Hazen High School hosted their second CTSO (Career and Technical Student Organization) Jam this year, which occurred on October 12, 2024 from 9:00 am through 2:15 pm. Most students from the Renton School District were invited to join the event to grow their professional and leadership potential, and network with other Renton School District students. They were also required to wear professional or business attire. Hazen High School had prepared several workshops, a mock competition, and provided the opportunity to meet an educator who elaborates on the topic of leadership and motivation. Additionally, students had the chance to meet the WA DECA President, Manya Pradeep Narayan, and the Area 5 WA DECA President, Amanda Phan.
Some Hazen DECA members began the opening session, which was located in the school’s auditorium. Followed by the Renton Technical College Business Professor, Steven Mckinnion. During his presentation, he asked students, “What is leadership?” “What is motivation?” “What is accountability?” All these questions led back to mainly asking, “How can you be a leader?” When he asked students how many of them knew what they were not skilled at, more than half of the room raised their hand compared to when he asked students how many of them knew what they were experts in. He also asked students how many of them believed they could be anything they want to be in life. Over half of the room raised their hand representing that they did not believe they could be anything in life due to certain obstacles. Therefore, he noticed most students were holding onto doubts about themselves. He encouraged the students to identify what they were passionate about, and to find out how they could create an impact on others and the world. He suggested that we should focus on the good aspects of ourselves to help us find our “why” in life. He stated, “The purpose in life is to find your gift, the meaning of life is to share that gift.”
After the opening session, students began to disperse into different workshops or to the mock competition, located in the school’s cafeteria. Each student had a different time slot for when they would attend their mock competition, which was a job interview where students were prompted to apply as interns to “Summer Human Resources.” Students were asked 10 job interview questions in front of one judge. Moreover, DECA officers/members and Hazen students were the ones to lead the different workshops, which were found in the Lecture Hall, library, and classrooms. The workshops started at 10:00 am and lasted until 12:25 pm. Some of the activities Hazen hosted were called “How to Get CTSO Famous: Running for State office,” “Shark Tank,” “Crossover Design Challenge,” “DECA Think You Can Rizz Us Up + Interview Tips,” and “Get that Prep In Your Step.” All of the workshops allowed students to practice and grow their critical thinking, speaking skills, and leadership skills. Most of the workshops required students to have a background in business knowledge. However, if students had a limited background knowledge of business, they were still able to learn and develop their business mindset and skills.
Nearing the time for the closing session, students started to enter back into the school’s auditorium. DECA officers/members concluded the event by showing their appreciation towards all of the students who came to the event. They also announced the Top 10 students from the mock competition. Congratulations to our Renton High School students who made the Top 10!
Thank you to Hazen High School for hosting a successful second CTSO Jam. Regardless of what workshops students attended and how well students did on their mock competition, they were able to gain a new perspective on leadership. Students also gained new motivation going forward in their academics as well as in other aspects of their lives.
Sources:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1E38TynNYkF8HpxTX_r2mSUjoY0Hh7ZbAfaWeQpRGarg/edit
https://www.instagram.com/p/DAzkkPxvd6I/?igsh=MTVqdWxmMzEzMDlzaQ==
1st Photo Credit: Jacob Encinas-Gutierrez
2nd Photo Credit: Hermon Mekuria
3rd Photo Credit: Hermon Mekuria
