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Unread 13-04-2014, 01:48
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Jacob Bendicksen Jacob Bendicksen is offline
Figuring out what's next
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Team Role: Alumni
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Rookie Year: 2012
Location: United States
Posts: 771
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Re: Chairman's Award Iteration

We had a pretty interesting experience with iterations. After our presentation at Oregon City (first district), we got some minor feedback from the judges that wasn't too hard to fix for Wilsonville (the second district). However, at Wilsonville we got some...let's just say "constructive" feedback, and we realized that a total overhaul would be the only way to be competitive at OSU (our third and final district). We spent all of spring break rewriting the presentation, and the judges at OSU absolutely loved it - they said that they were surprised that we hadn't won earlier.

Going into district champs this weekend, I was cautiously optimistic about our chances - I knew we had a powerful presentation, but we had only done it once for judges. However, we talked with them about our process (one of them was a judge at Oregon City), and after we won this afternoon (still freaking out internally) one of them told me that our iterations were part of the reason that we won.

Probably the biggest lesson that we learned from all of this is that you have 10,000 characters and five minutes - you don't have to say the same things.

Also, while losing isn't fun (especially twice in a row), it makes you better. I believe that if we had won at Oregon City or even Wilsonville, we would not have won this afternoon. I know it's a bit too late for this season, but next year all of you should keep in mind: don't give up after the first event. It'll make you stronger.
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Yale University Class of 2020

Team 1540 | 2012-2016
7 Chairman's Awards, 6 other awards, 2015 Dean's List Finalist, 1 event win, 2 finalist finishes. Thanks for an amazing ride.