Pastries baking in the oven, sewing machines humming, design plans being sketched—FCCLA offers a variety of hands-on experiences that go beyond projects and assignments. It offers a way for students to explore career opportunities and answer the question every high schooler asks about their future.
Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) is a club that promotes leadership among students by encouraging them to try careers in culinary arts, fashion, interior design, and preschool education—many of which are offered as classes at West Chicago Community High School. FCCLA Regionals, the first step toward competing at the state and national levels, are on Friday, Feb. 7 at the College of DuPage. As students prepare for the competition, Emily Renteria, a Family and Consumer Science teacher at West Chicago and one of the FCCLA advisers, is helping them get ready.
“I just make sure that they have all their supplies, like decorative tips—whether it be a round tip or a star tip—that are required, along with prepping them and making sure they know what design they’re doing,” Renteria said. “I don’t want their first time doing that to be in the competition zone. That way, I can help ensure they have everything and their designs are locked down.”
Competitors are eager to put their skills to the test, anticipating the event while looking back on their beginnings in the club.
“What got me involved in FCCLA was some of my friends who invited me to join. I’m glad I did because they were so welcoming. I enjoy spending time with everyone in FCCLA during meetings, leadership conferences, and community events,” Jennifer Montoya, a WEGO junior, said.
As Regionals approach, competitors might feel overwhelmed, so advisers work to reassure them and help them feel prepared. Students continue to work hard to feel confident in their skills.
“So, it’s really you against that rubric. I like encouraging them to see it that way. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed, but you’re not competing against everyone else—just yourself and the rubric. That’s what I love about FCCLA,” Renteria said.
Ruth Dim, a WEGO junior who joined FCCLA to experience different careers and meet new friends, is also competing in culinary. With the help of her peers and advisers, she works hard to prepare for Regionals.
“I’m competing in charcuterie board, and it’s a new competition for FCCLA. It’s very exciting to make new designs with the cheeses and fruits. I also learned many knife cuts that are a part of the guidelines. The most challenging part is the planning. I have to write down exact measurements, costs of each item, and then time myself. It was stressful at first, especially the timing, but eventually, I got used to it,” Dim said.
Dedication plays a crucial role in being prepared and achieving the best results. While challenges arise, students like Ruth overcome them by practicing and refining their skills.
FCCLA allows students to get involved in school and hone their skills while building a community that encourages growth and recognizes achievements.
“A lot of students might not be in athletics or anything like that, so they don’t always get the chance to feel recognized or earn awards. FCCLA allows that—recognition in a field of home economics skills that they can use for the rest of their lives, or even just to overcome the fear of being timed or improving their skills. So I love it,” Renteria said.
Through all the challenges and preparations, both advisers and students look forward to having a good time at Regionals and giving it their all.
“I look forward to the experience. I researched different ways to get creative with the charcuterie board. I am also looking forward to finding inspiration in culinary styles,” Dim said.
Those sentiments were echoed by Dim’s adviser.
“I’m just excited to see new people compete and grow those connections. I’m also excited because we have thirteen students competing this time around, a lot more than we had last year. I’m eager to see how that plays out for West Chicago, and hopefully, crossing my fingers, that they’ll want to compete at State,” Renteria said.
