By Ryan O'Connor
Staff Writer

Goffstown News/Ryan O’Connor From left, teacher Krista Scarlett laughs as student FBLA members Alicia Phillips, Fritz Lauer, Lizzie Aubin and Abby Clark, show off some of the merchandise sold in the student-run school store. According to Scarlett, the Goffstown High School apparel has helped triple the business of the store.

Not many Goffstown High School students would view going to school as a job. However, a select few have decided to take advantage of an opportunity to use their current learning environment to enhance their future business skills.

FBLA, or Future Business Leaders of America, reaches out to high schools throughout the country, and, according to teacher and program advisor Krista Scarlett, has made a big impact at Goffstown High School.

“FBLA is starting to really catch on. There is actually a waiting list for all of the business classes now,” said Scarlett. “It’s been growing rapidly and I expect it to continue to grow further.”

According to Scarlett, one of the ways FBLA students have decided to put their time and lessons learned to good use is by revamping the school store and tripling sales from last year.

“I joined to get first-hand experience, basically working in the store and treating it like it’s your own business,” said FBLA Vice President Alicia Phillips. “My favorite thing was rearranging the whole store.”

For most members, the experience alone is enough to keep them involved, but they are also using the FBLA to take advantage of an opportunity to help those who are less fortunate.

“The experience is a big thing, with the store and the conferences,” said senior FBLA President Fritz Lauer. “And it’s good to help out the community too.”

When Goffstown High adopted a school district affected by Hurricane Katrina, FBLA students sold wristbands and sent all of the profits to the district in October.

Then, in only two days, they raised $250 for underprivileged children before Christmas. While saying the moral and practical knowledge is priceless to them, FBLA students also said that involvement is fun and practical as well.

FBLA furthered my knowledge of the business world,” said senior Lizzie Aubin. “It is much more hands-on than regular business classes.”

In the fall, 40 FBLA students took a field trip to Stoneyfield Farm. While eating a “ton” of yogurt, they said they were able to learn a lot about business ethics, or, as Aubin termed it, “social responsibility.”

In addition, the group celebrated FBLA Week from Feb. 12 to 18. Among other activities, members went through the school picking up trash and making it as clean as possible, put on a pizza party to help recruit new members, and hosted a teacher appreciation breakfast where students actually cooked and brought in food for the faculty to enjoy.

“The main point of FBLA Week is to promote awareness of our club in the school,” said Lauer.

One of the main reasons students join and stay involved, according to senior events coordinator Abby Clark, is because of the dedication of leadership to keep the program active.

“We are one of the clubs that meets most often and stays active throughout the year,” she said.