My biggest takeaway when creating this project was that any idea can be conceptualized if you put your mind to it. As many times as I wanted to give up or start over, I had to think of the greater goal. That this project was not just something for me, it was something meant to help so many others. I also learned so much about struggles that so many go through in school. Mainly when interviewing my cousin Rafi, I learned about how he would go to school and come back home and not know how to articulate to his parents what he learned. This resulted in missed opportunities to support and increase new and exciting academic engagement. This was a driving factor in me continuing to finish my app. 

My biggest takeaway when creating this project was that no challenge is ever too big for one person. At the beginning of my “Design + Tech Studio” course at Lawrence Technological University, I was put in a team to collaboratively develop a design and plan for a recreation center. Over the next six weeks, my entire team slowly disappeared, leaving me to complete the project on my own.  Navigating the tasks of five people posed a great challenge, and I was ready to throw in the towel. The support of my mentors and family helped me  finish strong and complete the challenge.  I was later invited to join the Construction Industry Round Table (CIRT) Team, a specialized invitation-only team, because of my display of leadership in completing my team's project. I learned an invaluable lesson, that no matter how large the team or the project, I could complete it, even alone. I also learned that others are observing, even when you think your efforts are unnoticed. I have been able to grow in my collaboration skills, by knowing the importance of sticking with your project until the end. Not just for yourself but for the sake of your entire team.