With this attitude, I decided to join the school’s Academic Challenge Team to compete against other schools in a quiz bowl. I thought it would be amusing to showcase my intelligence. Little did I know that the team did not have a successful record since it was founded and that the team members were discouraged and ready to quit. However, I was not giving up without a challenge, so I gave suggestions as to how we could make progress as a team before the Regional Tournament. Hearing the stories from previous years were quite shocking and one in particular stood out to me the most. For instance, it was the day of the Regional Tournament and the Academic Challenge Team was ecstatic with adrenaline bursting through their bodies. They could not wait to get on the buzzers and defeat their opponents. Rushing off the bus in a herd as they came close to approaching the victorious doors of the Regional building, only to be turned around before they even attempted to try because as the director stated in his own words, “You guys are not going to win anyway, so here are your participation ribbons, better luck next time!” The humiliation and anxiety the team experienced was horrific. The other teams who were waiting to enter the building laughed in their faces as they walked back to the bus. The fact that the director
With this attitude, I decided to join the school’s Academic Challenge Team to compete against other schools in a quiz bowl. I thought it would be amusing to showcase my intelligence. Little did I know that the team did not have a successful record since it was founded and that the team members were discouraged and ready to quit. However, I was not giving up without a challenge, so I gave suggestions as to how we could make progress as a team before the Regional Tournament. Hearing the stories from previous years were quite shocking and one in particular stood out to me the most. For instance, it was the day of the Regional Tournament and the Academic Challenge Team was ecstatic with adrenaline bursting through their bodies. They could not wait to get on the buzzers and defeat their opponents. Rushing off the bus in a herd as they came close to approaching the victorious doors of the Regional building, only to be turned around before they even attempted to try because as the director stated in his own words, “You guys are not going to win anyway, so here are your participation ribbons, better luck next time!” The humiliation and anxiety the team experienced was horrific. The other teams who were waiting to enter the building laughed in their faces as they walked back to the bus. The fact that the director