OM experience teaches Middle School team about their futures

CENTRAL VALLEY — Trying to alter Shakespeare’s phrase, “To be or not to be,” into a new application might not be the easiest thing to do, but for this Monroe-Woodbury Middle School Odyssey of the Mind team, it offered them a great opportunity to challenge their minds.

Now, this first-place team will be joining four other teams to represent the Monroe-Woodbury School District later this month in Ames, Iowa, at world competition with teams from at least 25 other countries to present the their minds’ work.

The competition will be fierce, they know, but they are prepared to be a force to be reckoned with.

“This is not like a sports team,” said Brianna Reilly. “You get to use your mind and think around a dilemma and in the end, it usually always works out.”

Added her teammate Danielle Finnegan: “You get to free up all your creativeness.”

Fund raising The five OM teams are finalizing their fund raising to secure an additional $20,000 to make the Iowa trip a reality. With a record four first-place team victories in March at state competition, the district’s OM worlds budget cannot pay the full cost of the trip. Officials said each team must raise an additional $3,000 to make the trip a reality; and the second-place middle school team is challenged with raising the trip’s full cost: $8,000.

The five teams got closer to reaching that $20,000 goal with a $1,500 donation by the North Main PTA to the North Main Odyssey of the Mind team on Wednesday morning. Tomorrow, May 12, a spaghetti dinner is being held at the Monroe First Presbyterian Church from 6 to 9 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults; $6 for senior citizens and children; and free for children aged five to 10.

“Fund raising is going well,” said Debra Garling, the district’s Gifted/Talented coordinator who oversees OM. “Everyone is working so hard. We are continually amazed by the generosity of our community.”

Problem? What problem The team feels Odyssey of the Mind has a bigger potential impact on their lives. As the team continues to learn valuable lessons of how important a community can be to their success, they know Odyssey teaches them other important daily reminders as well.

Anuradha Shetty: “OM teaches you teamwork. If there’s problem, think it out.”

Brandon Adams: “OM teaches you patience. When times get tough, it’ll always work out in the end.”

Nicholas Sullivan: “OM teaches you teamwork and creativity and how to respect one another. This makes you act better outside of the classroom.”

Owen Chambers: “OM teaches you to kind of enjoy the little things and when you can enjoy the little things, you can enjoy the big things.”

Jensen Rodenheiser: “OM teaches you to compromise more and be more agreeable. It will help you to be more comfortable in life.”

The team also knows their OM experience will position them for their high school, college and adult careers.

“It teaches you about the future,” added Danielle. “If you need to say or do something smart and creative, you’ll have those skills. There’s a quote that says, ‘Go the extra mile. It’s not crowded there. Be more creative. Not a lot of people are.’”

Editor’s note: This is the fifth in a series spotlighting the five Monroe-Woodbury OM teams participating in world competition later this month.

By Nancy Kriz