“Every girl deserves to take part in creating the technology that will change our world and change who runs it” – Malala Yousafzai
First of all, it was an honor to be the only girl in a team of three to represent in this marvelous worldwide robotic competition. World Robotic Olympiad (WRO) is a truly global competition dedicated to science and technology to give as many young creative people all the opportunities to develop their innovation and problem-solving skills. This competition was held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia before the qualification in international competition in Thailand. Despite the little experience we had in the robotics field (since this competition was our second time), the two teams from the Liger Leadership Academy did an extraordinary job in engaging in the competition as an individual who worked hard in the team and thought of taking the skills and experiences rather than winning as a whole.
As a member of the team, I appreciated the effort and endeavor they had put in preparation for the actual competition. This competition and the process of teamwork made me came to a realization and an understanding that teamwork is genuinely the heart of great achievement for the team.
During the competition, my team did our best and we managed to priority the methods that work best for our team. We had only one chance to complete our robot and those moments were filled with excitement and nervousness. Due to the vigorous teamwork we had and our extreme confidence in our robot, that nervousness seemed to fade away on the second rounds of the three rounds.
This competition didn’t only teach me the skills of technology, science, and teamwork, it brought me to a world that is filled with young creative minds. Most specifically, I had made a lot of new friends from the different academy and shared our robotic journey as adolescents who passionate about robotic.
On the evening of the competition day, it came for a time to announce the winners. Both of the Liger teams are in Junior Category. What a piece of incredible and phenomenal news, my team qualified for the FIRST PLACE of junior division while the other team qualifies for SECOND PLACE. It is a successful moment for my team and my friend’s team. It was also an honor to receive our achievement trophies from the Secretary of State of Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth, Deputy Director of STEM Cambodia, and more. It is an unforgettable experience of our robotic journey.