My Adventures in Knowledge Competitions: From 'Reach for the Top' to Jeopardy
From the local Reach for the Top knowledge competition to my memorable episode on Jeopardy, my journey through knowledge competitions has been both exciting and enlightening.
Early Participation: 'Reach for the Top'
During my high school years in the 1970s, I had the opportunity to participate in a national knowledge competition. This show, known as Reach for the Top, was an integral part of my school experience. The competition was organized with a knockout format, involving teams of four students from each school.
In my local competition, the Metro Toronto section, there were 32 schools out of about 60, competing in a taped format. The provincial and national competitions were also taped and showcased on television, airing one episode per week.
I participated in this competition for two consecutive years, both times competing with a team of four from our school. The first year was particularly successful, as we won the Scarborough and Metro competitions and advanced to the provincials. However, we were ultimately defeated by a team from Essex County in the first round.
A Second Year of Competition
The second year was a different story. We managed to win the Scarborough competition, but in the Metro finals, we faced a formidable challenger. Our opponent featured a then-obscure student named David Frum, currently renowned for his political commentary. Despite our efforts, we were trounced by the team that went on to win the national championship.
Playing Jeopardy
After my exciting participation in Reach for the Top, I had the chance to take part in the popular game show Jeopardy. My performance was commendable, and I managed to finish with a significant score of $23,000. However, the competitive nature of the show is evident; I finished last, securing a meager consolation prize of $1,000, which was just enough to cover my travel and hotel expenses but not much else.
Lessons Learned
Despite the challenges, I learned a great deal during my time in these competitions. Most victories were attributed to a key player on our team named Doug Warren, who was two years older and served as our captain in the second year. This experience not only exposed me to the world of competitive knowledge but also highlighted the importance of teamwork and strategy.
My journey through these competitions has been a testament to the power of knowledge and the joy of friendly competition. Whether it's national competitions like Reach for the Top or the entertaining but competitive environment of Jeopardy, my experiences have made a lasting impact on my journey.