Shad students reimagine living spaces for people in Canada

Project idea: SPIN-O-VATION wheel lock to improve safety for people using wheelchairs at home.

Why did you want to join Shad?

I wanted to join Shad for several reasons. First, the environment is new, and I knew it was right for me because it would help me grow in a multitude of ways as an individual and academically. I was unsure what to do next in my studies and hoped to gain more exposure to a variety of topics. Shad helped me explore those topics, especially in the subject of anatomy.

Reflecting on your project design journey, what would you say were the most valuable lessons you learned?

I learned lessons about trust when it comes to group work. In school, I was hesitant to trust others because I didn’t know if everybody could pull their weight. However, the amazing aspect with Shad was everyone worked hard and was honest with their capabilities. If a group member could not do something they would let the group know. As a unit, we would come together to tackle the problem.

I also learned how to use constructive criticism to better our projects, because halfway through the design process we had to pitch to experts in various fields and they would give us feedback – some of the feedback was hard to take, but Shad taught me not to take feedback personally.

What memorable experiences did you have in the SHAD community that helped you connect with others?

The most memorable parts of Shad were the reflection times at the beginning and one at the end. So, the beginning was like learning, like we just discussed how to build an open and accepting community. This would help us grow and contribute. The comforting thing about the first reflection session was the fact that many people were feeling the same way. A lot of people felt like it was a mistake that I'm here, that they don't deserve to be here.

Nonetheless, everyone was reassured that there is a very strict selection process and that we all deserve to be here. The more I interacted with everyone, they were very open, and kind and we've had so many laughs along the way. We've been there for each other when we were vulnerable. The fact that everyone was so open and trusting and kept each other's trust was a huge part of building a community. It's one I'll remember for the rest of my life. Thank you.

Project idea: SPIN-O-VATION wheel lock to improve safety for people using wheelchairs at home.

Why did you want to join Shad?

My sister had joined Shad she had a positive experience. She did it on the Shad anywhere, which is the online one and she was happy with it, and I thought that Shad in person would be a better experience for me. So, I thought give it a try and I'm happy I did.

Reflecting on your project design journey, what would you say were the most valuable lessons you learned?

Probably the most valuable was the collaboration skills I learned. The group established a strong and positive work environment from the beginning, which allowed us to receive criticism without feeling attacked. Some of those crazy ideas blossom into the ones that we used. For example, we liked the idea of the automatic locking and having a manual version too, just in case one doesn't work. That was one of them. But most of the ideas, we just thought of them, said them, and then we were like, “Wow, that's a really good idea. But what about this? How could that be improved? We just honed it and refined our prototype and ideas until we reached a conclusion.

What memorable experiences did you have in the SHAD community that helped you connect with others?

In the first week, we had some icebreakers, such as getting to know each other, and a camping trip and that was probably the moment I created some deep friendships that are going to last forever.

 As for the other activities, we had a music night in the first week, we had about half an hour to prepare a dance and song routine, and then we performed it. The community was very positive, and I have never been in an environment that is so dedicated to helping others and themselves. Even in everyday activities such as going to get a coffee with your friends like all those moments, you really connect with your friends.

Project idea: SPIN-O-VATION wheel lock to improve safety for people using wheelchairs at home.

Why did you want to join Shad?

I joined Shad because my brother heard about Shad in high school, but he didn't have the opportunity to apply because he was already in grade 12. Nevertheless, he told me to take advantage of that opportunity and try, even though I didn't think I'd be able to get into Shad.

Reflecting on your project design journey, what would you say were the most valuable lessons you learned?

The most valuable lesson I learned was establishing group norms because one of the Shad's program staff Chloe, who led the entire design project at Shad Waterloo, told us at the very beginning to make this list. Honestly, I thought it was unnecessary at first because when I do group projects at school I'll just dive right into the thing and try to get it done as fast and efficiently as possible. However, at Shad we had to take time to establish these group norms, and I realized I was referring to them whenever a group hit a roadblock in our work.

What memorable experiences did you have in the SHAD community that helped you connect with others?

It was the camping trip because I don't think we realized how reliant we are on our phones. Most often we're in a group setting and not having a conversation with someone as we are glued to our phones. However, with the camping trip we had to talk to other people because the service was super bad out there and we had to cook meals with our design groups, which also helped with team building.

I recommend Shad to anyone. I came in here with low expectations because I'm a very introverted person, so I didn't know if I would make many friends. But, coming out of Shad on the second last day, I think that this has been the best month of my life and I've made many friends and memories that I'll cherish forever.

Project idea: SPIN-O-VATION wheel lock to improve safety for people using wheelchairs at home.

Why did you want to join Shad?

I heard from friends and family about Shad and how it's an enjoyable experience. Well, you also get to learn a lot, which I absolutely did, I have to say it was amazing.

Reflecting on your project design journey, what would you say were the most valuable lessons you learned?

As a design engineering project, it was my first time working with a group. Through it, I developed how to bond with people, work together, and be a leader in a group. I think that was a valuable lesson. Also, I learned how to communicate with group members and learn challenging skills while working on the project. For example. I had to become familiar with 3D modeling and animation. It was interesting to use 3D modeling and animation programs as it is useful in the future.

What memorable experiences did you have in the SHAD community that helped you connect with others?

Shad builds close communities, for example, by eating dinner together and starting with icebreakers, and then participating in sports. Also, there was the design project and working on the project for three or four hours a day, which was a meaningful part of connecting especially with the people in my group. An extremely valuable thing I think we learned about collaborating on a project is how significant it is to recognize a problem before solving it.

Project idea: H! transit app that used different languages to help people navigate new places.

Why did you want to join Shad?

Shad brought reps to my high school and I was blown away by how enthusiastic they were. I was immediately persuaded and thought it was fantastic. I wanted to come because it would be a positive experience that would help me gain a better understanding of what I wanted to do when I was older especially in STEM programs such as engineering and business. 

Reflecting on your project design journey, what were the most valuable lessons you learned?

One of the most valuable lessons I learned was the importance of communication because, without it, our project would never have been completed. I also found that not being afraid of my own ideas and being open to more innovative ones was very helpful. This was a key part of our project and I found that by having amazing communication and connections between all of my team members, we made a fantastic project.

What memorable experiences did you have in the SHAD community that helped you connect with others?

I would say our camping trip the first weekend was amazing, and I really connected with all my peers. That was monumental and it was interesting because I had never gone camping like that before in the wilderness. I'd only gone glamping before that, so it was a totally new experience. With the Shad community, not only did I get closer to them but they made me feel very comfortable being in this new space, so that was such a great time for me.

Project idea: Universal gym redefining fitness standards.

Why did you want to join Shad?

I joined Shad because I heard of it from some of my friends that were also applying to the program and it sounded like a really good opportunity once I visited the website and did more research on the topic, I thought it would be a positive environment to be in for the summer and it's very STEM-based which is what I'm interested in going into.

Reflecting on your project design journey, what would you say were the most valuable lessons you learned?

Since the approach for the design project was considerably different from that in a classroom even though it followed a similar time frame, it was a great opportunity to learn. The faculty, Shad program staff, and other participants in the process were also helpful to you along the way. We have a three-diamond process, for instance, which entails things like exploring, ideation and a ton of other things.

What it does, though, is give us the ability to become more general, then more exact, then broader, then more specific, and then broader, and more specific. They provided many brainstorming ideas, and one of them that I recall and found compelling was the springing type of method. These are some important lessons that, in my opinion, we have learned.

What memorable experiences did you have in the SHAD community that helped you connect with others?

The camping trip was a good bonding experience because, not only are you in the same tent as other people, you're also learning skills, hiking and learning about nature at that same time. I also liked the trip to Uptown Waterloo, but it was at the drum circle that I felt really connected with the community.

Project idea: STACKABLES helping people live in urban areas who are facing affordability and sustainability issues.

Why did you want to join Shad?

I didn't know what Shad was until the last week of the application window, I decided to join the program because I talked to some alumni representatives. They told me that it was one of the most memorable summers in their life and they developed so much more confidence and soft skills. As well, students learned a lot about entrepreneurship and STEM. So, I just thought it would be interesting to work on these skills.

Reflecting on your project design journey, what were the most valuable lessons you learned?

The most valuable lesson I learned was to be more confident when presenting my ideas. So, we had many group discussions when working on this project. You discuss the question, for example, what are some different aspects of the problem? Through this, I had a lot of chances, to talk about my own opinions and express my ideas. Before Shad, I wasn't confident about saying my own opinions because I felt judged. But in our design group I felt comfortable saying my ideas and, at the project conference, I communicated my ideas clearly, which I felt was one of the most valuable lessons from the design group.

What memorable experiences did you have in the SHAD community that helped you connect with others?

There were a lot of memorable experiences. Some of my favorite ones were the coffee house and the music night where we get to showcase our talent. I wouldn't say that I'm very musically talented, but because of my peers, I felt more confident in singing and doing some performances!