RIFBLA Alumni

Hello RIFBLA, this is Ari Dulchinos, and what will perhaps be my final post. I've been incredibly honored and grateful to be serving RIFBLA for the past three years. As my final act as webmaster I thought it would be nice to honor the hard work that Dr. Brooks and our outstanding officer team has done this year.

I reached out to our officers to share their final thoughts and reflections about FBLA, as well as where they will be going in the future. Hopefully this will inspire you, the next generation of RIFBLA to see how this organization has positively impacted our lives and helped us achieve our academic and personal goals!

What is the best part about RIFBLA?
Ajiehume: I really enjoyed the team the most. Everyone was so kind and interactive and I’m proud of everything that we were able to achieve!
Sunny: For me, the best part about RI FBLA was the community of business-minded people it fostered. Not only did this community encourage me to pursue my passions, but it also affirmed my love for the business world.
Eric: The local chapters, communities, and outside collaborators that encompass the RIFBLA network.
Holly: The best part about RIFBLA is the amount of commitment between the advisors and students to take advantage of the opportunities that the organization offers, in order to empower students and expand their knowledge on business. The advisors are amazing and truly want all students across local chapters to succeed. Despite being from a small state, the students are so passionate about FBLA which makes being a State Officer so much more meaningful.
Ari: Having the opportunity to work with such talented and capable peers and advisors, which truly prepared me for the business world.

What is one important lesson you have learned from RIFBLA?
​Ajiehume: I learned a lot more about what leadership meant and how to work well in a group. I worked along side Eric and it taught how to be more collaborative and it opened my mind to new ideas!
Sunny: One important lesson I learned from RIFBLA was the importance of soft skills. While it's important to have technical skills, soft skills elevate your ability in any role-- I see them as the hallmark of any good leader.
Eric: FBLA is not just any after school club, it is an amazing place to meet individuals will unending passions for their own unique interests and build up a strong network of life-long friends.
Holly: Through RIFBLA, I learned that nothing is guaranteed to be easy. Our State Officer team has been amazing and did our best to overcome to many obstacles we had no control over. I think it is important to remember that you can do anything you set your mind to, especially if you have a great team to support you!
Ari: RIFBLA offers a lot of opportunities. I have learned that it is important to take full advantage of every opportunity that you are given, you never know what you may learn!

What college are you going to attend?
Ajiehume: Babson College
Sunny: University of Pennsylvania
Eric: Harvard Univeristy
Holly: University of Southern California
Ari: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

What major will you study?
Ajiehume: Concentration in Global Business Management and Environmental Sustainability
Sunny: Management, Finance, and Communications
Eric: Pre-Med Neuroscience & Health Policy
Holly: Business Administration with an Emphasis in International Relations
Ari: Computation and Cognition with a minor in Economics

​What is one future goal/dream you have?
Ajiehume: I would love to just help people in any way I can in whatever line of work I am in. I want to give back to communities that really need a helping hand and give back to the world. I hope of one day owning my own business and become a pioneer of helping our world be more environmentally conscience!
Sunny: I'd love to become the CEO of a start-up or of an established company.
Eric: I hope one day that I will have the ability, resources, and experience to expand the scope of healthcare to a much broader range of underserved communities as well as bridge the gap between health and care.
Holly: While I do not know exactly what career path I would like to go into, my goal is to use college as an avenue to explore the different fields of business. I am not sure if I want to join the corporate side of business or the nonprofit sector, but I know that whatever I chose I want it to be meaningful. My dream is to be happy in my career and able to give back to the world.
Ari: One of my aspirations is to create an accessible and novel technology that assists children from developing countries in learning to read to enhance their quality of education and life.

Who you'd like to thank / final thoughts:
Ajiehume: I’d like to thank Dr. Brooks for appointing me the position. I’ve definitely had a lot of fun being on the team and grew as a leader and that wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for him, so thank you Dr. Brooks! I would also like to thank everyone on the team and all we’ve accomplished. You all are very bright and intelligent people and I have no doubt that you guys will be super successful later on in life! Congrats to everyone graduating this year!
Sunny: I'd like to thank my mother and father for always encouraging me, my sister for always challenging me, Mrs. Page, East Greenwich High School, and my peers for guiding me, Dr. Brooks for bringing out the best in me, and FBLA itself for all the lessons and skills that it has provided. I will always be grateful for the wonderful experience that was these past three years in FBLA.
Eric: I owe it to Dr. Brooks and our State Officer team as well as my chapter advisor Ms. Croft and our WHS chapter officer team for showing me the great things we can do when we work together as a team and as a collective rather than individuals. It's truly amazing what can be accomplished when you combine everyone's talents and expertise!
Holly: I’d first like to thank Dr. Brooks for his unconditional love for RIFBLA. His commitment to upholding the organization and putting his all into the RIFBLA students is incomparable. Thank you to Ms. Croft for encouraging me to join FBLA and become a State Officer. Lastly, thank you to my fellow State Officers and all RIFBLA members who continue to inspire me to continue my path in leadership and business. I love you all and so grateful to have been apart of RIFBLA!
Ari: I would like to extend my gratitude to Dr. Brooks, Mr. West, and all of my fellow officers in RIFBLA, Barrington FBLA, and members. I would also like to thank my parents and teachers for supporting my educational endeavors throughout my life. FBLA has been incredibly meaningful to my life and I am eternally grateful and honored to be a member of the community.

Ajiehume

Eric

Holly

Ari

Sunny