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

If Part 1 of this series was about the grind of getting to ISEF, Part 2 is about what happens once you’re finally there. No matter how many science fairs you’ve been to before, nothing really prepares you for the scale, the energy, and the sheer whirlwind of an ISEF week. From the moment you arrive to the last applause at the awards ceremony, the experience is equal parts overwhelming, exhausting, and exhilarating. I’ll take you behind the scenes of what a week at the world’s

When people see the photos from ISEF—the massive expo hall, students in blazers standing by huge boards, judges with clipboards—it feels like the Olympics of science fairs. And honestly, it kind of is. But those photos skip the most important part: the months of choosing a topic, wrestling with time, fixing broken code, re-formatting posters, and managing the “am I even good enough?” thoughts that sneak in. This is the part you don’t see. And it’s the part that gets you to IS

So far in this series, we’ve walked through every step of the research process: from curiosity and topic selection, through methodology and data analysis, to publishing and competing. Along the way, one question often comes up: Where do I actually find resources? Research can sometimes feel like a privilege reserved for those with access to expensive databases, lab equipment, or paid mentorship. But the truth is, there are countless free resources  out there that high schoole

Throughout this series, I've covered the entire research process: from curiosity and topic selection all the way to publishing and competing. But here’s the truth: very few researchers do it all alone. Behind every strong project is often a network of mentors, peers, and collaborators who provide guidance, feedback, and partnership. For high schoolers especially, mentorship and collaboration can be the difference between struggling in isolation and thriving with support. Yet

By now, you’ve traveled the full arc of the research process. You started with curiosity (Part 1), chose and narrowed a topic (Part 2), built a foundation of knowledge (Part 3), designed your methodology (Part 4), collected and analyzed your data (Part 5), and communicated your results through writing and presenting (Part 6). That’s already an incredible achievement. But here’s the thing: research doesn’t end with a finished paper or a classroom presentation. In fact, that’s

At this point in your research journey, you’ve put in weeks or even months of effort. You started with curiosity (Part 1), narrowed your question (Part 2), dug through background knowledge (Part 3), designed a methodology (Part 4), and collected and analyzed your data (Part 5). Now, you’ve reached the stage where all that work is ready to be transformed into something others can see, understand, and appreciate: writing and presenting your research. This step may feel less gla

So far in this series, you’ve done a lot of thinking and planning. You’ve clarified what research actually is (Part 1), chosen and narrowed a topic (Part 2), gathered background information to ground your curiosity (Part 3), and designed a methodology that lays out how you’ll answer your question (Part 4). Now, we arrive at the most hands-on and exciting stage: collecting and analyzing your data. This is the point where your project transitions from being theoretical to being

By now, you’ve made significant progress in your research journey. In Part 1, we reframed research as more than just assignments; in Part 2, you learned to choose and narrow a topic; and in Part 3, you figured out how to gather background knowledge and resources. The next step, designing your methodology, is where your project begins to take real shape. Methodology answers the question: How are you going to answer your research question?  It is the structured set of steps, to

By now, you’ve built a foundation: you understand what research really is (Part 1), and you’ve chosen and narrowed down your topic into something specific and manageable (Part 2). The next step is where most projects either build momentum or stall: finding background information and resources. This stage is about grounding your curiosity in what’s already known. Before you design an experiment, create a survey, or analyze data, you need to know what research has already been

In Part 1 of this series, we talked about what research really   means — not just Googling sources or writing a school report, but the process of asking questions, seeking answers, and creating knowledge that hasn’t existed before. That’s a big mindset shift, and once you start thinking this way, the natural next question is: Where do I even start? The first step is choosing a research topic. And while that sounds simple, this is actually one of the hardest parts of the entir

When you hear the word research , what comes to mind? For many high schoolers, it’s stacks of scientific papers, lab coats, or maybe just that dreaded “research paper” assigned in English class. But real research, whether in STEM, the humanities, or social sciences, is much more than just Googling sources or writing citations. It’s about curiosity, persistence, and the structured process of turning a question into new knowledge. This first part of the series is about rethinki

Competition day isn’t just the finish line — it’s the stage where months of work meet real-world testing. It’s your chance to not only present your project but to grow as a communicator, a problem-solver, and a member of the scientific community. How you approach the day — from setting up your board to handling unexpected challenges — will determine not just how judges see you, but how much you   get out of the experience. In this guide, I'll cover how to perform under pressu

If your science fair journey were a novel, this is the rising action — the part where your story gains momentum and the stakes get higher. You’ve chosen a topic, designed your plan, and collected data (or are in the process of doing so). Now comes the challenge: shaping all that raw work into something judges instantly recognize as exceptional . In this stage, the biggest difference between an average project and a standout one often comes down to preparation strategy, clari

Choosing the right project topic is arguably the most important  decision you’ll make in your science fair journey. Your idea will determine not only your level of motivation, but also how much impact your project can have in the eyes of judges, potential mentors, and future opportunities. A great topic can carry you through months of hard work with excitement — a poor fit can make the process feel like a chore. In this guide, I'll break down how to select a topic that’s uni

Science fairs are more than just a few trifold boards set up in a school gym — they are powerful, life-changing experiences that can shape your academic trajectory, professional network, and even your sense of personal identity as a researcher or innovator. Whether you’re in middle school, high school, or already dabbling in college-level work, understanding what   science fairs really are and why   they matter will help you approach them strategically and maximize their bene

This internship taught me that cybersecurity is as much about strategy, adaptability, and communication as it is about technical skills. I learned how to work in ambiguous, high-expectation environments, built relationships that led directly to new opportunities like JerseyCTF challenge development, and left with a practical framework for problem-solving. Below, I break down the biggest impacts on my skills, the lessons I’ll carry forward, and how future interns can get the m