For as long as I can remember, I have always loved to build things on my own, whether it is a new toy ship model or a more complex bridge structure. I enjoy the en­gineering aspect of build­ing; I love to put gadgets and gizmostogether piece my piece, and tying the knowledge gained in the classroom of my math and science classes into these building projects.

When I entered middle school, such a big pas­sion turned into real hands-on experience once I joined my school’s Science Olympiad team. Ever since I joined, I have collaborated ideas with teammates and applied what I learned in class to various projects such as bridge models and boomer levers. Eventually, I finally had the opportunity to compete with Northwood High School’s team, even having the privilege of placing in regional and state competitions.

However, more than any awards, these expe­riences with Science Olympiad have taught me the importance of patience and perseverance. I learned that staying frustrated with any setbacks is counterproductive and a major hindrance to my abilities, especially as I work as part of a team. All of my teammates and I can agree that we have learned the importance of building a strong foundation for anything we start, as well as the positive effects of embracing challenges as lessons to grow. Moreover, we have learned to see the bigger picture beyond the intricate details of the loading points and axes of a bridge.

Extracurricular activities like Science Olym­piad present perfect opportunities to channel a student’s academic interests into tangible experiences. High school is more than just strong grades and test scores, but rather how a student turns passion into skills that can be ap­plied in the real world. Studies have found that these activities are what shape individuals to be leaders, community activists, and committed members of society. As students who strive to get involved in more than academics alone, our generation has benefited from the positive ex­periences that come with extracurricular activi­ties.