When sophomore-year Bristol Hetherington first saw a presentation about DECA in her business and marketing class, she couldn’t find the time to fit it in her schedule. Now, in her senior year and second year of DECA, Hetherington has taken on the responsibility of running the school store.
As the School-Based Enterprise (SBE) manager for DECA — a club intended to prepare students to become leaders and entrepreneurs — Hetherington creates merchandise, plans events and works on enhancing students’ experience shopping at the school store.
Beyond these outlined responsibilities, however, Hetherington also acts as a leader for other DECA members.
“I have to manage, obviously, myself,” Hetherington said. “But I also have to make sure that other people get their stuff done.”
In terms of the school store, this means ensuring that the school store is staffed for the hours it’s open, sending reminders to students about when they’re scheduled to work.
“If people don’t show up, a lot of times, I’ll cover the shift,” Hetherington said.
In addition, Hetherington also helps DECA members practice for competitions, preparing them for the types of scenarios they may be given and what questions may be asked.
DECA sponsor Katelyn Frye has found Hetherington’s leadership abilities impressive and is proud to see the effect she and her fellow DECA officers have had on the club.
“They are wonderful role models for our underclassmen and are dedicated to the success of our DECA chapter,” Frye said.
Outside of DECA, Hetherington recently finished her final season on Valley’s Dance Team, who have performed not just at home football games, but during two Navy games and a Wizards game.
In the future, Hetherington isn’t sure if she’ll pursue something exactly like DECA in college, but she hopes to carry the lessons she’s learned from it as she follows her dream of becoming a pharmacist.
“Maybe one day I could open my own pharmacy,” Hetherington said.
No matter what lies ahead for Hetherington, she has certainly made an impression on Frye, who wishes Hetherington and her fellow officers luck as they finish off their final year at Valley.
“I hope to see them finish the year strong in their DECA competitions and initiatives, get into the college of their dreams and enter the next phase of their academic career,” Frye said.
