OURNEY OF SCIENCE DISCOVERY WITH ASO – A PLACE TO NURTURE PASSION

If someone were to ask me: “Have you ever made a water rocket and launched it into the sky?”, I would not hesitate to answer: “Yes, and that was one of the most amazing scientific experiences I have ever had!”

That experience came from a very special place – ASO, a science club of my school. This is not just an organization that simply conducts experiments or events related to science, but also a place where I learned how to work in a team, how to plan, and especially how to live with my own passion for discovery.

ASO Organization – A small science corner in the middle of the schoolyard

ASO stands for “Amazing Science Organization”, a science organization founded by seniors with the goal of bringing science closer to students in the school through intuitive, creative and interesting experiments. Not as dry as the long formulas in textbooks, ASO helps us see science more vividly and practically than ever.

Every month, ASO organizes activities, projects and science events such as STEM fairs, experimental workshops or creative product exhibitions. ASO is where I witnessed with my own eyes students making lava, potato batteries, firecrackers with vinegar and baking soda… Everything was very attractive and made me register to participate.

Professional Board

After passing the interview round, I was assigned to the Professional Board – the place responsible for research, preparing experimental content and ensuring the safety and logic of each activity. It sounds “difficult” but in reality it is a journey full of discovery.

Here, I get to work with like-minded friends, and receive enthusiastic guidance from seniors from how to come up with ideas, find materials, to testing, adjusting, and perfecting scientific products. There were days when the whole group “rooted” in the school lab until late at night just to try and retry a chemical reaction because every time it… exploded too much or did not produce the expected results. But instead of feeling discouraged, we were more excited than ever.

What impressed me most when participating in ASO was the seniors in the executive board. They were not only talented but also very friendly and dedicated. They were always ready to help at any time, whether when we needed advice on cheap and effective materials, or when we encountered errors during the experiment. I still remember the time my group wanted to do an artificial cloud formation reaction in a bottle but did not know where to buy glycerin solution. Immediately, a sister sent me a series of reputable online shopping addresses, along with prices and storage instructions. Thanks to such enthusiasm and unconditional support, I felt that I was never alone on this journey of scientific discovery.

Water Rocket – Memorable Experiment

Among the many experiments I have done, the one that I will always remember is the water rocket – a product that my team and I designed and completed ourselves to display at the school’s science fair.

We spent a whole week researching pressure, calculating the volume of water and gas, choosing the right type of plastic bottle and designing the safest launch pad. On the day of the demonstration, when I pressed the launch button and saw the rocket I made myself shoot up into the sky with the resounding cheers of my students, I felt truly happy and extremely proud. That was the moment I knew: I love science, not only because it is interesting, but because it connects people together.

Valuable Lessons

After a period of working with ASO, I not only learned more scientific knowledge but also matured a lot in life skills. I know how to work effectively in a team, how to listen to others’ opinions, how to plan in detail before starting any project – big or small. The group meetings, the times of editing model drawings, the times of miscalculating formulas and then starting over – all are lessons that no book can teach me.

My feelings after all are joy, gratitude and a little regret every time a project ends. I am grateful to my seniors for always accompanying and supporting me. I am grateful to my teachers for creating conditions for us to “play and learn”. And I am grateful to myself for having the courage to step out of my comfort zone to experience such a wonderful journey.