Director Reflection

Jiayi Liang

This series of interviews would serve to fill the gap of in-person interactions that COVID-19 created. I worked with my club to recruit members within and beyond our robotics program to establish a stream team of visual designers, IT support, producers, and directors. We were able to integrate our skills in communication to accomplish a high-quality video series. My goal as director and editor was to ensure that the almost thirty members of the club and other students who were adversely affected by COVID-19 had an outlet from which to learn from. Specifically, people who had been in our shoes to show that there is hope at the end of the tunnel and that if they were able to find success, so could we. Through this project, we were able to unite the club in spite of our circumstances, while also creating a space for them away from the stress of living in a pandemic.

This project started with the goal of helping others, however, through the process of it, I realized that I gained more than I had expected. As a current senior, I'm excited but scared to graduate and attend college. The pandemic caused college visits to be a dream. With this series, I'm able to learn about the different campus: culture, food, and the cons of attending there. Even more, I learned about military and navy programs that I was never exposed to previously. This series helped me have a clearer sight on my potential future and prepare for the biggest challenge in many people's life, college and career.

Sofia Pantoja

During the Mustang Robotics Alumni Symposium Series I have learned a lot and have benefited so much as being a producer. As I worked with my peers to create this video series I was able to personally speak to all the past alumni. Not only was I able to hear their stories and regulate the audience's questions, but after we closed our series, I was given an opportunity to further elaborate on their paths and receive so much advice. I was able to hear about schools including MIT where I was able to hear about some of the specific activities that were done and what the schools are like. Also, I was able to hear and ask more further specific information like their study routines or internships. As a result I was able to hear more and be inspired by these past alumni to continue to work hard, preserve, and be organized. I realized that I had the potential to be just as successful and accomplish similar things as them. Besides hearing this information and the stories of the alumni, I was also able to build my leadership skills as I was in charge of communicating with our members to receive questions and create informational flyers/posting on multiple types of media to increase viewership of our livestream. To summarize, thanks to this opportunity to be a producer in our videos series I was able to not only benefit from the interviews through conversing with speakers, but I grew as a leader and was inspired by the aspiration of our alumni, learn from the women in STEAM, and learn more from our alumni about possible colleges that I wish to enter.

Jacob Ursua

As the COVID-19 pandemic took over the world, I was heartbroken when I learned of the cancellation of my VEX Robotics Competition season. Mustang Robotics Team 507 was not only my home at school, but a community with a deep-rooted legacy. Each year at least a dozen Robotics alumni return to interview the new applicants. Since I live in San Diego, CA, people of various cultures made up that group. Most even went on to find successful paths in life, and all were more than eager to share their journey with the current generation. So, the Mustang Robotics Symposium Series (MRSS) was the perfect opportunity for me to help make that happen. The MRSS became a medium through which high school seniors around the world could learn about colleges and careers even with the restrictions caused by the global pandemic. The alumni have provided such great insight for me specifically, as a military dependent who is considering joining a branch of service. Some of the speakers involved a graduate of ROTC Programs, one who went through enlisting, and even one who attended the West Point Army Academy. The alumni have taught me so much and I will always be grateful for them. Through the Mustang Robotics Symposium Series, I was able to preserve and unite their legacy, extending their teachings to others like me across cyberspace.