The second and third rounds were really great experiences.
Second round:
As an international student, I worried that I wouldn't be able to do anything for my team, but my team was very inviting and was genuinely excited to meet me. International students as a whole were very valuable to our teams because of our unique mindsets and values.
Third round:
This round really emphasized flexibility and critical thinking, skills that are necessary for leaders.
These rounds were much better than the first round and I enjoyed them a lot.
In the second round, we learned how to work together with a group. Even though there was a language and culture barrier, I found that we bonded quickly and worked well together. The freedom of choice for the topic was very nice since it allowed us to choose something that we were passionate about. We had to share our ideas, which required our leadership skills to be able to express them clearly. We also had to manage our time well, splitting roles between the team members, which emphasized teamwork.
The third round focused on the ability to work independently and share your ideas. I thought that the question was good and created healthy discussion. However, I disliked how the round became like a competition. It made the discussion unlike normal discussions. Some people would focus on winning the round and appealing to the judges, through questions, introductions, and summaries, rather than just having a good discussion.