At Lexington High School, STEM team tryouts are in full swing.
Whether they are refining their robots or writing tryout tests, clubs are preparing for the upcoming year of events and competitions. For underclassmen, joining STEM teams serve as new opportunities to broaden their horizons.
“I knew that there were many events and that there’s something for everyone. I’m looking forward to learning new things,” Mrigank Verma, a freshman trying out for Science Olympiad, said.
For some teams, the tryout process requires a good sense of hardware knowledge and the ability to solve problems on the fly. VEX Robotics Team 606 co-leader Ryan Jiang mentions the importance of these qualities in his team’s tryout experience.
“You would obviously have to memorize the parts, know what they do, and know when not to use them. But beyond theoretical stuff… I had to find the best way in the moment, without memorizing stuff,” Jiang said.
Certain STEM teams require potential team members to have a good sense of collaboration. National Ocean Sciences Bowl (NOSB) co-captain and junior Jocelyn Chen mentions the specific strategies that helped her acclimatize to the competition.
“Something unique about NOSB I have learned in comparison to participating in other STEM teams is stuff like finding patterns in questions and answers, also improving my reaction time, and also being able to work quickly together as a team,” Chen said.
Chen believes that potential members should prioritize learning about topics they’re genuinely interested in.
“You should definitely go there to have fun, and study topics that you are passionate about, rather than ones that you think might help you get onto the team,” Chen said.
The tryout process is not only challenging for prospective members, but for current captains as well. Envirothon captain and LHS senior Eileen Ho highlights this perspective as she crafts this year’s tryout.
“Preparing and hosting tryouts is about balance: how can we make sure that tryouts are fair for both new members and returning members,” Ho said.
Ho further encourages prospective members to be patient, and explore not only the wide range of STEM clubs at LHS, but also the many options within individual clubs, such as Science Olympiad or Envirothon.
“I would assure my younger self that I would find my niche. I think that’s the best part of being in a club that allows you to choose what you want to do, whether it’s in Science Olympiad or Envirothon. At the end of the day, your passion for the subject is what is going to set you apart from the others and what is going to allow you to excel,” Ho said.
