The Scratch Competition That Changed My Life
When I was fourteen years old and in Primary Six, I participated in a national Scratch programming competition. At the time, I had no idea that a simple school project would become one of the defining moments of my life.
The competition began at the sector level. Five students from my school were selected to participate, each working on a different project. I chose to address the issue of global warming. My project used Scratch animations and code blocks to explain environmental challenges and possible solutions in a way that was simple, interactive, and easy to understand.
I spent three intense days working on the project. During that time, I became completely absorbed in the process. I constantly asked myself questions:
“How can I make this better?”
“What will happen if I do this?”
“Why does this work this way?”
“What if I try a different approach?”
Without realizing it, I was developing the curiosity and critical thinking skills that would later shape my passion for technology and problem-solving.
On the presentation day, I was scheduled to present after nine other students. As I watched them demonstrate their projects, I was impressed by their creativity. At the same time, I found myself wondering how they had built their ideas and whether my own project would be good enough.
When my turn came, I stepped onto the stage and presented confidently. Although I was only fourteen years old, I spoke with the confidence of someone much older. I explained my project, demonstrated the animations, and answered questions from the judges.
When the results were announced, my project was ranked second in the sector. The first-place project belonged to Harerimana Josue, a student from a neighboring school who had created a project about tourism.
Although I was happy to qualify for the next stage, I secretly felt disappointed. I believed my project deserved first place. For the first time, I experienced the feeling that effort and results do not always align perfectly.
Instead of dwelling on that disappointment, I chose to work harder.
For the next two days, I improved my presentation and prepared for the district competition. Early on a Monday morning, a vehicle arrived at my school to take us to Kamembe, where the district-level competition would be held at Ecole Islamique de Rusizi.
During the journey, I sat with Josue and our supervising teacher. Josue and I spent much of the trip discussing our projects and debating which one was better. He passionately argued that his tourism project was the strongest and even capable of winning at the national level. Listening to him motivated me even more to prove the value of my own work.
When we arrived at the competition venue, I found myself among dozens of talented students from different schools across the district. Within a few hours, I was once again standing on a stage presenting my project.
I gave the presentation with the same confidence and determination that had carried me through the sector competition.
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Afterward, we were invited to lunch while the judges finalized the results. Like every other participant, I waited anxiously for the announcement.
Then came a moment I will never forget.
My project was ranked fourth among approximately fifty projects from across the district.
The project that had placed first at the sector level finished tenth.
I was shocked.
The result forced me to rethink everything I believed about competition, success, and recognition. How could a project that was judged second at the sector level become one of the top projects in the entire district?
That day taught me a lesson that has stayed with me ever since:
People’s opinions are not always final, and rankings do not always reflect true potential.
I learned that success often depends on perseverance, preparation, and self-belief rather than immediate recognition. Had I allowed disappointment at the sector level to discourage me, I might never have discovered what I was capable of achieving.
The experience transformed my confidence. Soon after the competition, teachers from other schools began calling to congratulate me. Some even invited me to share my experience and mentor their students.
For a young student from a rural school, this was a remarkable moment. I had competed against students from larger and better-resourced schools and proved that talent, determination, and hard work can come from anywhere.
More importantly, the competition ignited something within me. It sparked my interest in technology, research, innovation, and problem-solving. It showed me that technology is not just about computers or programming — it is about turning ideas into reality and creating solutions that can make a difference.
Looking back today, I realize that the fourth-place certificate was not the most valuable thing I gained from that experience.
What I gained was confidence.
Confidence to question.
Confidence to learn.
Confidence to create.
Confidence to compete.
And most importantly, confidence to believe that nothing is impossible simply because of where I come from.
That lesson continues to guide me today, and it remains one of the foundations of my journey in technology.
