FCCLA Attends Peer Education Conference
The Plainview FCCLA Chapter joined over 370 other Nebraska FCCLA members and advisers at the State Peer Education Conference held in Kearney, NE on February 27, 2023. Attending Shayla Jacobsen, Brooke Forbes, and Kaydance Maertins and Adviser Ronita Jacobsen. The theme of the meeting was “Channeling Your Inner Leader.” The State Peer Officer Team encouraged chapters to focus their leadership efforts at a local level through their Community Outreach Project. Chapters were encouraged to hold food drives in their schools and donate to a local shelter or similar organization. Members from Plainview chapter donated 60 items to the Plainview Food Pantry.
The keynote speaker kicking off the conference was Monica Huber, a training specialist. Her presentation was titled “How Do I Prepare to Show Up for My…self… school..work…family…friends…life and everything in between?” She shared a message about being prepared for everything in life, with leadership and schoolwork examples.
Huber explained that whatever leadership style you us, being prepared means that you use your time wisely, are intentional, notice the details, honor your “yes” and “no”, are situationally aware, and are authentic.
Additionally, three breakout sessions were held that represented the three FCCLA National Programs the State Peer Officer Teams are promoting this year: Families Acting for Community Traffic Safety (FACTS), Career Connection, and Stand Up. The FACTS session was presented by members of the Community Leader Team and featured the Nebraska State Patrol. Trooper Shriver and Trooper Kroeger focused on wearing seatbelts and provided a rollover demonstration for members and advisers. They also explained the laws regarding seat belt usage and use of cell phones when driving along with the consequences if you don’t obey the laws. “Watching the roll-over demonstration was eye-opening. When I saw the mannequins ejected from the vehicle along with their loose belongings, I was shocked. The importance of wearing a seatbelt was proven to me.” stated Brooke Forbes.
The Career Leader Team hosted a Career Panel with Carol Erwin (post-secondary teacher educator), Hannah Kizer (interior designer), Kris Walahoski (registered dietician), and Tyler Clay (Buckle recruiter). Each of their careers represented a different section of the FCS Career Pathway. These representatives answered questions from members about their own careers and how they got to where they are today. The Family Leader Team partnered with Jackie Freeman presenting “A Healthy Outside Starts from the Inside.” Jackie shared her story as a past FCCLA member and keeping her life balanced with being a mom, running coach, and school nurse. Her main point included how to balance physical health with mental health to keep our “insides” as healthy as our “outsides.” She expressed that all members have a special place in this life and that we will achieve great things now and in the future.
Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) is a dynamic and effective national student organization that helps students become leaders and address important personal, family, work, and societal issues through Family and Consumer Sciences education. With over 199,000 members nationwide and nearly 3,000 members in over 100 chapters in Nebraska, FCCLA is the only career and technical in-school student organization with a central focus on careers that support families. Participation in FCCLA programs and chapter activities helps members become strong leaders in their families, careers, and communities. Nebraska FCCLA is supported through the Nebraska Center for Student Leadership and Extended Learning at the Nebraska Department of Education. For more information about FCCLA, please visit www.nebraskafccla.org.