Lesson 14: The journey > The achievement

We all grow up being told to aim for success, to set goals, and to chase after achievements. But in my experience, the achievements themselves are rarely what stick with us. It’s the journey—the messy, chaotic, beautiful process of getting there—that leaves the biggest impact.

When I participated in my first robotics competition, I thought the only thing that would matter was the result. The competition was in India, and my team and I were determined to give it our all. In the days leading up to it, we turned the basement of the hotel we were staying at into an impromptu robotics lab. We hauled in our equipment, spent hours troubleshooting the tiniest issues, and worked relentlessly to perfect our bot. It was hot, chaotic, and exhausting, but we didn’t care. Every second spent problem-solving as a team brought us closer together.

Then there was the moment that’s still etched in my mind: our coach walking in with a big grin and a tub of ice cream for all of us. Everything stopped. The wires, the laptops, the heated debates over code—it all went on pause as we gathered around for a moment of pure, simple joy. For a while, it wasn’t about the competition or the stress; it was just us, sharing laughter and stories over ice cream, like kids on a summer day.

What stands out to me now isn’t the final result day. I honestly don’t remember much about the awards ceremony or the score sheet. What I do remember is the sound of drills echoing through that hotel basement, the way we cheered every time something worked, and the pure adrenaline of problem-solving together.

That robotics competition taught me that the journey is far more meaningful than the destination. The trophies might gather dust, and the victories might fade, but the memories we build and the bonds we form in the process stay with us forever.