You really shouldn't expect a national competition experience to change Xavier Viera. Just a couple days removed from one of the biggest academic moments of his life, Viera quietly went about his business in the UT room at West Noble High School. Finding the quietest corner of the room, turning on his laptop, assembling his little corner. It's who Viera is in common company. But for a couple days in Orlando, Florida, Viera unlocked a newfound confidence in himself, surrounded by thousands of people in the same boat.
Viera went to Orlanda to represent himself and West Noble as part of the Business Professionals of America's National Leadership Conference. He qualified from the state level competition earlier this spring to showcase his knowledge in four levels of finance: Payroll and Accounting; Banking and Finance; Meeting and Event Planning; and Financial Math and Analysis.
The BPA competitions were largely written exams that gave contestants a chance to show how knowledgeable they were in the various fields. Some competitions were also done in-person with a BPA judge, who scored based off met criteria, confidence and creativity. An elite group of the top 10 from each category were then asked to compete on the main stage to determine a winner.
“Those hotels and rooms we took the tests in were absolutely massive and crazy,” Viera said. “I chose non-judged, that's a lot simpler. I wouldn't be as afraid and judged. I was still really nervous, but not as much pressure with the written tests.”
Viera, a very passive and quiet senior amongst the halls and walls of West Noble High School, did realize that so many others were just as nervous as him. And the tests in front of him didn't judge. It was just him, his ability and a bunch of questions about subjects he knows a lot about.
“At the national level, I just said, 'you know what, I'm just going to do this,' whereas the state level I was probably more nervous,” Viera said. “Once I got to National, I'm one of hundreds and this is OK.”
At the BPA National Leadership Conference, there weren't just hundreds, but over 6,800 students taking part in the various competitions. So perspective should hold in how well Viera did.
In Banking and Finance, he finished 12 out of 76
In Meeting and Event Planning, he finished 13 out of 501
In Payroll Accounting, he finished 27 out of 58
In Financial Math and Analysis, he finished 66 out of 313
So close in both Banking and Finance as well as Meeting and Event Planning, just a couple places from the national stage at the national competition. Was there any hangups with testing braincramps or nerves or anything that would have boosted any of the scores a couple places?
“I really felt like those two (Banking and Meeting), I did everything I could have,” offered Viera. “For Payroll Accounting, I just didn't understand some of what they wanted me to do. I only took fundamental accounting, and I didn't have all the resources that I should have to prepare. I had to leave a couple blank so I could finish the journaling, which took a while.”
Viera noted the support he had back home, specifically BPA Advisor Teri Kruger. And closed by offering of the overall experience as he prepares to graduate and then head to Manchester University to continue his educational pursuits in accounting, “I view myself as someone who is kinda boring, middle of the road. This competition was something that not a lot of people do. It was really special to me, and I think people should have things that are special to them. It's important to me, and it'll come across when I have someone ask about it or if I talk about it to others.
“I'm not just normal anymore. I've got something special.”