“The CHAT”: CCHS DECA class podcast covers all the latest high school news and trends

BY ALYSSA KHAN

The fourth-level Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) class at CCHS launched their business for the 2020-2021 school year. They have created a fully-functioning podcast called “The College Health Advice and Trends (CHAT).”

DECA teacher Regina Ferreira described the Virtual Enterprise International (VEI) program, from which the idea for “The CHAT” stems from. 

“It’s a program where students become business owners, the classroom becomes the workplace and the teacher becomes an advisor. The students pick, develop and launch an idea in the VEI marketplace where over 600 other schools do the same,” Ferreira said. “The business runs like any operation with departments from human resources to marketing and design.”

While in quarantine, it’s easy to feel alone and feel like one is going through everyday life alone, especially as a young student as the same cycle of school every day can be draining. The main focus of “The CHAT” is to bring teenagers together and provide them with something that they can enjoy listening to in order to prevent them from feeling this way.

Senior and “The CHAT” Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Emma Avchen was one of the students who came up with the idea to do a podcast. She and her other senior classmates aim to connect with their audience and serve as a getaway for their listeners.

“Knowing that podcasts are a particularly intimate experience, ‘The CHAT’ will be able to connect and build relationships with listeners globally. By primarily trying to cement deep relationships with our audience, we offer truly unique and distinct programming,” Avchen said. “Our podcast is based around the likes, dislikes and struggles of teenagers everywhere and with the podcast, we are able to offer advice and share our experiences to help others who may be listening.”

The idea of a podcast is especially relevant due to the times. The inability to go to the movies or go out in general has changed the way people are able to consume entertainment. Podcasts have provided a way for people to get things done at home, while having something to listen to. 

“I think creating a podcast for our VEI business was an amazing idea. We’re not only providing teens and high schoolers with a platform they can relate to, but we’re also sharing our advice with them,” senior Lauren Dupoux said. “I believe this is a great way to spread positivity in this time of isolation and hardship.”

Without immediate access to guidance counselors as students are used to, the Class of 2021 seniors are facing a harder college application process. “The CHAT” is a way for other seniors to know that they are not going through this difficult time alone and that there are people out there just like them going through the same thing. 

“We chose to start a podcast because podcasting and advertising was a market that was not touched on yet in the VEI world.”

Senior and “The CHAT” CEO Emma Avchen

“We chose to start a podcast because podcasting and advertising was a market that was not touched on yet in the VEI world,” Avchen said. “We thought that this would make us successful because it’s innovative and creative, and we have little to no competition.”

The tradition of putting together a business and participating in the VEI program has been around for a while at CCHS. This school year obviously presents a whole new territory with eLearning. This year’s DECA class had the struggle of picking an idea, assigning jobs and filming the podcast entirely online. 

“I’m really excited for this group because not only are they getting the real-world experience that VEI offers its students, but they are going to experience what it’s like to produce something as a team and all the challenges and successes that go along with that,” Ferreira said. “I think the learning experience that they are going to get from this is invaluable on so many levels.”

“The CHAT” is another tool to reach and connect with a target audience, providing tips and advice on various topics that many teens talk about. 

Photo courtesy of “The CHAT” on Instagram