DECA, Jr. students create business plans

Story by Moody Homsi

Making a business is something many people aspire to do, building up a company from nearly nothing in your own vision, in your own way. With DECA Jr, this dream can become a reality.

DECA Jr. is a club at Clay that lets kids better the community by finding a problem and creating a solution through the business process. 

Groups of people will create a business plan to help better the school community. Of course, there will be obstacles in the way. 

DECA Jr. allows kids to learn teamwork, problem solving, and patience. 

"DECA Jr. makes me really think outside of the box and see other solutions," Grant Ramsey, eighth grade, said. All these skills can be taken from a simulated business to the real world; as an employee or an employer.

The possibilities of businesses in DECA Jr. are almost endless. 

“All ideas have value in DECA Jr, but there are some that really stand out, like a snack cart to go around or holographic greeting cards," Mrs. Michelle Janson, club sponsor.

Keshav Singh, Eddie Sun, Arjun Purohit, Charles Ding, Kent Fujita, and George Huang came up with the winning idea last year. 

“We wanted to get shoe cleaners in the locker room to improve the cleanliness and hygiene of the schools floors, and give less work to the janitors as many people would track dirt, grass, and mud into the building from their gym shoes,” Singh said. 

Meetings are held every two weeks in the annex lab. Just arrive during the first few meetings, and you’re in! 

There is something similar to DECA Jr. at Carmel High School called DECA. This is a more advanced version, but the same idea. DECA Jr. is the perfect club for those aspiring to start a business or change the world.

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