Wareham High School DECA students developed skills, prepared for the future and built friendships at the International Career Development Conference in Orlando. Though some were there to compete, many students walked away with life-long lessons.

DECA is a non-profit organization that teaches kids about business, marketing, finance and more. Each year high school DECA chapters compete at district, state and international levels for kids to demonstrate the skills they have learned.

President and senior, Charlotte Roy competed in her third international competition, placing in the top ten in the marketing communications series — a Wareham DECA record.

"I feel like every year that you go, you learn something different," Roy said.

During the conference, Roy said she competed against students from other schools in roleplays and completed a 100 question exam.

"It's about communicating things from businesses’ perspective to customers," she said.

Roy said DECA has given her real world experience and helped her communicate with people professionally. She plans to attend Providence College in the fall to study marketing.

"I've been more encouraged to get out of my comfort zone and learned how to speak in front of people," she said. "I feel like I've learned a lot of leadership skills in the time I've been here."

From teacup rides together, to harmonica jam sessions before taking Ubers — the team of 13 bonded during their competition series.

"I never thought I could really talk to these people, nevermind being close to them," Junior Priscilla Ross said. "It's really great and I'm really excited for next year as well."

Ross said it has been amazing to get so close to her peers and talked about the school store, which she helped run, while at the conference.

Ross said the conference put into perspective how important DECA is. She plans to run for general manager of the school store and get new merchandise and products for the shelves next year.

"It really is important to communicate with those around you and make the most of your connections — no matter how small," she said. "It helps give me an idea for a future career."

Junior Sienna Cabe went to the conference to attend leadership workshops. She said she learned how to be a better leader for the future.

"We learned a lot about how to build a team and how to work together," Cabe said.

Cabe said meeting new people and listening to ideas from different schools was a highlight of her experience. Although the Florida sun wasn't her friend.

"We had a lot of sun burns," she said.

DECA advisor Lisa Cunha said being able to send her students to Orlando has always been great, but Ross making it as far as she did was a highlight. She said her students have gotten great ideas to bring back home.

"They hear what other schools are doing, they bring it back here and they implement it," she said.

Cunha also attended workshops while in Orlando. She networked and gained connections from other schools for her and her students.

"We work hard, we play hard and we learn. It's always an amazing experience every year," Cunha said.