With
Intel ISEF 2013 related news sprouting around, I decided to look back to my own
participation in year 2012 and reflect on what it gave me.
It’s been a
whole year since I participated in Intel ISEF 2012 in Pittsburgh with my
project studying alternative approaches to processor architectures and a lot
changed during that year, thanks to the Intel ISEF itself. Recent Intel ISEF
2013 (congratulations to everyone who participated by the way!) gave me idea to
think and reflect on how it affected me and what changed in my life.
I also captured my Intel ISEF experience in a short documentary.
I also captured my Intel ISEF experience in a short documentary.
Although I
got the 4th grand award in Computer Science, I never really cared
much about awards, since in my opinion they're only reflection of how
particular group of people liked (and also understood, as I myself encountered
many judges who didn’t seem to have any knowledge in the area of my project)
particular pieces of work.
I think all
projects are important, even if they don’t get any awards at all, because what
we really benefit from is diversity, people tackling all sorts of problems and
the importance lies in the work itself, not any award you receive (or don't)
for it.
But I
digress.
The point
is that awards and any monetary reward is not that important, because what
Intel ISEF really gave me was courage; courage to believe in my own work and decide
to pursue my goals and my own ideas.
I'll shed
some light on my mentality before the Intel ISEF, on my idea of the future, so
you can better understand what it means to me. Before Intel ISEF and the
national science fair that was a ticket to it (and quite important experience
of its own as well), when I was still in high school, working on my project,
tinkering with alternative approaches to processor architectures, my idea of
the future was kind of bleak.
I knew I
have to go to university, because it was sort of expected of me by everyone,
get a degree because I’m supposed to and then find some job. I didn't know
where I would land, I thought that I would end up in some software company,
working on some projects of their own, projects I had no interested in.
And then
maybe, in some free time at home, I would have time to continue my own projects,
realizing my own ideas, because I love making stuff and I had (well still have,
even more) plenty of ideas. It never once occurred to me that I anyone could
take them seriously though they were just child hobbies to me.
However
once I entered the national science fair on the suggestion of my high school
teacher, things began to change. Judges seemed amazed with my project and I
collected 1st place prizes all the way to the national round, where
I got nomination for the Intel ISEF.
All that
was very unexpected, when I started working in my project, I was just doing it
out of curiosity and I had no idea that something like Intel ISEF even exists.
Intel ISEF
itself was then incredible experience. It’s not just about presenting my
project to judges, collecting an award (or not) and going home. What made the
biggest impression on me were the opening and closing ceremonies, especially
David Brian Johnson’s speech about how future is made and shaped by us, not
something that passively happens to us.
His words
about how we should each take our part in building the future resonated through
me and were a big contribution to changing my view. No longer was my vision of
the future idea of being employed somewhere, doing something I don't like
(because that was quite my idea of what work is supposed to be – doing something
you don't like and in your free time you can maybe do what you’re interested in)
and working on my own ideas in spare time.
Intel ISEF
gave me the nudge to pursue my own dreams and build something of my own. No
longer are my ideas just silly playthings that I keep mostly to myself. Intel
ISEF gave me the courage to share my ideas with the world.
Some of my ideas are more playful and artistic, many of them computer games, some are more serious, useful and scientific, but after all, both involve creativity and imagination. The only difference between science and art is, that in science, you have to verify whether your imagination matches the reality, while in art your imagination tells what the reality is.
So here I
am now, a year later. A lot has changed. I started preparing launch of my own
company, although I hate to call it that: it’s a creative studio for various
ideas of mine. I hope that over time, it will grow and become support for more
creative people, but if it will succeed, I can't tell, but if I don’t try, I'll
never know.
I'm
readying some hopefully interesting projects, while working on smaller ones (I
recently released mathematical puzzle game called DeCalc, check it out!) in the
short term. Without Intel ISEF and the previous national science fair, I wouldn't
do things I do now. I even work with a lot of cool new technologies (like Leap Motion or Oculus Rift!) and I also help inspire others to start creating!
I quit
university not even after a year, not because I don't like learning (I love
it!), but because it was actually slowing me down (I prefer self-education,
more on that here) and I continue studying on my own, in much more relaxed and
enlightening way.
I'm still
at the start of everything, but without Intel ISEF, I would be there. I would
still be in school, losing time with (for me) useless throw-away-after-grading
projects, having almost no time to pursue my own ideas, feeling like wrapped in
heavy chains of restrictions and conformity.
But thanks
to Intel ISEF, I can breathe. Awards and monetary rewards aren't that
important. What’s important is that it gave me the right direction in life.
Direction paved with creativity and projects that will try to pitch in in the
task of building a better and richer future.
And for
that, I thank everyone involved in that amazing literally life-changing
experience.
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