The JETS team is back for another season of competition. After placing third at the state championship last year, the team is preparing for another year of academic challenges.
JETS, short for the Junior Engineering Technological Society, allows students to compete in categories such as biology, chemistry, engineering graphics, computer science, English, math and physics. The team attracts a wide range of students interested in science and technology.
This year’s tryouts drew 79 participants, with 43 students ultimately earning a place on the team. Members will compete in various events throughout the season, representing the school in competitions.
Annika Zhang, junior, competes in chemistry. She said she joined the team because of her love for chemistry, which developed ever since taking the course sophomore year.
“I’m really looking forward to competing alongside some really talented chemistry students who can help me and teach me to be a stronger chemist,” Zhang said. “Outside of that, I’m just really excited to be part of such a prestigious academic team that can be both a ton of fun but also introduces me to some of the smartest people around me whom I can look up to and learn from.”
She also said that the club itself has very low commitment and focuses more on the individual student reviewing content on their own through practice tests.
“It’s really nice to be able to create my own timeline to study for the chemistry stuff,” Zhang said.
She described that at the end she looked forward to strengthening her chemistry, becoming better at taking tests, getting into engineering and eating pizza with Mr. Joe Liaw, physics teacher.
Freshman Aditi Godla competes in math and physics. She mentioned that although she doesn’t have any personal goals for the season, she looks forward to competing with her friends and competing at state.
“I always liked competitions, and I found out a couple of my friends were trying out too so I wanted to try out with them,” Godla said. “I’m most excited for the competitions and doing them with my friends.”