The last school year was my first time participating in any sort of UIL event. I went into my first event feeling very nervous, but it was also exciting. I have always enjoyed grammar and writing but adjusting to the UIL rules was like having to learn a new language. There are so many specific rules and guidelines that you would never take into consideration when writing. There is also a higher chance to get nervous or anxious, forget things, and overall have a much higher chance to make small mistakes.
The first UIL competition was at Bridge City High School. At the time, I only signed up to participate in one event: Copy Editing. You have 15 minutes to select the best word to complete the sentence and fix four grammar mistakes in five different short paragraphs. There were around 20-30 other kids from all over the area that were in the same event. I was surprised to hear that I placed third in my first ever UIL event.
After that point, I continued going to different meets around the Golden Triangle and placed a few more times. Not only does UIL provide students with an opportunity to engage in friendly competitions with other students, but you get to travel around and see many different campuses. The destinations are just other high schools, which are not exciting for most people, but I have always enjoyed seeing how the other schools are decorated and laid out.
I also signed up for Headline Writing during the last school year. It is very different from Copy Editing but still utilizes the same skills. You have 30 minutes to write headlines for six stories, with some requiring secondary headlines. The catch is that each headline must be a specific length, and they cannot be any shorter or longer than the provided parameters. From my personal experience, Headline Writing is easier than Copy Editing. In Copy Editing, you have less time and must correct all the errors, which can sometimes be difficult to spot. Headline Writing gives you much more creative freedom, and the longer time limit lets you relax and take your time.
Things really begin to get serious at the district meet. Last year, it was held at Lumberton High School, but the location switches every year. To move on to the regional meet at Stephen F. Austin State University, students need to place in the top three of their event(s). If there was ever a time where UIL became urgent and you need to try your absolute hardest, it would be now. The regional meet requires an overnight stay at a hotel in Nacogdoches, Texas, where the campus is located. This meet is filled with the best of the best participants in UIL, and placing in the top three of your event(s) means that you move on to the state meet at the University of Texas at Austin.
The regional meet was a lot of fun, even though I felt a little overwhelmed during my events. Being so far away from home on an overnight trip surrounded by hundreds of the smartest students in Texas catches up to you after a while. Despite this, it gave me the opportunity to explore a college campus for the first time. It was a lot of fun to walk around and see a campus that was much larger than any of the other schools I had been to. Because of the time between my two events, I had a lot of time to walk around and explore the campus. This was one of my favorite experiences during UIL, and I will try my hardest to place high enough and go back this year.
I would highly recommend that all students try out UIL. If there are any subjects that interest you or you excel at, there is a UIL event for it. It is a great opportunity for students to meet new people, travel to new places, and earn scholarships for college. There are events in Mathematics, Debate, ELA, Journalism, Computer Science, Theatre, and many more. I have really enjoyed participating in UIL, and I think that many others would as well. It may seem stressful or overwhelming at first, but there are plenty of staff, teachers, and students that are willing to help you out.
