Week #10 - October 20th-October 27th

This week has been packed with activity and meaningful progress across multiple areas. Outside of school, I’ve continued developing my IoT project and learning more about its technical and biological aspects. I had a great conversation with my former teacher, Mrs. Toups, who provided valuable insight into the data side of my project, specifically what types of data I should be collecting to make my monitoring system more effective, combining both engineering and environmental perspectives.

Academically, I’ve been pushing my limits in physics and calculus with tireless work. Although these classes can be intense, I genuinely appreciate how much they’re shaping my problem‑solving and analytical thinking. These are exactly the kinds of skills that translate directly into electrical engineering. Sometimes, if I find myself joking about how “it only gets harder from here,” the challenge is serious enough, but it’s rewarding to feel myself growing through it, and knowing I’m gaining and sharpening important skills I will be using, not only directly related to the job, but in everyday aspects with critical thinking.

I’ve also continued reaching out to professors for mentorship opportunities. While I haven’t received responses yet, I’m preparing follow‑up emails and plan to expand my search beyond just top‑tier universities. This experience has taught me the importance of persistence and openness in professional outreach.

Lastly, I finalized my submission for the Congressional App Challenge and filmed the demo video. I’m really proud of how it turned out: technical, formal, and clear. Through this process, I’ve learned a great deal about communication, presentation, and the balance between technical explanation and accessibility. Now, it’s just a matter of waiting for the results.