First Lego Competition

Westerville City Schools has been hosting a district-wide Lego competition for the last 17 years. This was the first year my son, a kindergartener, was eligible. He definitely doesn’t take after his Lego-inept dad, as he loves to build.
​
Him and I entered the building with a tub of every Lego we own and an open mind of what this event was going to be like. As a first step, our tub was inspected by the volunteering high school lacrosse team to ensure we had no instructions on hand, pre-packaged sets or pre-built blocks. We checked in and found his four feet by four feet spot amongst the other kindergarteners on the freshly cleaned gym floor. 

Shortly after, he and 70-80 other participants were given a full hour to build whatever they wanted. He was confident, as he told me he was planning to construct a “space station”. I found my spot to support him in the nearby bleachers with a book and my computer.

I’m proud that he didn’t rush through his build, using 50 of the allotted 60 minutes. The judging followed, as my wife and daughters met us then for the awards ceremony. Two students from each grade would receive individual awards: best build and most creative. I don’t know how the judges did it, because every submission was awesome. Of course, this event enlisted true experts to lead the judging, as members of OhioLUG assessed the creations (I didn’t know this group existed until now).

He didn’t end up winning an award. And that wasn’t the point. We kept stressing to him to just try hard and have fun, which I think he did. He kept his head up and wasn’t disappointed, rather just more motivated to participate again next year. He tried something brand new and was creative in the process. Combined with a participation certificate, a treat from the concession stand and the memories, he won the day anyway.

-Steven Michalovich, Regular Contributor