I did not know what to expect coming into Student Engineers Educating Kids at the start of the semester. I had never been in SEEK before, I particularly didn't know what to expect in terms of how it was organized, what the schools would be like, or what the students would be like. Like most UT students, I have not lived in Austin for very long, and as a result, I am unfamiliar with the city, its suburbs, and its public schools. My initial goal in joining SEEK was to get involved in the community, get to know people who also work in the community so that I could become familiar with it, and help promote the interest in science among our younger fellow citizens. Public schools in Texas are almost infamous for their substandard promotion of the scientific curriculum, and I felt that if I could just impact even one student and get them interested in a scientific or engineering related field, that I could do some good. I never really had any engineering/scientific role models or mentors when I was growing up—particularly in middle school, a confusing and crucial time that I know is hard on every child—and I wanted to provide that role to a student.
Over the semester as I got to know Steven, my mentee, my goals shifted a bit. Steven had been in the SEEK program in the previous semester and already possessed a significant interest in the projects, and their scientific nature in general. My goals shifted to a more in-depth approach. In addition to discussing the physical principles behind the projects we were working on, I talked about the applications of the physical principles. For example, during the course of the bottle rocket session, I talked to Steven about the implications with existing rockets and ballistics, and the use of fins; how the use of fins was a delicate balance between stabilizing trajectory flight and minimizing drag.
I believe that I was able to accomplish these shifted goals for the most part. It is important that students, at a young age, learn about the applications of the subjects that they study; how the use of science and math in the right way can take us to the moon or help us fly planes. All too often in my compulsory education I've heard the question, "When are we ever going to use this?" I think that answering this question is crucial in motivating students to learn, and is a critical component of the solution to our current public education woes in the state. By answering this question, I feel that I have accomplished my shifted goals. I will make sure that in future semesters of SEEK, that I will be sure to continue doing my best to makes sure that students understand the ramifications of their education.
Working with Steven has given me some sense of pride knowing that I've been able to provide someone with a volume of information and experiences that they might not have otherwise had. He's a smart kid, and he never ceases to surprise me with some aspect of his abilities every time I see him. I'm more motivated to be involved in the community than I ever was before I started working with him. Sometimes he can be easily distracted, but kids are like that. They need something to hold their attention, lest their minds wander. Their minds are always active and especially so as they are developing, so it's no surprise. But those are two elements of growing up in school, I think. There is, at a younger age, a desire to learn. The development of work ethic and focus comes later, and sometimes there's nothing you can do about that when instructing a kid but to do your best to keep them interested.
I think that SEEK has indeed accomplished its mission this past semester for Lamar MS. These kids kept coming back every week, eager for more. While attendance varied every once in a while, we were able to keep a group pretty interested and engaged throughout the semester, and a lot of them have outwardly expressed desires to continue in the program in future semesters. If these students are being motivated to learn, and they're having fun while doing it, then I think that SEEK is accomplishing its mission. In that sense, it's one of the best things about the SEEK program; that feeling of accomplishment that is felt when you feel like you've made some kind of difference, even if it is small. It motivates the participants, such as myself, to get more involved in other community projects. For the extra volunteer hours I was required to do, I helped out at the Austin Children's Museum during an engineering-related event one Saturday morning. It was tiring, though rewarding. If I could improve anything about SEEK, it would probably be to expand its influence so that we can reach more students, which from what I understand is in the process of happening.
Overall it has been a fun semester, and I'm looking forward to participating in future semesters.
