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Venice’s Academic Decathlon team has been preparing for their upcoming competition January 20 at Washington High School, where students will work together to strengthen their knowledge on a broad range of topics like math, social studies, music history, and art.
There’s a lot that goes into preparing the students for competition success, according to history teacher Joseph Schwab, the team’s sponsor. There’s a lot of time that students put into their work, dedicating three hours after school three or four days a week to study.
“The students are independently studying note packets as well as preparing with one another and putting together speeches, interviews, and tackling a bunch of different topics,” Schwab said.
In addition to their January competition, which focuses on core subjects, the students have a second competition February 3 where they have to come up with an impromptu speech. They also will speak in front of a group of panelists that will ask on the spot questions that they have to quickly answer.
The amount of pressure and expectations put on students is definitely stressful; however, Schwab stressed the importance of AcaDeca and the role it plays in college and career readiness.
“It’s a team effort,” he said. “Much like working in an actual workspace, there is the idea of collaboration. It requires every participant to equally put in as much time and effort as their counterpart regardless of grade level or scores.”
Not only does the club give a sense of camaraderie, but it also gets students ready for college and builds skills on how to study for those rigorous exams. With all the hard work comes skill and reward for students.
Schwab noted how proud he is of participants.
“They’re go-getters,” he said. “Regardless of any shortcomings or obstacles that they face, they always put their best foot forward when it comes to maintaining that momentum.”
He mentioned the most rewarding part of leading AcaDeca is seeing the excitement and confidence students build as they progress. Junior Jeremy Arnold, co-president of the club alongside junior Robert Carter, agreed about the excitement he feels come competition.
“It’s my favorite part,” he said. “I love it and that’s why I’m doing it.”
Although it takes a lot of studying and even more hours spent at school, the students know what they’re getting themselves into and thoroughly enjoy it.
The students are able to show up and self study without the requirement to collaborate; however, Arnold said that they choose to and it adds to the fun and helps create community.
The hardest part according to Arnold is staying consistent.
“Knowing that we have 8 months to study for this one day, there are days where you feel like it’s so far away that you can skip today, but you have to stay consistent.”
According to Schwab, all the hard work pays off and is a great asset for college.
Overall AcaDeca is not only a club but a useful tool for the future success of Venice High students looking to accelerate their college and career readiness.
