VYPE: What grade are you in and how long have you been a part of the academic team?
Joseph Carroll: I am a high school senior. I have been on the academic team all four years of high school and have been the team captain for one year.
VYPE: What initially drew you to join the academic team?
JC: I was drawn to the academic team for the fun, fast-paced trivia games that let me test my knowledge and challenge other schools.
VYPE: What is your favorite subject or category to compete in?
JC: My favorite subject is science. I had a great biology teacher my freshman year who taught me so much.
VYPE: How do you prepare for competitions?
JC: I prepare by studying flashcards and lists of information. I also use study games and attend weekly team practices where we review old questions and focus on key categories.
VYPE: Describe a time when your team faced a tough challenge.
JC: We were in a close match that came down to a lightning round with 60 seconds to answer ten questions. We chose a category about the first ten presidents. I felt confident, and I was able to answer all ten correctly, helping us win. It’s one of my best memories from Atoka.
VYPE: What is the most rewarding part of being on the academic team?
JC: The most rewarding part is learning how to work as a team. You rely on each other’s knowledge, and it teaches you who you can depend on.
VYPE: What skills have you gained from participating?
C: I’ve gained critical thinking, logical reasoning, teamwork, and time management skills that will help me throughout my life.
VYPE: How do you balance academics, extracurriculars, and practice?
JC: I stay very involved as Class of 2026 president, NHS president, BPA president at Kiamichi Tech–Atoka, and more. I’ve maintained a 4.0 GPA, earned 40 college credits, and worked a job. It’s a challenge, but with support from my teachers and parents, I manage my time effectively.
VYPE: Who has influenced your academic growth the most?
JC: My mother has had the biggest impact. She adopted me in seventh grade after being my fourth-grade teacher and has always encouraged me to grow academically.
