York School News

Students Reflections from the DECA Ontario Provincial Competition

This past weekend, nine talented York School students showcased their skills at the DECA Ontario provincial competition after qualifying through a regional event. They tackled challenging business case studies and impressively pitched innovative franchising plans to judges. Congratulations to Molly L. and Avantika S. for ranking in the top 9 in the province! They've earned their spot at the International Career Development Conference (ICDC) in Orlando this April.  We are so proud of all our participants for representing York School with excellence! 

Read below for student reflections on the event. 
Avantika S. 
The moment they called my team's name as DECA Provincial Champions, a rush of emotions flooded through me—excitement, disbelief, and an overwhelming sense of pride. Months of preparation, late nights refining, practicing our presentation, and countless practice sessions had led to this moment. But that is just the end and a new beginning. 
 
The real story was everything that came before it—the long nights at school, the endless discussions, the laughter, and the nerves before stepping into the competition room. Walking into Provincials, I knew the stakes were high, but I didn’t realize how much the experience itself would matter more than the results. The energy at the hotel was electric—hundreds of ambitious students dressed in their best business attire, all chasing the same goal. The hallways buzzed with last-minute prep, some people rehearsing, others trying to shake off the nerves. 
 
Everywhere I looked, there were students in suits and DECA lanyards—on the subway, in the Eaton Centre, walking down the streets of downtown Toronto. It felt like we had taken over the city, as if for one weekend, Toronto belonged to DECA. This one weekend, annually, never fails to make me believe that I am part of something bigger than myself. 

Then came the competition. I remember standing outside the room, heart pounding, running through our presentation one last time, hoping that all the effort we had put in would be enough. Then came the moment of truth as my partner and I stepped into the room, knowing it was now or never, and gave it everything we had. And finally, the awards ceremony—the tension, the cheers, and the surreal moment of hearing our names.
Now, ICDC awaits. A bigger stage, a tougher challenge. But no matter what happens next, I’ll always remember Provincials—not just as a competition, but as a weekend that made me feel unstoppable.
 
Thure N.
To me, DECA Provincials have been a fantastic experience. When you're sitting with a case study and 10 minutes to plan an entire presentation, you really start to see things in a new way. I went in nervous. Despite having qualified before it's always intimidating to see hundreds of people all so prepared around you. But the second I saw my case study, I instantly felt empowered. It's like your ideas start to flow and suddenly you're thinking of connections between your past experiences and the case that you didn't even realize were possible. And as you approach the judge booth, you're no longer nervous, but bolstering with pride. The experience really feels like you're working in a real field, not merely the roleplay that it is. Aside from the competition, you meet fantastic people. Whether it be waiting for your call time or simply by chance, it's incredible how many different individuals one encounters, some from a rival school, others from across the province. Overall DECA Provincials have been an amazing experience filled with moments of tense and excitement, but above all, memorable.
 
Molly L.
Getting the experience to participate in the DECA Provincials and delivering my EFB (Entrepreneurship Foundational Business) presentation was an invaluable experience. The competition allowed me to apply my knowledge of business principles in a real-world context, while also pushing me out of my boundaries of presenting. 

During the preparation of my presentation and business document, it taught me the importance of researching and planning. I had to ensure every aspect of our business EFB was well thought out, from market analysis to financial projections. During the presentation, I realized how crucial it is to communicate clearly and confidently, as it made a significant difference in how my ideas were received.
 
One of the biggest takeaways from provincials was the feedback received from the judges. It highlighted areas where I excelled, like speaking and creativity, but also pointed out areas for improvement, such as identifying the investment. The experience boosted my confidence in presenting business ideas and reinforced the importance of learning and adaptation.Overall, the DECA Provincials EFB presentation was a challenging but rewarding experience that taught me valuable lessons in entrepreneurship, presenting, and professionalism that I will carry forward in my future endeavors.
 
Brandon G. & Julian J.
Competing at DECA Provincials for the final time as Grade 12s was both a challenging and rewarding experience. We went into the competition with great ambition, as we had scored very highly in past competitions. In the entrepreneurship competition, we were pushed to think critically with an entrepreneurial mindset, adapt under pressure and develop our presentation skills. While our results were not as strong as we had hoped, we learned a lot about ourselves and how we can improve.

As club presidents, we couldn’t be prouder of our team. The heavy hitters of York were ready to lock in and take over Bay Street. In addition to being the best-dressed chapter in the Sheraton Centre, seeing the York students deliver strong presentations and tackle difficult case studies was inspiring. We are notably proud of the two students who qualified for the international level competition: ICDC.

This experience reinforced our belief that the Business Club is a great way to go beyond business, entrepreneurship and presentation skills - and develop strong relationships. Working with a great teammate in competitions, as well as an amazing executive team and ambitious students has shown us the value of collaboration. We are grateful for our DECA experiences with the Business Club and wish the club great success in the future!
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