My Time at DAEDF by Adyson Meek, 2024 Duncan High School Senior & DAEDF Intern

May 14, 2024

Duncan Area Economic Development Foundation hosted Ady Meek as a 2024 student intern as part of the Duncan High School Pathways to Future Careers program.

When I first started interning at the Duncan Area Economic Development Foundation, I had no idea what to expect. I had no idea what they did, who they were, or why they were so important. I learned very quickly, though, who they are and what they stand for.

The Duncan Area Economic Development Foundation, DAEDF for short, does it all. One thing that they do a lot of is trying to attract businesses to come to Duncan. A lot of people (myself included), do not realize just how much advocating it takes in order for Duncan to grow and thrive. DAEDF works constantly to make sure that Duncan is on the right track to successfully expand in all the right ways. A few of the ways they have done this is by attracting organizations like Model 1 Commercial Vehicles, Dream Team Prosthetics, and many others. Whether they are helping businesses find a new home, or a new physical space, they are always there to try and help Duncan fulfill its economic potential.

I have learned a lot in my few months interning at DAEDF. One of the most important things I have learned is that DAEDF is a huge asset to Duncan Public Schools. They want to see the students of Duncan flourish in their future careers. They do this by hosting career development events and activities, with one of those being the Junior tours. Even though I am not a junior, I did get to go on the tours and see Halliburton. It was awesome to see, and I am very glad I got the chance to. Had I not gotten to see it, I never would have known the different jobs and careers within the company. I’m sure this was probably the case for some of the other students, too. I am positive that the tour probably sparked some interest in at least a few students for a future career path, which was the exact intention of letting students see the facility. This is just
one of the examples of how DAEDF strides to help students see potential workforces to choose in the future.

Another way that DAEDF invests in the future of Duncan students is by hosting the C02 Car Races. This was a fun event to get to help with, because I got to see the work that goes into it in order to make it all possible. This showed me a side of event planning that I have never done or seen before. There is a lot of planning, organizing, and executing. When the day of the races came, it was awesome to get to see all of the students (Middle and High School) be so excited about racing their cars. What they do not realize, though, is that they are also learning while doing so. This opens a lot of students' eyes to the idea of STEM- Science, technology, engineering, and math. They get to explore their interests in the field, and get an understanding about if they are good at it, interested in it, etcetera.

DAEDF does not only focus on the students of Duncan, but also the adults of Duncan. One of the ways they do this is by hosting job fairs, helping the adults of Duncan find a workforce to call home. They are passionate about expanding the workforce of Duncan, as well as the community. They work very hard to make sure Duncan is a good place to call home. 

For me, personally, I started interning at DAEDF in order to explore future career options in the Business field. Since I have started here, I have realized that there are way more fields in Business than I realized before. This only makes me more excited to major in Business, because it has opened my eyes to all of the different possibilities for my future career path. One of the things that has taught me the most was making my own Business Plan. This made me realize the work that must go into just the early stages of a business so that it can open and operate. A person must know many aspects in order to successfully own a business, including things like: financial projections, funding requirements, basic needs to start, cost of lease/purchase, understanding audience, and more. I have a lot more respect for new businesses after working to create my own business plan.

I cannot wait to see what else I learn by the time May rolls around. There is always something to learn here at DAEDF, and the possibilities are endless. I am glad that I have been given the opportunity to see the behind the scenes of this organization, and I will definitely take what I have learned and use it in the planning of my future!