Destination Imagination ;; Global Finals

My DI team family this year.

Me, Aaron, Katelyn, John, Mary, Matt, Cassidy.

Destination Imagination -- or as I fondly call it, DI.

I've been participating in DI for 5 years now {not consecutively} and it's something very near and dear to my heart.

DI is one of the hardest things to explain in the world. So, I'm going to let the officials of DI say it for me.

"Destination ImagiNation (DI) is an educational program in which student teams solve open-ended Challenges and present their solutions at Tournaments. Teams are tested to think on their feet, work together and devise original solutions that satisfy the requirements of the Challenges. Participants gain more than just basic knowledge and skills—they learn to unleash their imaginations and take unique approaches to problem solving." ~ from Destination Imagination's website

Each year, I have participated in the improv acting challenge. This years challenge was called News To Me. You are told to prepare a skit skeleton, as well as bring 6 different current events to the tournament. 4 minutes before you take the stage, you are given a randomly selected current event that you brought plus one that is tournament provided. You must make the two stories connect and explain a cause and effect relationship between them. And 1 minute before you go on, you are given an OMG (One-Minute-Glitch) which can and will drastically change your entire skit. Example; all your characters are melting snowmen; all characters are gargoyles; your skit is set in the middle of the desert. You are given points for the connection of the two news stories, the integration of the stories into your skit, your integration of your OMG, human connective scenery, teamwork, and creativity. And you have 5 minutes to perform your skit. 5 minutes may sound like a lot, but when you have to cram all of the above information, it flies.

Then your score for your central challenge (News To Me for us) is averaged with your score for Instant Challenge -- Instant Challenges require teams to engage in quick critical thinking. At a Tournament, a team will receive an Instant Challenge and the materials with which to solve it. The participants must think on their feet by applying appropriate skills to produce a solution in a period of just five to eight minutes. While Team Challenges build long-term problem solving and teamwork skills, Instant Challenges provide an exciting, impromptu creative experience for competing teams. By practicing Instant Challenges during the course of the season, students can increase their improvisational skills and train their minds to work quickly!

This year, my team placed first at Regional Competition, advancing us to State-wide Competition. At State competition, we placed 5th -- one place away from heading to Global Finals. We were crushed, angry, and confused. We had no clue what had gone wrong. The next morning, we get the best email of our lives. The 4th place team had dropped out.

We were headed to Global Finals.

Now, a lot of people don't realize how big of a deal Globals are. It's one of the biggest honors and accomplishments in your high school career. You get to participate in the tournament with teams from all over the United States, Canada, and 13 other countries. To have the opportunity to go is mind-blowing.

Super excited!

Katelyn and I

Typical laughter. We couldn't take a serious photo to save our lives.

We left early Tuesday morning and arrived in Knoxville, Tennesse late afternoon. The whole week was filled with laughter, memories, lots of walking, pin-trading, creativity, prank wars, ultimate frisbee, pizza, birthdays, big bows, and friends. After doing fantastically in both IC and Central Challenge, Closing Ceremonies were Saturday night. We came in 5th in the WORLD. Honestly, we were all hoping for a medal, but the fact that we made it that far in a tournament we shouldn't have even been in is a phenomenal feat. I'm so incredibly proud of us!

Opening ceremonies -- leis, flamingos, bows, oh my!

We ran into Kacie B from The Bachelor on University of Tennessee Campus! She was so sweet.

Birthday boys with their new toys!

My mommies for the week!

DI has helped me learn so much. It's taught me to think quickly on my feet, how to present myself in front of an audience, and how to work well with others. Finding DI was finding my niche. A place where I truly belonged. I love my teammates with all of my heart and I'm so blessed to have spent the 6 months with them that I did! Love you guys.

Rebekah

<3

The smolder. I'm surprised the picture actually turned out -- I was laughing far too hard.

Love my Momma <3

Closing Ceremonies!