There's so much more beyond the Competition

By Victor Simon

Through my involvement with WorldSkills France I took the opportunity to be part of the WorldSkills Champions Trust formation group. This experience has allowed me to expand my contacts beyond borders. I've met people from around the world, shared experience, feelings, ideas despite the language barrier. Although we are physically separated, we are connected through our shared vision and goals for the WorldSkills movement. Because of this, I think we can accomplish great things.

October 2012: I was a candidate representing the Alsace Region in France. I arrived at the National Competition site in Clermont-Ferrand. I didn't imagine I would be there that day. Everything was ready. Each Competitor was about to compete for the title of Champion of France in our respective skills. There were no problems with my work area, but I'm was not able to worry about that because I had my test project in mind. I was there to give my everything and win; to showcase my skills as the best in France.

July 2013 : After nine months of preparation, I arrived at the International Competition representing France at WorldSkills Leipzig 2013. During that time, I met amazing people on my team. The interesting thing was, we came from all areas of France, have such different skills, but we become closer than most friendships because we were all motivated by the same goal. The team cohesion was extremely important and gave me force and courage. I was ready to do what I had been preparing for nine months, in addition to school and work. Then the Competition started!

It was huge ... the pressure, visitors walking by and watching us work, ... All of it gave me unexpected feelings of bring nervous and motivated. When the Competition finished, we were relieved, exhausted, happy and sad, but we were now all friends and had shared a wonderful experience.

January 2015: This time I was a Workshop Supervisor in Mechatronics and Robotics for the National Competition in Strasbourg. For months I had been preparing and working with WorldSkills France to help organize these finals. I had been involved for over a year and I learned more than I could have imagined.

The National Skills Competition ran like a well-oiled machine starting with the staff at the top who helped coordinate all the various components needed for the 50 skills represented. Thinking back to when I was a Competitor, I didn't notice any of these components. But now after seeing six days of assembly, hundreds of deliveries and the devotion of multiple volunteers, I have discovered a whole new world. With my new appreciation for this event and all the benefits it has brought into my own life, I want to thank all the volunteers, Experts, coaches, Workshop Supervisors, partners and staff members, without whom this would be impossible.

When the assembly finished, the Competitors arrived and you began to feel a great sense of reward. The cries, smiles, joy, the atmosphere!!! An even greater reward was felt when one of the teams we were coaching won the gold medal. Being part of this Competition allowed me to reconnect with my teammates, former Competitors who are now my friends. It also allowed me to meet new people equally passionate about their work.

It has been almost two years since I was a Competitor. I am now a WorldSkills Champion and I have realized that as much as I enjoyed competing, there is even more ways for me to be involved with WorldSkills beyond the Competition. I highly recommend that everyone find a way to be involved in this movement. Regionally, nationally or internationally every experience will be rewarding.