Zahra Hadi: The Hercules of Deca

Micol AzcarateStaff Writer

Zahra Hadi (’13) is the Hercules of business, but her strength didn’t come from Zeus’ genes. Like most high schoolers, Hadi was clueless about business – that is, until she joined DECA.A nationally recognized organization, Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) is a class offered at Samo that prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality and management.When Hadi began the course, she did so out of spontaneity and without a clear grasp of what DECA would later become for her. With time, practice and experience however, a fresh path opened before her and she started following her “yellow brick road.”“I understood that DECA was about learning the basics of business, the fundamentals of professionalism, the skills of leadership and more importantly, how to expand my network. I fell in love with it,” Hadi said.As a kid growing up in a household full of doctors Hadi’s afternoons were spent devouring medical textbooks and making her siblings “medicine” out of water, food coloring and just a spoonful of sugar. Entering a career in business was not the original plan.“I never really considered business, but now that I know about it, I realize that business and biology are connected. I want to study and research stem cells, and my knowledge in business is very useful because I now know the administrative side of health care,” Hadi said. “In order to be a better health care provider, I need to know how a hospital works, what happens when I publish a treatment, etc.”The DECA program has enabled Hadi to merge knowledge from numerous fields and explore the power of persuasion and decision-making. The word “business” might sound like foreign “grandpa-talk” to some teenagers, but it turns out it’s at the core of it all.“Business is an integral part of any area that one pursues in the future. You can use leadership, management, customer service and marketing skills no matter what you choose to do,” Hadi said.AP Economics teacher Zachary Cuda believes that whether you’re interested in engineering or social studies, the better your understanding of business is, the better you are at engaging people, and consequently the more power you’ll have.“DECA is not just a business class. It’s a life class. It teaches students how to think on their feet and communicate their ideas,” Regional Occupational Program (ROP) adviser Mariam Shafiey said.Especially during high school when some students have minimal self esteem, DECA competitions help students with self-assurance.“By putting myself in front of a judge, I became more confident and learned that I can be convincing. It gave me a sense of power,” Hadi said. “I could be anything I wanted and do anything I put my mind to, even start my own business.”With this newfound confidence, Hadi proceeded to become DECA’s Vice President of Southern California and win numerous awards in the categories of Marketing, Entrepreneurship and Non-Profit Business — but this is just the beginning.“I am now running for National Office for the position of International DECA President. Campaigning and fund raising for this position is a long and rigorous process as I must raise $10,000 to cover campaign expenses,” Hadi said. “I hope to be elected for this office and represent Santa Monica High School and California DECA at the national level.”Whatever result turns up, the fact that Hadi is competing to be president for this international organization is remarkable.No matter what career she ends up pursuing, Shafiey and Hadi’s best friend and Samo alum Sonia Ahmad has full faith in her future and knows it’s bound to be a bright one.“Zahra is definitely a social butterfly, but since she joined DECA from such a young age, she has gained skills in leadership, time management and professional behavior and I’m sure these will help her succeed in the future,” Ahmad (’12) said.With a drive and determination like Hadi’s, not even Hercules’ 12 Labors are a threat.

 mazcarate@thesamohi.com