My events in Science Olympiad have spanned from biology and chemistry to hands-on engineering builds, each one helping me grow in different ways.

One of my earliest inspirations came from researching the migration of the Monarch Butterfly, which sparked a fascination with aerodynamics. In sixth grade, I channeled this curiosity into building gliders, and the thrill of watching my glider slice smoothly through the air was unforgettable. Later, I took on E-Wright, where I built and flew rubber-band-powered helicopters entirely on my own, without a mentor. It was a challenging but rewarding journey—testing the balance between weight and lift, mastering the use of a torque meter, and experimenting with different rubber bands to fine-tune flight. Flying it successfully in a school gym after hours of practice in my living room felt like an achievement built through persistence and self-learning.

Mission Possible was another favorite event, where we built intricate Rube Goldberg-like machines to complete a series of actions using marbles, pulleys, and levers. This event taught me practical applications of mechanics concepts, from energy transfer to precision timing. I also loved working on Trajectory, where we designed and built devices to launch ping-pong balls into specific targets. This event taught me how to test different elastic forces to ensure consistent performance. One of my proudest moments was when, after countless hours of testing, I launched the ball perfectly into a bucket at the final competition. It was a huge breakthrough, and it gave me the chance to use CNC machining to create a custom hook that made my design more precise and efficient.

I found the mystery-like nature of events such as Crime Busters and Forensics equally captivating. These events were like real-world puzzles—analyzing chemical reactions, fingerprints, and fibers to solve scenarios sharpened my problem-solving skills while keeping me engaged in the science behind crime scene investigations.

Biology events like Heredity and Anatomy & Physiology have had the most lasting impact on me, laying the foundation for my career objective of becoming a physician-scientist. I have participated in Anatomy & Physiology for five years, learning in-depth about the body’s systems and how they interact. Studying from comprehensive texts like Gray’s Anatomy and Guyton’s Physiology has deepened my fascination with human biology and strengthened my resolve to pursue a career in medicine. Similarly, Heredity sparked my interest in genetics and led me to explore various books on the subject. This growing passion for understanding how genetics influences human health has driven my goal to contribute to the field of personalized medicine.

Throughout my SciOly career, every event I’ve participated in has not only been a source of joy but also a stepping stone toward my future.