At the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference, students Micheal Medina, Jacob Bowden, Adam Fitzgibbons, and Ashton Dyson earned an impressive second place finish in video production, an achievement shaped by both experience and growth. Reflecting on the competition, the team described it as “stressful and fun at the same time,” with the fast paced, high pressure environment of nationals.
With the entire project completed in a single day, preparation and teamwork were essential.
Senior Ashton Dyson explained, “The whole process is kind of stressful, because it’s like everything condensed within one day, but it’s a really cool experience.”
This competition allows students from across the country to come together. Their mix of experience levels also played a role, as some members had competed before while others were new to the national stage.
Despite their success, the team emphasized that their biggest lessons came from failure.
“I think we learned more last year when we did not place,” Senior Adam Fitzgibbons shared.
He also added that this year they understood what it takes to succeed, which is effort and teamwork, with some luck as well.
Learning from past mistakes helped them improve their approach, especially with time management.
Dyson admitted, “We spent way too much time working on the first draft of the script,” but this year they focused on efficiency, recognizing that “We had to get one done as soon as possible.”
Their assigned project involved creating a school announcement style video, requiring strong coordination between roles like floor director, technical director, and anchor. One of their biggest improvements was in camera work, with multiple members agreeing that “camera framing” was the skill that improved the most.
The competition also tested their ability to adapt. Judges intentionally introduce challenges, and as the team explained, “They purposefully do at least one thing to mess you up.” This year, they had to adjust quickly when communication equipment was unavailable, proving that flexibility is just as important as technical skill.
Beyond the competition itself, the experience changed how they view the future.
Sophomore Jacob Bowden noted that it “Puts into perspective the amount of networking and connections that you can get,” while Dyson realized the industry is “not just like a hobby… it’s a business.”
Looking ahead, the team is determined to improve even further. Their advice to future competitors is clear, “Be ready to immediately pivot, work well with your team, and remember that the skills trip is way more fun when you’re friends with everybody.”
