Flux.
November 17, 2021
For so long, I struggled with coming to school every day simply to memorize and regurgitate information, only for it to be forgotten soon after. The real purpose of school, which I believe to revolve around the preparation of students for the real world, is often lost in all the noise of grading systems and standardized testing. Students retain facts about the mitochondria as the powerhouse of the cell and how King Henry VIII killed his wives, rather than learning key innovative skills they would need in future endeavors, such as curiosity, emotional intelligence, and critical thinking. This veil of the modern education system was finally lifted as soon as I walked through the doors of Flux Space last Friday.
The entire experience was magical, but those first few moments were unlike any other. My classmates and I had grown so used to associating anything educational as mind-numbingly boring. But the moment I set foot into what used to be an old, abandoned warehouse, I knew this one was going to be different.
Flux Space interior
Robot Dog
At first, most were hesitant and cautious of what to prepare themselves for. We had obviously prepared our BUILD Design Challenge presentations, but other than that, we weren't sure exactly what the rest of the day entailed. As my peers and I wandered timidly, an immediate shift in energy was felt by everyone in the room. All eyes shifted over to a mechanical structure on four legs. Yes, you assumed right. We were standing in the same room as a real life robot dog. There's no other way to describe it, but that robot dog set the tone for the entirety of that day, and most all of my peers agree in unison.
Bill Corbett launching motivational speech
Students captivated by presentations
Charles Sacco presenting entrepreneurial details
Ryne Anthony preparing for Corbett, Inc. tour
Once plans were underway, all the pieces fell together. We began with a presentation from the Dean of Drexel University's School of Entrepreneurship, Charles Sacco, where we learned the key traits and skills in innovators and what to expect when pursuing the unforgiving road of entrepreneurship. In the midst of his presentation, we were presented with a task. This task set us on a quest to identify a problem in our world - whether it be environmental, civic, social, or economic - and come up with some form of solution... in only ten minutes.
My group takes pride in the work we came up with, especially in such a short amount of time. We discussed the pressing issue, which affects us locally, that deals with excessive food waste. Due to COVID, our school implemented new protocol that gives all students access to a free lunch every day. However, the food only qualifies as a "meal" if students also include a fruit or vegetable. As a result, students are obligated to choose a fruit or vegetable which only ends up in the bottom of the trash bins. After recalling personal interactions with fellow peers and past experiences, my group came up with the solution of donation and compost bins that students could utilize rather than wasting the food. Essentially, this small task matured into an idea, which evolved into a project that my group is now passionate about and wishes to pursue further and hopefully enact within our very community. It hadn't even been an hour, and we were already applying our learning into real world situations that provided us with intrinsic motivations.
Group brainstorms solutions to widespread issue
360° virtual reality
The ten minute task was only the beginning of much more to come. With 360° virtual reality experiences and speeches from the President of an interior design firm and the Director of Innovation at Flux, the time flew by as we were caught up in this entirely new world. Before we knew it, it was time to present the innovations we had been working on for two weeks. Contrasting most presentations we had presented as students, we gave our proposals with the goal of receiving critique that would further benefit our client, not any grade.
The BUILD Design Challenge aided me in the process of becoming more aware of my individual contributions towards a group, as well as my role.
Minset
With the purpose of this project engrained in my mind throughout the process, I was able to remain much more self aware with the help of mindfulness. During the rollercoaster of emotions I consistently felt, especially while presenting, I was able to reign my nerves back in and remind myself of the finish line. The goal of this project wasn't to see who had the best prototype, or who could speak with the least noticeable stutter. Instead, I could reassure myself of the importance of this project towards my own personal growth via expanding upon empathy and creativity.
Knowledge
While all my ideas constantly spun me into a daze, this project forced my focus to concern only one path. I was obligated to refine the flood to a small drip in which one anchor idea stood out from the rest. Through this relevant application I was able to put forth ideas that would realistically benefit our client without overwhelming their performance.
Creativity
After my group finished presenting, everyone on the panel had critiques to offer. Despite our preparation for the actual presentation, we hadn't put much thought into how to prepare for answering questions that we didn't know the answers to. We used elaboration on the spot to help with clarifications and additional suggestions that gave insight how how to improve the prototype for our client.
Skills
Simply as a result of those I was paired with for this project, I became much more aware of my role as an individual within the group. Usually, I would have no problem taking a step back and letting someone else take over. But since no one in my group seemed to want the spot, I took over management. This wasn't in the sense that I became the leader everyone looked to for answers, but I helped designate tasks and split up the work to ensure a thorough and apprehensive product.
Panel giving constructive feedback
This project showed me directly how my learning within the classroom can be applied to communities around me. Making the world a better place takes dedication and devotion which feeds the most off of encouragement and assistance from others.
As cheesy as it sounds, I never could have imagined all of this happening to me. Up until recently, I've brawled with the part of me that can't make a decision about what I want my future to look like. The immense pressure of knowing what I want to do with my life weighed me down to the point where I nearly suffocated. But with the help of NOVA Lab and especially the trip to Flux, I feel much more confident in whatever position I'm at, even if that position is undecided.
Mr. Heidt with our growing brand
I've come to learn through my writing that I have a passion for innovation and entrepreneurship is something I want to explore further. The structure of NOVA Lab is nearly identical to that of Flux, maybe just a couple years difference in age. With the help of this interpersonally motivated material, I've been able to learn so much more about myself, including my interests, my successes, and even my downfalls. I'm able to take the part of my mind that would usually be concerned with grades and deadlines, and instead use that brainpower towards my own passions and explorations. All it took was an empty warehouse and some people who wanted to change the world.