Time. That’s what students need more of. Time and support.
As the school year inches into its last grading cycle, the last few months before summer are full of different kinds of stress. Competitions are no exception to this.
The University Interscholastic League (UIL) competitions are rapidly approaching. Each contest is unique and falls under three categories: academics, fine arts, and athletics. And with the ongoing pressure from class deadlines and assignments, students try to find the balance for competing.
“We’re here to perform, but we’re also here to have fun,” junior Diego Navarro said. “It was my first year doing [band] UIL, so it was a bit intimidating at first.”
Competitions are a critical element in extracurricular life, where students are challenged to progress beyond normal comprehension and basic knowledge.
“Everyone worked really hard and the performances went well. There were a bit of training issues here and there, but other than that, we improved a lot compared to what we did last year,” senior Micah Varghese said.
Being one of the most prestigious programs in the nation, the UIL program motivates students to deepen their tactical skills and to enhance skills from previous years.
“I don’t think I would change anything from my choir audition,” senior Jasmin Rivera Lemus said. “Going in there and just singing my heart out – so people could feel what I was feeling – was a special moment itself.”
At some point, the competition can become an emotional drive for participants. Whether it was relief after finishing auditions or building team-bonding moments, students felt all sorts of emotions.
“I actually was not expecting to make it into the next level,” White said. “When I came into class afterwards, everyone was super warm and welcoming. It was definitely a good first-time experience.”
As competitors advance up in the competition, they experience a stricter criteria. Performing well is crucial for participants, and it can be seen as an emotionally significant moment for them.
“Character analysis was definitely the hardest part of my [theatre] performance,” sophomore Kailyn White said. “Coming in, I didn’t know how to truly get into character and become the person who I was supposed to become.”
Because the competition requires students to strive for excellence, competitors have to give it their all. Even when it tests their limits.
“All the pieces we played had a lot going on and were really prestigious. We did ‘The Mad Major’ and ‘Incantation and Dance,’ and both pieces were really cool,” Navarro said. “We would switch between dynamics and volume, like it would be soft suddenly and then go really loud out of nowhere.”
Competing builds a future foundation for students to further explore in competitions alike to UIL. Whether it’s academic skills or extracurricular achievements, students are inspired to continue pursuing their personal interests.
“It’s my last year here, so ‘In Remembrance’ meant a little more to me. It’s one of the last pieces I’ll ever be singing on stage,” Lemus said. “It was also emotional because it required you to act it out– so I definitely had fun with that.”
