If you were reading a list of clubs and saw the words Odyssey of the mind your first instinct would be to ask what Odyssey of the mind is but most would agree that it's a complicated answer. Odyssey of the mind is a mixture of acting, building, teamwork, problem solving, and writing all rolled into one thing and that's what makes it confusing but also what makes it great. The basic formula for Odyssey is you choose a problem that has rules for what must be done like build small cars without a motor or build a small wooden structure that can hold 100 pounds and have a script to go along with it. Odyssey is something where explaining it doesn't do it justice so if you are interested try to get in contact with a coach or visit Odyssey of the minds website to see how it really works. Odyssey is more about the people than the competition though and for those interested it goes much deeper than the surface.
I interviewed current Odyssey coach and ELA teacher Mrs. Young for her opinions on some of the biggest questions when it comes to Odyssey and here's what she had to say.
When asked “what skills would a student need for Odyssey?” She said “ All talents are great for diversity in the team so anything they may be good at can seriously help (art, acting, building, etc.) and when put together with other talents can create a good team. In Odyssey specifically though you need people who question, think outside the box, and
look at things in an abstract way.” In response to the next question “What are the most useful things a student can learn from Odyssey?” She stated “I would definitely say team work is something you have to be able to have or the team can become self destructive but accepting the ideas of your teammates is also extremely important” and in response to the question “What is one thing a Beginner should know before they join Odyssey” she responded with “If you want to succeed in Odyssey you have to put in the hours. Odyssey is a huge dedication just like a sport, You could practice 3 times a week for a game every saturday in sports but for Odyssey it's the same thing just in longer terms.”
Odyssey really is indescribable in the way it brings people across the world together to
compete but Odyssey is about the people. As an Odyssey team you get to see things like backdrops built out of water bottles, paperclip suits, and salsa dresses made from tissue paper. Odyssey is about building a world and while there are coaches just like in a sport while they can teach and guide they can't play the game. Coaches and odyssey are not allowed to give ideas or help build and making this world of plastic, nails, wood, and paint takes all the effort a person can have. Odyssey may be hard to describe but it's easy to say who its for, Its for the makers whether that's art, music, wooden structures, jokes, plays, scripts, or ideas they all work together to make something beautiful. That's what Odyssey is about.
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