Student Story: 'The Tournament Made Me Fall in Love With Chemistry'
A senior secondary student shares how preparing for the African Organic Chemistry Tournament changed how she sees science — and her future.
"Before the tournament, organic chemistry was just diagrams I had to memorise. Preparing for it changed everything — I started to see the logic, the patterns, the beauty in how molecules behave."
Months of preparation with her chemistry teacher and classmates turned into hours of focused problem-solving on tournament day. She did not win first place. She says it did not matter.
"I discovered I could think through a hard problem without panicking. I discovered I actually enjoy it. Now I want to study chemical engineering."
Stories like hers are why the African Organic Chemistry Tournament exists: not only to identify the best, but to inspire everyone who takes part.
