Under the Spotlights

"How on earth did we end up here?" I whispered to Sack as I nervously adjusted the collar of my blouse.

We were at the entrance of the School of Engineering auditorium, surrounded by students, professors, and spectators who moved between murmurs and low laughter. Olivia had forced us to dress alike: dark suits with electric blue accents, as if we were part of a corporate delegation. I wore a fitted blazer and a knee-length skirt, while Sack looked impeccable in a shirt and tie. Olivia opted for an elegant ensemble that paired a structured jacket with straight-cut pants, all in dark tones. To complete the look, Olivia had insisted we all wear fake glasses.

"It's to give a serious and professional impression," she had said as she handed us the lensless frames. "Important people always wear glasses when they want to seem smart."

Sack glanced at me sideways and smiled with that mix of feigned calm he always showed when he was nervous.

"I don't know, but I think we should blame Olivia for this too."

Olivia, of course, was in her element. She paced back and forth in front of us, checking her phone and muttering something about "optimizing our chances of success." When she saw us whispering, she shot us a quick glance.

"Team Genius! We need total focus! This isn't just a competition; it's our chance to shine. Remember: we're unstoppable."

I rolled my eyes but couldn't help smiling. Despite everything, Olivia had a way of making us feel like we could conquer the world.

The atmosphere inside the auditorium was overwhelming. There were more people than we expected: college students, professors, businesspeople, and even important public figures. Among them was the Secretary of Health and Human Services, a man I immediately recognized because my parents often mentioned him in conversations about health policies. I never imagined he'd be sitting in the front row, watching projects like ours.

When Olivia told us about the competition the day before, I thought it would be something small, maybe an informal presentation in front of a few professors. But this… this was completely different. Not even Olivia seemed to have anticipated the scale it would reach.

"Who would've thought this competition would be so big?" Sack commented, looking around with a mix of awe and anxiety.

"No idea," Olivia replied, though her tone was quieter than usual, as if even she was impressed.

We sat in one of the back rows while other teams began presenting their projects. Each one was impressive in its own way. One group explained a portable device that used artificial intelligence to monitor vital signs in real time. Another team presented a system of medical drones capable of delivering medications to remote areas. The explanations were technical, filled with graphs and complex data, but they all had one thing in common: they had worked on their ideas for months. We, on the other hand, had been developing our project for three months, but we only found out yesterday that Olivia had signed us up for the competition.

"This is insane," I muttered as I watched a team receive applause from the audience. "How are we supposed to compete against this?"

Olivia patted me on the shoulder.

"Because we're Team Genius, Lindsay. No one has what we have: creativity, determination, and… well, my strategic brilliance."

Sack let out a low laugh, but I still felt that knot in my stomach. We weren't prepared for this.

Finally, it was our turn. The moderator announced our names, and we walked onto the stage. The lights were intense, and I could feel everyone's eyes fixed on us. For a moment, I wondered if anyone would notice we were faking confidence.

But then, we began.

Sack took the microphone first, adjusting his fake glasses with a focused expression.

"Thank you for giving us the opportunity to present our project. What we're going to show you today is an advanced mathematical model designed to predict the spread of diseases within a specific population. We use differential equations to analyze demographic patterns and factors such as population density, social contact habits, and urban mobility."

He paused and pointed to a graph projected behind him.

"As you can see here, this model allows us to identify critical points where a disease could spread rapidly. For example, in cities with overcrowded public transportation systems, the risk increases exponentially."

I saw some judges nodding, taking notes. Sack continued explaining how we had validated the model with computer simulations. His tone was calm but firm, and although I knew he was nervous, no one would've noticed.

Then it was my turn. I stepped up to the microphone, trying to ignore the heat of the lights.

"What Sack just explained isn't just a theoretical exercise," I said, looking at the audience. "This model has practical applications that could save lives. For instance, during the recent pandemic, many hospitals weren't prepared for the sudden influx of patients. With tools like this, they could anticipate outbreaks and distribute resources more efficiently."

I pointed to an interactive map showing different regions colored according to their risk level.

"Here we can see how our model identifies vulnerable areas before an outbreak occurs. This not only helps hospitals but also communities, allowing them to take preventive measures like vaccination campaigns or temporary mobility restrictions."

I felt some people in the audience nodding, and that gave me a bit more confidence. I glanced at Olivia, who gave me an encouraging thumbs-up.

Finally, Olivia took the microphone with her characteristic energy. She also adjusted her fake glasses before speaking.

"And now comes the exciting part," she said, smiling widely. "Our model doesn't just predict the present; it can also help us prepare for the future. Imagine integrating this technology with wearable devices that monitor health in real time. If we detect a sudden increase in similar symptoms in a region, we could alert health authorities before it's too late."

She paused dramatically and pointed at the audience.

"We could even use artificial intelligence to optimize responses. For example, medical drones delivering medications to affected areas or automated systems assigning hospital beds based on predictions from our model. The future of public health lies in technology, and this project is just the beginning."

The audience erupted into applause, and Olivia gave a theatrical little bow before handing the microphone back to us.

We stood on stage for a moment, stunned by the reaction. We had done our best, and although we knew we probably wouldn't win, we felt like we had given it our all.

However, just as we thought it was over, the Secretary of Health stood up from his seat. He approached the microphone with a kind smile and said something that left me frozen.

"Excellent work, team. Especially you, Miss Grove."

My heart stopped.

"I've heard a lot about your parents and the incredible work they do at Sapphire Grove Hospital. It doesn't surprise me that their daughter can research such a deep and complex topic as this. You must be very proud to continue their legacy."

I felt the heat rise to my cheeks. Everyone in the auditorium was looking at us now, and although the compliment was sincere, I couldn't help but feel the weight of expectations. My parents had always been role models, but also a shadow difficult to overcome.

"Thank you," I responded, trying to maintain my composure. "This project was a team effort, and I'm proud of what we've achieved together."

The secretary nodded, but I could see in his expression that he was already thinking about how he might use our project in the future.

When we stepped off the stage, Olivia hugged us excitedly.

"We did it! We were amazing!"

Sack looked at me, noticing my tense expression.

"Are you okay?"

I nodded, though I wasn't sure I felt okay. I knew we had done our best, but I also knew that, for many people, it would never be enough.