Riverbend FBLA Takes on Anaheim

This summer, a group of Riverbend students travelled to Anaheim, California to compete in the 2025 FBLA National Leadership Conference. FBLA, or Future Business Leaders of America, is a student organization focused on career preparation and the development of leaders in the business field.

Two incredibly intelligent and future-minded students, Daniel Bolas and Laila Henley, have both had impressive experiences throughout their time involved in FBLA. Bolas was involved in FBLA for all four years of high school, serving as a state officer for three years and working his way up to serve as state president in his senior year. Now, having just graduated, he plans to attend Virginia Tech to major in Business Information Technology with a focus on operations and supply chain management, to pursue a career in logistics. Bolas says, "FBLA guided me towards the business track and gave me opportunities to test different fields in the business world to find things I was and wasn't interested in."

Henley, a rising senior, plans to continue her involvement and growth in FBLA, commenting on how her involvement has already shaped her mindset and desire for a future career. Henley says, "The more I competed and connected with members from across the country, the more I realized I wanted a career that lets me build relationships, promote equity, and solve global problems through business."

Both students have incredible accolades under their belt from Bolas, who placed first at this year's State Leadership conference in the category of future business leaders, to Henley, who had placed first in her respective categories at both the regional and state levels. Henley adds, "These early wins really gave me the confidence to push myself further and take on more advanced events."

Beyond the accolades, FBLA is about much more. It's about building a community, which is strongly highlighted on these trips. Henley sums up this sentiment perfectly as she says, "My favorite part was definitely the Angels game and exploring California with some of my favorite people. Those moments reminded me how FBLA is just as much about friendships and memories as it is about leadership and competition." Bolas adds to this, saying, "I also enjoy getting to meet like-minded people from across the nation. One of my best friends is someone I met through FBLA, and he's from Kansas."

In addition to all of this, FBLA is a significant confidence booster for many students, helping them become more confident in their skills. Henley says, "These events allowed me to grow both as a speaker and a future business leader." Additionally, on her personal experience in FBLA, Henley continues, "I wouldn't be where I am without my advisor, Mrs. Hogan. She believed in me from the beginning and always pushed me to go further, even when I doubted myself. Her support has meant everything to me and helped me grow into the leader I am today."

In the end, Bolas comments on how he has gained many skills from his involvement in FBLA, as he describes one, saying, "...my ability to network and connect with others. Before joining FBLA, I knew its importance but never wrapped my head around the difficulty of building a lasting connection in just minutes."

To conclude, Henley says, "The most valuable trait I've gained is understanding that leadership isn't about improving yourself, it's about empowering others to lead. I've learned how to lift others up, build a team, and create impact beyond myself."