A taste of Yale
Stellar success in the Bangkok preliminaries gave Izzie, Rashi and Serafin the results they needed to qualify for the highly anticipated Yale University Tournament of Champions – part of the esteemed World Scholar’s Cup (WSC) programme. The tournament enables participants from all over the world to interact with Yale students and faculty. They eat Yale dining hall food, hear from Yale University professors, and find out how to leverage the World Scholar’s Cup experience to help them gain admission into the globally acclaimed university.
For Year 10 student Rashi, it was “a dream come true”.
“The chance to go to Yale was what prompted me to sign up for the competition – but to actually qualify for the Tournament of Champions on our first try was amazing,” she says. “My friends and I were very excited because it was a once in a lifetime opportunity and we wanted to make the best of it, which we definitely did!”
Medals galore
Rashi excelled in the event, coming away with five medals – three golds and two silvers – in a mix of individual and team events.
“The Yale round was pretty challenging. There were students from all around the world, from every single country that qualified, so the competition level was incredibly high.”
But an outstanding medal haul wasn’t all that Rashi gained from the experience.
“Even though it’s a very hard competition, there were also so many fun moments. I made quite a lot of new friends, and created memories that will be with me forever. I loved participating in all the events and challenging myself to do my best, and I got to visit NYC and Boston on our free days.
“I learned that although winning is important, it’s the memories that you make that stay with you forever, so we should make the best of every moment, and appreciate everything we have. WSC also showed me that there is always another more creative way to solve a problem – and nothing is truly impossible.”
International competition, immeasurable benefits
Year 10 student Izzie also made her mark, receiving a whopping six medals across a wide range of events, from debate and writing competitions to the highly anticipated Scholar’s Bowl and Scholar’s Challenge.
“I don’t often join competitions, and this was my first time entering the World Scholar’s Cup – but it certainly won’t be my last,” says Izzie. “I was able to gain a great deal of knowledge about various fields and to this day I still reference the content of WSC. I really enjoyed bonding with my teammates, meeting new people, and going places I’ve never been to – not to mention getting a glimpse of student life at Yale as it is such a prestigious institution.”
Top tips for tournament success
So what does it take to succeed in this highly regarded international competition? According to Rashi, plenty of study!
She says, “You definitely have to be willing to study quite a bit to really be able to enjoy these competitions. Winning medals and trophies is something that is a great accomplishment which I’m sure everyone would expect when they sign up, so working towards that is important.”
But as Izzie points out there is a lot more to the Tournament of Champions than just medals. Her advice to those who are setting their sights on the next World Scholar’s Cup? “Don’t be nervous and enjoy the ride. The academic aspect of the competition isn’t everything – the people you meet and the things you experience along the way are what will stick with you forever.”
