Oct. 18, TSA officially opened its doors at RCMS after long months of waiting, and many students were able to finally join this STEAM/STEM based group.
TSA stands for Technology Student Association. This student-based group competes in competitions and conferences related to STEAM/STEM (Science, technology, engineering, architecture/arts and math.)
“TSA offers students with valuable exposure to a wide range of fields of study in events,” former TSA host Ms. Sona Sharma-Chibber said.
“These events can range from environmental service to partaking in simulations of real careers. We attend four competitions a year, including the national conference” said Maanya Divarkar, a TSA officer.
She said, “Tournaments are where our hard work pays off.”
First, members choose and get registered for an event and complete the specific project. Then, judges will grade their project(s) and may call them back for interviews.
TSA competes against different students in our school, region, technosphere (state), and nationals, which are being held in Nashville, TN, this year.
Competitions can range from presentations and speeches, to debates; additionally, students participating in the competition present their project to judges.
At the end of a competition, awards for the top contestants for an event, the top scoring school, and the most successful individual, can be achieved with academic rigor.
TSA is a rigorous group, and they look for vital qualities in their members. When accepting tryouts, TSA is looking for solid, specific, and detailed projects to show that a student is determined and ready for this commitment. Ms. Sharma explained that students must be self-sufficient, goal-oriented and have a strong passion for learning.
“Even though you learn so much from participating in TSA, it’s good to start off with a strong foundation of skills, which is why we have the tryouts,” Maanya said.
According to her, joining this rigorous group is beneficial and references of being a TSA member in resumes are advantageous. Furthermore, Maanya says, TSA gives students lifetime skills such as time management.
“Being in TSA teaches you many things. It teaches you collaboration, communication, meeting deadlines on time and especially a lot about technology,” former host, Ms. Sharma said. “TSA students develop skills that prepare them for future success in STEM.”
Adyan Khan, a TSA officer, said dedication is important.
“For a TSA member, we first and foremost look at their level of commitment,” he said. “They should be committed to TSA because it is important that we are giving our best.”
TSA also looks at their level of comfort with technology and their skill in giving presentations. Students not only compete with technology, but also participate in events that include public speaking, engineering and much more.
“I strongly recommend TSA because I feel that it is a variety of experiences,” said Adyan.
From stories of helping students to winning competitions all the way in Orlando, Florida, TSA finally comes back to RCMS.
“Watching the students grow into exceptional leaders at the regional, state and national levels has been incredibly rewarding. I’m immensely proud of their achievements and the dedication they’ve shown,” says Ms. Sharma said.
