This project was part of the Cornerstone of Engineering course at Northeastern. The goal was to create a toy for children ages 3-6 which teaches STEM-related concepts. Our group designed a toy combining basic construction and design skills with simple arithmetic. A functional prototype was successfully developed, but the final version never came to fruition due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Working with my group members and employing what we had learned in the class played a crucial role in my basic understanding of what engineers do. From a technical skills perspective, I applied my knowledge of 3D modeling and CAD to an original idea that I had helped to formulate. Bringing our vision to life as a prototype was very rewarding and exciting, motivating me to continue to pursue engineering as a profession. Additionally, working with the team and eventually being able to rely on them (even at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic) made the experience even more rewarding, and gave me great experience working with and leading a team. 

This experience was my first exposure to project-based learning in engineering. Working as part of a team to apply knowledge from class and end up with a final product was still relatively new to me in the engineering discipline. However, being successful in this endeavor showed me how enjoyable and rewarding engineering can be and made me excited for future projects.