COMPETITIVE EVENTS TIPS
By Christina
As 2013 comes to a close, we want to remember this summer as
a memorable year in TSA history, the first year that California has
sent representatives to compete at Orlando, Florida for TSA
Nationals. However, being not only the first California TSA
competitors but also freshmen in high school can be quite daunting for 9th graders
Emily Dang, Samantha Yang, and Sameer Sharma. Coming into Nationals, Samantha
knew she and her team members did not have as “much experience and knowledge”
as their fellow competitors; however, she learned that being unexperienced was
okay. “TSA is a place where you can experiment with your skills and find out what
you really enjoy doing,” this freshman states. These Diamond Bar High School
students explored a wide array of events, including Biotechnology, Music
Production, On Demand Video Production, and Digital Video Production. One event
that the group had difficulty working with was Music Production, a competition
where contestants had to create an entirely original piece using any instrument
ranging from the flute to the computer. Emily says that they found themselves
struggling as none of them possessed “a strong musical background.” Sameer, also
competing in Music Production, says that the event forced him to fight against
time, finding it problematic to get his creative gears working in such a limited time
span. In the On Demand Video event, Emily and her group had to “write a script,
shoot a video, and edit” a masterpiece all within the confinements of 48 hours and
limited resources, as they were staying at a hotel. Nonetheless, they pulled
through, gaining not just an enhanced knowledge of the workings of Garageband,
various editing softwares, and camerawork but also a better understanding of how
to cooperate efficiently with their team members. Their secret? “Do not
procrastinate and NEVER underestimate your competitors,” Samantha warns
future California TSA delegates. Be sure to keep an eye out for our future
California TSA leaders. This trio will be sure to make a comeback in many more
TSA events.
Contact Christina at [email protected]