti Veyron with a turbo engine). After we entered, we had 5 minutes to set up everything for our presentation so we connected our laptop to the projector and then the worst thing happened. The projector did not turn on, we kept trying and trying but it did not work.

The FBLA judges are waiting there and staring at us, but the projector is not working. I kept looking at Choate thinking he could help, but he did not (maybe because he wasn’t allowed to). After that, one of the judges suggested we use the remote, so we used it and then the projector turned on.

Now, there was another problem, even though the projector was turned on, the presentation that was being displayed was looking very blurry. So I started messing around with the projector and then it was showing everything clear. We probably had around 1 minute left for the setup but we got it fixed on time, and then the presentation started.

Presentation

When the presentation began, I was the first one speaking and the projector thing was still stressing. When I started talking I started to stutter so I skipped the introduction and started talking about the development of the website. After the presentation, the judges started asking us some questions and Daniel answered them in a very professional way.

Afterward, we went to our rooms and decided to go to the outlets with Perla and Sonika and see the solar eclipse at the outlet as well. After coming back from the outlets, we went to the ceremony where the state officers were introduced, and when the ceremony finished, Mr.Choate took us to McDonald’s.

Awards Ceremony

On April 9th, we had the awards ceremony at Giant Center and when we went there, we were one of the last people to get called. I was very nervous during this time and whenever they would call the other teams I would get very scared. It was finally our turn so we went up to the stage and stood there until they called our name. We were very happy when they called the teams from 10th place to 5th place. We knew that were going to Florida because we were in the top 4.

We were the only team standing there so we figured out that were in 1st place. During this time one of the FBLA officers came next to me and said “Congratulations”, I did not know how to respond and I was so excited that I accidentally said, “You are looking very beautiful and if I find your Instagram then I will add you” (I found her Instagram afterward and messaged her).

Things I want to say

I want to thank Mrs.Rowe and Mr.Choate for helping us and encouraging us during this event. I can’t wait to travel to Florida with you guys. Also, special thanks to my study hall teacher, Mrs.McConell who helped me prepare for this presentation and helped me overcome my fear of public speaking. I could not say this at the stage so I am saying this through my blog.

What’s Next?

You might be thinking it’s over right? Well, no its not over yet. Now we will be going to the National FBLA being held in Orlando, Florida. We are hoping to shine our school name “DCTS” at the FBLA Nationals.

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