Beacon Academy was thrilled to represent Indonesia at the Tournament of Minds (TOM) Finals in Australia. The Tournament of Minds is a performance-based problem-solving competition that began in Australia in the 1980s and has since grown to include over 500 teams competing each year.
This year, Beacon sent two teams to the Hong Kong regional tournament in November, where one of them emerged victorious, winning the Primary STEM championship. These winning students were beyond excited to showcase Indonesian students’ talent, creativity, and resilience on the global stage. This experience has been transformative, helping them develop critical problem-solving skills, strong teamwork abilities, and an open-minded perspective.
The students were brimming with pride and determination as they prepared to demonstrate their abilities internationally and gain valuable learning experiences through TOM. This journey, which has spanned over a year, culminated in our final participation last week. It was an insightful experience that allowed students to step outside their comfort zones and challenge themselves to become risk-takers and communicators. We traveled to Sydney to compete with the top 73 teams from this year’s TOM tournaments, including representatives from regions such as Australia, New Zealand, Dubai, and Hong Kong. The students performed a skit presenting their solution to the challenge “A Bridge Too Far,” in which they built a bridge using wood, plastic, and other materials to support three weights from one side to the other. Their presentation showcased creativity, resilience, and teamwork.
One of the highlights of our journey was the badge-swapping frenzy between participants. Being Indonesia’s first representation at the finals, our badge became one of the most sought-after. If only we had brought more! We extend our heartfelt thanks to all the families, teachers, and supporters who backed us throughout this year-long journey.
Here are some reflections from the students about their TOM journey:
Gia
In my TOM team, I focused on the presentation, helped build the device, and contributed to the script, which really improved my writing and teamwork skills. We struggled with time management, especially as the deadline got closer, but splitting into smaller groups helped us stay organized and ensured everyone could focus on their tasks. Winning the regional championship was a huge surprise, making all our hard work worthwhile. Now, I’m really excited for the finals in Australia. It’s my first time competing at this level, and I can’t wait to showcase our creativity, collaboration, and cooperation. I’m eager to see what other teams have come up with, and it’s a fantastic opportunity to learn and grow. I’m excited to see how far our team can go!
Cayden
My role in TOM was to create or engineer the solution and occasionally help with the script. We faced challenges such as limited materials and difficulty in meeting criteria, but we enhanced our STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths) skills, which enabled us to develop more innovative solutions and overcome obstacles. Winning the regional championship was a proud moment for me and my parents, and it has helped me enhance my skills. I’m thrilled to participate in an international championship for the first time in my life.
Taara
During the process, my main role was writing the script, as that’s where my strengths lie. We faced challenges, such as managing our time while creating the solution, but we improved by splitting into groups. One group worked on the presentation (script, slides, summary, etc.), while the other focused on the device. I learned that cooperation is essential in teamwork, and I feel like I’ve become a better leader. Winning the regional championship was amazing. I didn’t expect it, so learning we placed first was a great surprise. This achievement means a lot to me, and I truly hope my parents are as proud as I am. I’m very excited for the finals in Australia. This is my first trip out of the country in eight years, so it’s not just an opportunity to visit a new place but a chance to win, and I’m aiming to make myself and my parents proud.
Nidhi
My main role was helping to build the bird, though I also contributed to the script and slides. Time management was challenging, so we divided ourselves into two groups: one to build the bird and the other to work on the slides and script. Participating in the Tournament of Minds has helped me improve my creativity, critical thinking, and research skills. I feel very happy that our hard work paid off when we won the regional competition. I’m a little nervous about the finals in Australia because I don’t think we’re fully ready yet.
Tushar
In TOM, my role was to engineer our solution and sometimes generate ideas for the script. We encountered challenges in time management and communication, so we started setting timers every 30 minutes to track our progress. We also assigned roles and shared ideas with each other to improve collaboration. I developed my analytical skills, particularly in problem-solving, research, and creativity. Winning the regional championship made me happy and proud, and it has given me more confidence for the finals in Australia. I’m excited to join the finals and hope we can win it.
Madeline
In my TOM team, I managed the presentation, helped build the device, and sometimes contributed parts of the script, focusing on storytelling and problem-solving. I explained how the device worked, the materials used, and how it was built. These tasks improved my writing, teamwork, and practical skills. Time management was challenging, but we addressed this by separating ourselves into groups for different tasks. Personally, balancing a tight schedule has been tough, but I’m working on organizing my time better. Winning the regional championship felt amazing and was a huge surprise for our team. All the hard work, practice, and problem-solving paid off, and it was a proud moment for all of us. I’m thrilled about the finals in Australia for TOM. It feels like an incredible opportunity to showcase our hard work and creativity on a larger stage. While I’m not sure what I look forward to the most, meeting other teams and seeing their ideas and performances is definitely exciting.
