Future Business Leaders of America was easily one of my favorite parts of high school, if not my absolute favorite. I met so many people and made so many memories you could have me speak for days on end about it. A lot of kids at my school did not get the point at first, and I am sure some kids didn’t have as big of as an impact as I did, but like everything in life you get what you give. I put my heart and soul into something that just started out as resume filler. Freshman Kenzi would never seriously tell you that she would ever go on to be a business student. Heck, first semester senior Kenzi really didn’t think she’d go into business school, but now I am here.

Here are few things die hard FBLAers know all too well.

1. Business Apparel

For a high school kid, it was super odd to own nylons and the proper heels. It felt like you were three-year-old me, pictured above. But, without that awkward stage of run-filled nylons, and blistering feet, I never would’ve figured out how to survive the professional world. And trust me, you probably didn’t own anything professional until your adviser scared the daylights into you talking about how you could get disqualified just for Nike socks or not having belt on.

2. FBLwhat?

Future Business Leaders of America-Phi Beta Lambda. What a mouthful! Most adults do not understand what you mean when you say FBLA-PBL, and even once they know the acronym they don’t really get what it is you do. I was a two-time state officer, and up until my parents took part in my Regional Leadership Conference my senior year, they still didn’t get what was going on. It’s sort of hard to explain anyhow, especially because it is more of student only thing.

3. Early Mornings

You get up at 5:00 A.M. to do your hair and makeup and grab all your clothes and resumes to head to the conference. You get on the bus, but you are a vet so you are dressed in sweats, not your finest business apparel yet. Donuts and coffee in hand, and it is off to your competition day.

4. Prelims and Finals

You had studied hard, or maybe not so hard. You were waiting for those results to see if your test score or presentation was good enough to make it to the next round. And, when it actually did, you either knew exactly what to do or went running to your adviser for a crash course on how to present about Management Information Systems when you really have no clue how you passed the test.

5. Name Tags and Ribbons

At nationals name tags are everything, and ribbons are what you live for. How many ribbons do you have? How many ribbons can you scam off of tables, officer candidates, and open events? Can you make it touch the floor? Forget your name tag? Good luck getting anywhere for the rest of nationals.

6. Awards Ceremonies

The longest two hours of your life. And you know those schools with 200 members who all place in the top 3 in every single event. You hear their names again and again, and when you beat someone from that school it feels great. It happens at nationals, too. Georgia, California, Missouri -- you hear them constantly. But, it feels great when you get on stage.

Throughout it all, you know it is all worth it. The memories made, the trophies won, the skills gained are forever with you. Thank God for FBLA.