Name: Anne Dew

Bio:

In 1988 I decided to go to our local Technical School, Paul C Hayes. My first year there I joined VICA, Vocational Industrial Clubs of America. Being part of VICA I didn’t really know what to expect. Still not knowing what VICA was about to show me, I ran for school president. To my astonishment I won. Winning the President seat of my school chapter made me realize that I wanted more. The more I wanted, the more VICA gave me. During my senior year I decided to run for regional president, and I was honored to be elected to the seat. My experience with VICA my senior year has followed me every year I have been out of high school. I never thought of being involved with VICA after high school. Through out the years I have kept in contact with some of my friends that I had met through VICA, friends I would not have not of met without VICA. It has been 18 years since I graduated from high school and held my President offices. This year I decided to see what my friend Chris has been talking about all these years about him still being involved with VICA, now called SkillsUSA. So one day I emailed Chris and told him that I was interested in going to the State Competition this year. My thought was that I would just go and visit, man was I wrong. I soon received an email asking me if I wanted to help since I would be there. Of course I said yes, though I wasn’t sure what I was going to do. Since graduation I have found myself no longer in the profession of what I went to the Technical school for. So I didn’t think I would be able to help. Man I was proven wrong again. My first few days during my week at State, I was amazed. I really got to see all the wonderful people it takes to make the two day conference such a big hit. It takes so much to get everything set up. For every ache I have for that week spent; I also have two wonderful memories for the week. It really felt so good to be able to give back so much, so that the kids who spent the two days at State could have the same wonderful experience I experience 18/19 years ago. The first day of State Conference was amazing. To see these kids come into the Bricker building with such excitement was more than words can describe. I didn’t realize I could experience any more excitement that day but once again SkillsUSA would prove me wrong. On Friday I was assigned to help with one of the competitions, Job Skills Demo Open. This competition totally blew me away. I could not believe that these were Juniors and Seniors. For the most part they were so well put together, and I realized that I should not be surprised. These students were part of SkillsUSA. I truly wish that we could have given out more than one gold, silver and bronze metal. In my book they are all winners. On the second day of State, I helped out with the elections of the new State Officers. Hearing these candidates speak truly gave me goose bumps. The first candidate got on stage and started to speak, I swear I received a chill from my head to my toes. It was like I was back in high school getting ready to give my speech. I don’t know how many times I commented that day that I felt that I needed to get on stage and run for office again! It was so exciting to see these students get so excited about what SkillsUSA could give them and all of them so ready to give all that they have. As the Closing ceremony started, I couldn’t help to think back to all of my experience and what would be in the future of these students. I am very blessed to be able to hold my offices, to be a part of SkillsUSA, and most of all blessed that when I decided to get more involved that SkillsUSA said “YES”. I can not believe I have been out for so long, but I feel more disappointed in myself that I didn’t stay connected. I can truly say that I can’t wait for next year and to do it all over again, even with all the aches. Now I am just trying to figure out if I can get Nationals next year, hey maybe still I might be able to go to the World competition! Who knows what SkillsUSA will bring to me next!