The Anoka Siren

By: Sarah Kobelinski

On Wednesday, December 7, seven Anoka students along with Mr. Orr, departed from the Minneapolis International airport and headed east to the “City that Never Sleeps.”  Senior DECA members, Ashley Barthel, Chase Baumgartner, Anna Bendiske, Addison Czeck, Tony Palosaari, and Kristina Taggart went to New York through the DECA Internship Program, to see the many aspects of business throughout the city.  The Anoka students were joined with a similar group from Coon Rapids, who together visited the many famous sites of New York.  From the Statue of Liberty, Central Park, and Little Italy, to the Empire State Building, Soho, and Broadway, this five day trip was filled with memorable sights and sounds.  The best part for Kristina Taggart was definitely soaking in the energy of Times Square.

“All the lights are amazing, there is nothing like it in Minnesota,” said Taggart.

As a part of the business aspect of the trip the New York bound students participated in two days of morning business classes where they listened to professionals in the field.  The classes included representatives from Planet Hollywood and Dave and Busters who taught the students about the lives in those career fields and the marketing side of their companies.  They also took a tour of Soho, the famous shopping district of New York.  Tony Palosaari got a good feeling of the professional atmosphere that New York embodies by walking the city streets.

“The city is very professional and sophisticated with so many dressed up people who know what they want and won’t let anyone stop them,” said Palosaari.

Although the trip was very busy and the students felt like they were always on the move, this gave them an accurate feeling of big city life.  This trip was a once in a life time opportunity for many of the DECA students, who experienced a world unlike their own.