Six months after WAICY 2023 finals, someone asked me: "Was it worth it?" I didn't have an immediate answer. On paper, yes. I became a finalist in one of the world's largest AI competitions, placed 4th in another track, and added a legitimate achievement to my college applications. But the real value of WAICY wasn't the credential—it was everything I learned about working under pressure, navigating ambiguity, and what actually matters when you're trying to do something difficu

You've chosen your track. You have an idea. Now comes the hard part: actually building something good enough to stand out among competitors. Making WAICY finals isn't about having the flashiest idea or the most complex technology. It's about execution, storytelling, and demonstrating genuine understanding of AI's impact. I learned this the hard way. My first project idea for WAICY was overly ambitious and technically impossible given my timeline. I pivoted to NutriGuide, whi

The first decision you'll make in WAICY isn't what to build; it's which track to compete in. This choice is more strategic than you might think. Pick the wrong track for your skill set, and you'll either be in over your head or underselling your abilities. Pick the right one, and you maximize your chances of standing out. When I competed in 2023, I entered two tracks : AI Showcase (where I became a finalist) and AI-Generated Art (where I placed 4th). Looking back, I made th

When I tell people I was a finalist in WAICY, the response is usually: "What's WAICY?" Fair question. Despite being one of the world's largest AI competitions with over 31,000 students from 80+ countries participating, WAICY (World Artificial Intelligence Competition for Youth) flies under the radar for a lot of high schoolers in the U.S. But here's what you should know: WAICY is one of the most accessible, impactful, and legitimately impressive competitions you can do