The idea for Seed2Speed started with something small: a wish. During a SouLoop project, kids wrote their dreams on seeded paper that could grow into trees. Among them—“orange juice,” “become a firefighter”—one stood out: an RC car.

At first, I was shocked. For me, RC cars felt normal—like something every kid should have. How could it be possible that some kids had never touched one? Realizing this made me feel sad, but also motivated. Instead of simply buying them toys, I wanted to help them build their own. As a CS student, I believed making the cars themselves would be more meaningful—they could learn and be proud of what they created.

The first prototype wasn’t easy. I only had a few bottles at home, so I kept drinking water just to collect extra caps. I tried building with four wheels and rubber bands, but the motor didn’t spin properly. I learned that real cars use gears, but my 3D-printed gears weren’t reliable.

So, I redesigned it into a three-wheel car: the motor powered the front wheel directly, while the back wheels spun freely on a stick inside a straw. It took endless trials, broken wires, and frustrating soldering failures, but I finally built a working model. The moment it ran, I felt proud—it was proof that my resilience paid off.

Before the workshop, I carefully pre-assembled the motor circuits to make sure everything was safe and ready. I also prepared “car kits” with wheels, straws, and glue, so the kids could focus on designing the car bodies themselves. 

Before the kids arrived, I gathered my group of friends who volunteered to support me. I explained how each station would work, what safety steps to watch out for, and how to guide the kids without doing everything for them. It felt like I was not only leading the project but also teaching my own mini-team. 

Before the building and racing began, I gathered the kids together. Their eyes were all on me—wide, curious, and eager. It wasn’t a lecture, but an interactive lesson. I explained the simple mechanism of the RC car: how the motor spins, how the wheels move, and how electricity makes it all possible. To keep them engaged, I asked questions along the way, rewarding correct answers with small teddy bears. The room filled with laughter and raised hands, and for a moment, I wasn’t just teaching—I was sparking curiosity. 

After the lesson, it was time to put ideas into action. I moved around the tables, kneeling beside the kids as they glued bottle caps, fixed straws into place, and taped motors onto their car frames. Some hands trembled, some worked quickly, but every pair of eyes lit up as the pieces started to come together. I guided them step by step—helping a loose wheel here, adjusting a wire there—while encouraging them to solve problems on their own. The workshop wasn’t about building perfect cars, but about giving each child the pride of saying, “I built this myself.” 

The proudest moment wasn’t when the straightest car won the race—it was when a girl looked at her shaky cardboard creation and whispered, “I made this.” Later, a boy tugged at my sleeve, asking, “How do I make it turn left and right?” His question caught me off guard. He wasn’t just following instructions anymore—he was already imagining new possibilities. That was when I realized the project had shifted from me teaching to them inventing. 

For the finale, we turned the courtyard into a mini racetrack—not for the fastest car, but for the straightest. Since every kit used the same motor and battery, it was all about design. Some kids glued bottle caps for better grip, others even added a fifth wheel for balance.

Laughter and cheers filled the air as cars rolled forward—some surprisingly straight, others hilariously sideways. We left the RC cars behind so the kids could keep racing and improving their own creations.

Seed2Speed was more than a toy—it was a wish turned real. For the kids, it was about joy and teamwork. For me, it showed resilience and leadership.

Building the prototypes taught me patience, problem-solving, and the importance of adapting on the spot (like re-soldering wires mid-event). Leading the workshop taught me how to guide volunteers, explain technical ideas in simple ways, and organize a project from start to finish.

Most importantly, I learned how something as simple as a DIY car can spark curiosity about engineering. It made me want to scale this project—bringing STEM experiences like this to more schools, where kids can create technology with their own hands.