So far, i2 has been a new experience for me, and I’ve enjoyed it. I have a lot of new friends in my i2 classes that I’ve gotten to know well. As for the program itself, I would say I’m impressed. The projects are really creative and it’s hard to believe that high schoolers put together the technology and thought that they require. I’m looking forward to creating my own projects.
I didn’t know much about i2 before coming to SHC. I’d heard of it and the DePaul Scholar Program in passing, but I didn’t really think about it. When I got my acceptance letter, it was inviting me to be in i2. I looked into the program and read the website page on it, and I got very excited about it. It’s one reason why I decided to go to SHC. It’s been good for me so far, and I’m looking forward to other opportunities that I hope will come up in the future. I’m glad for the chance to collaborate with my i2 friends and be innovative and study/create things I’m passionate about in my projects.
I wouldn’t say I’m concerned about the program, but I have some doubts. I’m not sure if I can pull together the projects that I imagine in my head because they are complicated and I don’t yet have the skill to create something so complex. A lot of the other projects from past years that I’ve seen are so cool, and I’m really impressed about what people so close to my age are able to do, when I wouldn’t know how to begin doing those things. At the same time, though, I’m not sure I can create something that amazing and I’m wondering how the other i2 students were so smart and so good at math, science, and coding to be able to do it. I hope I can improve and learn more so that I can also create projects that I’m proud of.
During my time in i2, I want to get the most out of the experience. I want to learn new skills while making my projects and listen to conferences and lectures by guest speakers so I can hear about their jobs and fields of study. On a social level, I hope I stay connected with my i2 peers, because they are now my classmates and many are my friends. We try to help each other and I think we all have a certain connection because we are curious and/or we love innovation. That’s what i2 is really about, not just math and science but wanting to learn. I hope I can gain knowledge and good experiences during my time in i2 and at SHC in general. I also hope to attend a college such as MIT or CalTech, which is a long shot, but I hope that i2 can help me reach that goal. I’m grateful for this opportunity, and I intend to make the most out of it; so I’m looking forward to thinking and using my mind in ways I like to create projects I’m proud of, and I really hope that I can help the world through what I do.