It all started right before the final week of school, in June. In my Algebra 2 class, which is sixth period, I see a brochure-like informative flyer in her hand.
"What is that for? Did you win a scholarship or something?" I asked. She replied,"Oh no, it's for Academic Decathlon. My period 2 teacher gave it to me and requested to join the team."
Raising my left eyebrow, I was clueless of what she was trying to tell me. "What exactly is Academic Decathlon?" I asked curiously,eager to hear a respone. Then, she lent me the flyer, and I, urgently accepted it with a hidden excitement. I carefully read through it, word by word. "Hmmmm..this seems interesting."
Right after that day, I met my counselor in the office and immediately inquired about the Academic Decathlon (which I've never heard of before;funny, but true). I was particularly interested primarily due to the fact that we get to learn seven different subjects: English, Math, Social Science, Economics, Art, Music, and Super Quiz. She said I'm a potential candidate and requested for me to meet the sponsor. I went.
With my hands secretly trembling, I talked to the sponsor of the team. He said I could try out and provided me with the background information of what it's all about. I accepted the offer; I was scheduled for AcaDeca for sixth period for next the next year, my junior year( Originally, my sixt period was scheduled for Choir, as my music class).
We were required to go over the summer, two weeks before school started. I was filled with excitement. Based on what I remember, the first subject that we discussed. The theme for this year is about China. The first two weeks of preparation for the Scrimmage, and eventually the national competition was not that demanding. But as soon as school started, Academic Decathlon was far beyond my expectation.
Significantly, I learned from my teammates. One day, we had to study Microeconomics. Having been my first year in the team, I was naive of what questions the USAD Test will ask. One of my teammates offered to lecture us and clarify certain terms and concepts. I was stunned with his teaching abilities, not to mention that he dreams of becoming a teacher someday in our school.
Secondly, I learned the cultures, traditions and history of China, and how it contributes to the world. Personally, I like the Art Section dealing with certain types of objects including bronze vessels, oracle bones, jade, and earthenwares that have appeared and stored in tombs, that reveal their ancestral background. The Economics Section deals with China's economy, how it was reshaped through History. In the History Section, what attracted me was how it all tied up with the Arts, Econmomy, Literature, Music, and Climate. Absorbing and eventually internalizing the information provided was one way I viewed China with total respect and veneration.