I have been on this journey of World Scholar’s Cup for a year and a half now. Well, the journey has had its fair share of bumpy experiences, but now as I’m upon on this stage I’m left to only my retrospection which tells me of how rewarding this journey has been.
The competition is one that is wholly inclusive of global cultures and opinions with events that give not only an opportunity to win and succeed but to gain experience and mostly skill. The World Scholar’s Cup requires different skills, out of which most, I did not start off with, they were picked up along the way.
As IB students it would be heartless of me to go on and on about skills of critical thinking, persuasion, teamwork, oration and communication, but these are the one delicately crafted and divided into the four academic events of the cup.
Team debates and Collaborative writing are the ones that ignite critical thinking, persuasion, research and the ability to plan and structure an argument. The Scholar’s Bowl is the one ever so demanding of patience and teamwork mixed with a dose of coffee. Lastly, we come to the Scholar’s Challenge the quiz of an individual’s memory, the ability to correlate and connect to the six subjects which are current and thought provoking, with the power to shape your world view. It only takes a little teamwork some note making and debate practice to get anyone through these.
I know, it does seem like a lot but, when you are there, filled with adrenaline, those two days with the academic events all lined up, finish in a jiffy. Which leaves a scholar with more than enough room to enjoy the harmony in the amalgamation of cultures.
Dev Vaidya
Grade 11