It seems as though we tell the same story every April. The BMHS DECA students depart for the International Career Development Conference (ICDC) in some locale and return with a Top Three finish ("earning Glass") on the international stage. This year marks the 8th straight year a team from Billerica has earned "Glass" and brought home a national trophy. Since I am certain there may be some readers that are unfamiliar with DECA and the annual competition, I will attempt to put in perspective the success and cache that Billerica has earned on the international stage. In the world of college basketball there are many teams that qualify for the NCAA March Madness tournament. However, there are certain programs that consistently compete at a level far superior than that of their peers. UCLA under the guidance of John Wooden, is considered the gold standard of consistency and high achievement. Billerica is not UCLA. Billerica is Duke. When you watch the NCAA tournament each year, under the guidance of head coach Mike Krzyzewski, you expect them to compete for a national championship. Other college teams try to emulate the "Duke" way. Some teams are intimidated when they enter the arena and see Coach Krzyzewski preparing his team in a calm, tactful manner. When the BMHS DECA team arrives at the ICDC every year, other schools want to emulate the "Billerica" way. These schools watch as Coach Mags (with the support and assistance of Mrs. Lydon) prepares his students in a calm and tactful manner so they are prepared to perform and achieve their ultimate goal - "Glass." Coach Mags (our version of Coach K) extols the value of hard work, preparation, and confidence. The confidence our students possess comes from the knowledge that Coach Mags has been there before and knows how to succeed on that stage. Our students embrace that philosophy and put in many hours beyond the school day to prepare for success.
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| Casey Finestone, Nadia Soto, Amy Lynch, Alison Veilleux, Alison Donoghue |
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| Casey Finestone, Amy Lynch, Alison Donoghue earning a Top Ten finish |
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| Nadia Soto, Coach Mags, Alison Veilleux holding "Glass" |
Their is a pride in our school for the success our DECA students have achieved. That pride is increased exponentially when you see how other schools react and speak about our students. The respect, admiration and in some cases awe that our DECA team is viewed speaks to the quality of the people involved.
For our seniors, the final ICDC has ended. It is time to bask in the success and reflect on the journey you have shared over the last four years with your DECA teammates.
Once again you have made us proud!
