history and culture of other Mediterranean civilizations. And you can’t understand history without learning something about geography, art, and literature. You learn that all those tests you can take at nationals are not random, but connected. You also learn that “an acquaintance with the civilizations of Greece and Rome will help us understand and appraise this world of today.” Even if you don’t stay with Certamen, you might discover a whole new world of topics that interest you.
The third reason I encourage you to try Certamen is the people. You have probably already discovered that the JCL brings together an amazing group of people. Sometimes, however, conventions, especially nationals, can seem overwhelming. Certamen provides a niche for students to come together in a unique way. The teamwork in Certamen parallels what students might experience in certain sports. Not everyone, however, is an athlete, and not everyone is interested in team academic competitions. When my Latin teacher, Mr. Peet, first introduced me to Certamen, I had no interest in playing. I was too busy, and I wanted to study math and science. How he opened my world! Although I became an ER doctor, I still played Certamen for four years, majored in Classics, taught high school Latin for a year, and returned to the world of Certamen as a coach. I’ve also been able to coach both of my kids in Certamen.
Although it had been more than 20 years since I had been to a convention, I was overwhelmed by the number of familiar faces there. Many of the same teachers and coaches are still active. Students I played against years ago had
become coaches themselves. Everyone was welcoming, and I had my JCL family back. None of this would have been possible for me without Certamen.
Whether you are seeking a fun competitive experience, knowledge, or camaraderie, Certamen has something for everyone. Historically, however, only a small percentage of JCLers participate, and we need more! If you are a student interested in playing, talk to your teacher. If you are a teacher interested in starting a team, there are many resources available through NJCL to help you and your students. Starting a team from scratch is extremely rewarding. Although our school fielded teams at the high school level, there were no Certamen opportunities for our middle school students. With the help of teachers at my school and my colleagues in the JCL, we were able to start a program in the middle school and revamp our high school program. Not everyone continues with Certamen in high school, but most attend conventions, and our numbers are thriving. Consequently, I have gained quite a lot of knowledge and experience that I would love to share with other players or coaches.
I guarantee that if you try it, your effort will be well worth it.
2021 NJCL Open Certamen Finals
WHY YOU SHOULD PLAY CERTAMEN · Winter 2021· Torch: U.S.
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