By JEANNI RITCHIE

 

Beta students from 6th-8th grade swarmed the Cajundome this week for the state convention. Excitement was in the air.

 

The theme for this year is Voyage of Adventure and the students weren’t the only ones taking a journey. I’ve been a Beta parent and sponsor so attending the convention felt like home. Beta Club’s motto closely aligns with my personal one: Let us lead by serving others.

 

The students I ran into today embodied that mightily. From the Rayne Junior High students indulging me in a silly photo for my personal files to the young man encouraging me to overcome my irrational fear of escalators, these Beta members are considerate and compassionate.

 

With academic as well as service requirements, these future leaders of America are learning at an early age how to network and present themselves professionally. There are individual and team competitions as well as officer campaigning and elections for the next year.

 

Individuals compete in subject area competitions like Social Studies and Creative Writing, as well as team competitions like Songfest and Apparel Design.

 

Viewing scrapbook entries in the exhibition hall, I ran into Merryville High sponsor Lynn Walker and her daughter/de facto co-sponsor Maggie Richards. They gave me their school pin, trading pins being a big part of Beta Convention. One component of their pin was the Tiger Island fire that destroyed 35,000 acres and shut the school down for two weeks last fall. Resilience was key and Merryville’s Beta was instrumental in leading the school after their return.

 

I was in awe at the digital portfolio by my elementary alma mater, St. Frances Cabrini School, and wondered if any of them had remaining service hours to complete. Building a digital portfolio had not been on the syllabus when I was in school and I thought it would be a fair trade after all the baked goods I consumed for their trip fundraiser!

 

My junior high alma mater, Brame Middle School, encapsulated the work of Beta in their Service Learning Showcase. During the school year, these Beta students worked with school, faculty, and parent organizations for appreciation and encouragement activities. They created snack bags with encouraging notes for students prior to LEAP testing and they traveled to Grand Isle to help clean up the neglected areas left after hurricane destruction.

 

Lunchtime at Beta Convention is just another networking opportunity and conversations were in full swing. Westdale Middle parent chaperone Johnnisha Bennett and I chatted in line about her 8th grade daughter Madison Jackson’s Social Studies competition. Cathedral-Carmel 7th graders Audrey Cortez and Mia Thibodeaux, along with Our Lady of Fatima 7th grader Claire Cousson, talked to me about how they will all merge at one high school in two years and continue their Beta service together.

 

The performing arts competition is always one of my favorites and these clubs didn’t disappoint. I had to talk with the students of St. Teresa’s of Avila Middle school following their performance. With a medley of songs from High School Musical (Stick to the Status Quo) to Mean Girls (Someone Gets Hurt) and ending with my all-time favorite movie Grease (We Go Together), 8th graders Alexandra Winiewicz, Blair Settoon, and Julie McDowell and 6th grader Rowan Stromberge shared a message of empowerment through inclusivity and acceptance.

 

I always enjoy judging the Speech competition and this group of students reminded me why. Speaking wisdom that far belies their years, over 100 students gave speeches that were heartfelt and honest about navigating their futures using the four pillars of Beta: achievement, character, leadership, and service. Many also incorporated their faith into their speeches as well.

 

Their wisdom belies their years and there is no doubt that these future leaders are bringing a bright future to America.