Career and Technology Student Organizations (CTSOs) are co-curricular student organizations that many students become a part of in high school; however, many of them have collegiate members as well. Examples of CTSOs include FFA, FCCLA (Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America), TSA (Technology Student Association), SkillsUSA, DECA, BPA (Business Professionals of America), HOSA, and FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) among others. There are roughly 2.2 million students in the CTSOs listed above. Here are the ways you know you were involved in one.
1. You were always ready to "suit up."
Whether it be bright red, navy blue, or even corduroy, you were always ready to get your official dress and suit up for conferences and competitions. Even when we said we hated it, deep down, we know we loved it.
2. You can definitely remember at least once when you did not get to go to bed until midnight and had to be up, dressed, and ready by 6 AM the next morning.
There is a joke that I must have heard a million times at conferences “Sleep is for the weak" or “You can sleep when you're dead." Those long nights and early mornings were never easy, but I know that I wouldn't trade those experiences for the world.
3. You got to travel the United States for national conferences.
This is arguably one of the best parts of being in a CTSO. There is nothing quite like getting to fly to Orlando, Florida or Anaheim, California with all of your friends to compete (and hopefully win) at nationals; if you were lucky you might have even went to Disney World!
4. Trading state pins was one of the highlights of nationals.
There is nothing quite as cool as getting to meet kids from every other state (and sometimes even different countries) and trading lapel pins. If you were fast enough and strategic you might have even got a pin from every state. Either way, you probably had a nice little collection by the time you left your CTSO.
5. You loved your time on stage.
It feels amazing getting to step up onto a podium in front of 10,000 teachers and students because you won first place in your contest. This is what dreams are made of, folks.
6. If you were lucky, you got to serve as an officer.
I cannot explain how amazing it truly is to be able to serve as a local, state, or even national officer for your CTSO. You felt so… wanted, needed, important. To know that you were elected to give back to your organization is simply amazing. To be able to represent an entire organization of students takes your breath away.
7. You definitely met a lifelong friend.
We can all think of at least one person that we would not have met had it not been for our CTSO. It sounds cheesy, but it is absolutely true that you gained another family through your CTSO.
8. You have a small collection of medals, plaques, and certificates.
You have probably accumulated quite a few awards throughout your time in your CTSO. Not only do these awards showcase all of your hard work, but they serve as reminders of all the great memories you made in your CTSO.
9. You never noticed how much your CTSO prepared you to be an adult.
For all of the reasons listed above and many, many more, our CTSOs prepared us in ways we never noticed as a student. I think I speak for the majority when I say we can never really be thankful enough for all that our CTSOs have given us.
