Hi-Line Living: Learning skills and abilities in FCCLA

"To me, FCCLA is a way to learn how to be a leader whether at home, in school or around the  community," Havre High School Senior Angelle Roen said, "as well as using what voice we have  to try to make a difference in the problems surrounding our community."

The Family, Career and Community Leaders of America Montana website says is a non-profit national career and technical student organization for young men and women in family and consumer sciences education in public and private schools through grade 12.

"family and consumer sciences ... encompasses anything with family living, community living, foods, housing, how to cook, how to keep a budget, how to educate children in youth development from birth to old age, so it really just encompasses all about family life and what that entails," advisor Marit Ita said.

She added that it is a very broad topic.

"FCCLA is a service group where students get together to educate people about issues ... and topics that affect the community and families in that," she said.

"I like the idea that we are going to take a stance for what we know needs to change and what we see as teenagers happening every day," Roen said. "I also like the fact that it brings together not only people from our school, but from around every district within the state."

Roen said she has been involved in FCCLA for two years now.

Havre High School Senior Jazmyn Doney said she thinks if they can get FCCLA out to other people that they finish what they started and help others come out of their shells.

"I know a lot of people who are shy and stuff, and if they join FCCLA they could probably come out of their comfort zone," Doney said. "I know for myself that I wasn't really a talky person, but when I went to state last year that changed."

Doney said if she could change one thing about FCCLA it would be to do more things like activities or service projects that they didn't do and make it where more students want to join FCCLA because it's fun in not just Havre, but in other communities.

Roen said if a person wants to be a part of FCCLA, they just have to keep coming to meetings where they will soon get the hang of what it is they do. The group also goes to district meetings and state meetings, then they can go to competitions where they will see not only want they want to change, but how to change it.

Roen said FCCLA Montana has 13 districts and Havre is in district three, which includes Hill, Blaine, Phillips and Chouteau counties. The district will meet this month.

Students at district meetings can, "learn about FCCLA, elect officer candidates, meet new friends, attend educational workshops, compete in the district Montana Knowledge Quest - for a chance to compete at state," Montana FCCLA website said.

"It's also giving you ideas what other schools are doing from other towns," Roen said. 

The state meetings will be in March this year.

The website said a variety of attendance options are available for state. Attendees must be registered for at least one of the following activities: STAR or skill demonstration competitive events, leadership seminar, "What is FCCLA" workshop, be a current or incoming state officer, member of Capture Crew, a STAR event room timer or skill demonstration event evaluator, event assistant or "Maximize Your Leadership" workshop presenter. A featured leadership seminar will also be available called, "Who Are Your People!" led by a keynote speaker, Jessie Funk.

Then national meetings are available to advance where people can maximize their leadership skills, share ideas, meet new people and more.

When it comes to competitions, Roen said, they can range from culinary skills to job interviews.

"I think the best one with the culinary skills the knife skills," Roen said. "One of my friends competed in that and that was fun."

"FCCLA taught me how to speak out and not to be afraid of what I am saying," Doney said. "If it wasn't for FCCLA I probably would not be how I am now because when I went to state last year, I went by myself to  my own workshops and as I went I was the very quiet one. After the first workshop, I was like, 'Hey, I got this,' and now I speak up."

Doney added that this is her second year in FCCLA and that she really enjoys it and hopes other people join it next year, so Ita won't be by herself.

"I think the best thing to know if you want to join FCCLA is, well, it's OK to be shy, just don't be afraid to get out of your comfort zone. Come to a meeting, speak up, say what you are thinking, 'cause that is the only way you involve yourself and have more fun," Roen said.

Havre High School family and consumer science teacher and FCCLA advisor Ita said FCCLA is an extension of the Family and Consumer Science program and for a student to join they have to take at least one year of FACS in either middle school or high school.  

She said FCCLA is not a requirement, it is a choice for students if they want to join because it is an extracurricular activity.

  Ita said she has been teaching at Havre High for four years. She said she received her teaching degree at Montana State University in Bozeman.

"My favorite thing about (family and consumer sciences) is that it is such a broad topic that encompasses so many things that someone can find something that they are interested in and that's what drew me to the field," Ita said. "Translating to FCCLA, by helping students find a topic they are interested and helping them learn more about the topic that they can share with other people." 

She said both the classes and the FCCLA activities benefit high school students in a way to be successful because the programs affect every aspect of peoples lives.