Former Student Represents Cedar Bluffs FBLA Chapter at National Leadership Conference
Eric Reiter, FBLA Reporter
September 10, 2010
Rachel Salyers, a 2010 graduate of CBHS, got the chance to participate in the FBLA National Leadership Conference this summer in Nashville, TN.
Rachel qualified for NLC by placing fourth in her event, Help Desk, at the Nebraska SLC in April. She, along with Brian Brazeal of Bellevue West, represented Nebraska in the national Help Desk competition. She flew through her first round test and found out she qualified for the finals, which consisted of the top fifteen performers after the first round had been tabulated. At the awards ceremony, she had her name called up on stage to receive recognition for receiving 9th place, beating out hundreds of other competitors from across the nation.
Rachel said that the experience was one-of-a-kind. “You get to meet so many new people and see so many cool things. Unlike SLC where it is crazy and rushed because most of us compete in six events, NLC is slower and more relaxed. It is still a three day conference. You compete in one event - the one you place in - and usually compete in one open event. I did Social Media, but they had Leadership and Advertising and a few others too. There are Seminars like SLC. I did one on Communication and Personality - turns out I'm a penguin” she said giggling.
But she said there is a lot more to it than just the conference. “There is so much time to just sight-see and walk around. The first day I got to Nashville, I was whisked away and we went downtown and got on the General Jackson Showboat Dinner Cruise. There I had dinner and they had live performers singing old and new country hits. Over the next five days, I went to the Country Music Hall of Fame, Ryman Auditorium, and the Parthenon and just spent time in downtown Nashville.”
“I guess the most important thing I would like everyone to know is that NLC is not lame or stupid. There are so many things to see and people to meet. The reason you are there is because of the conference but the point of having these conferences in these locations is the experience. Otherwise they would have them anywhere. NLC was so much fun and I'll always remember the people I met there. I hope you guys qualify next year and can meet my crazy Wood River friends when you go to Orlando.”
I think I can speak for everyone in saying congratulations Rachel. You make all of us here at CBHS very proud!
