After having busy weeks creating wonderful moments this summer at Rice University’s Oshman Engineering Design Kitchen (OEDK). Everyone in the program has been excited as I am to relive the incredible experiences we had together! I write this after reading some letters from my peers and the SEED 2023 team, it past a week since we have been together. The summer at the OEDK was short and magical. From the very beginning, as I stepped onto American soil, my heart brimming with excitement, I knew I was in for an extraordinary adventure. The warm welcome and smiles from my amazing team, KIM K, made me feel right at home, even though I was thousands of miles away from Tanzania. 

Every day, we worked together, bounce ideas off one another, and exchanged knowledge, bringing our diverse perspectives to create something truly awesome. It was truly inspiring to witness the power of teamwork and the passion each individual brought to the table. Beyond the project work, we had countless opportunities for personal and professional growth. Having networking lunches with Global Health professionals to attending workshops and exploring the campus, every interaction was a stepping stone that widen our horizons and strengthened our connections with like-minded.

As the weeks flew by, we found ourselves forming deep bonds with each other, transcending borders and cultures. Every rice intern beautifully expressed how the international interns enriched his experience. The raw and pure fun we had, like playing basketball 🏀, Jenga 🗼, Escape Room 🚀👩‍🚀 and squash 🎾 together, made us feel alive and brought us closer as a team. These shared moments become memories we will cherish forever.

Damn! Our incredible team leads Eleanor and Esau, thank you for being awesome leaders and engineers. Your mentorship and acceptance of each one of us for who we are made a lasting impact, and we aspire to follow in your footsteps. The guidance and wisdom we received from our professors, Dr. Hunter, Dr. Holmes, and Dr. Ashley Taylor, were instrumental in our success. Their insights and expertise enriched our engineering journey and pushed us to reach new heights. I also extend my gratitude to Joe, Danny, and Fernando for their patience in answering our countless questions and for imparting their knowledge about the OEDK’s machinery, they were really helpful before us.

I want to express my heartfelt thanks to every person who made this summer so unforgettable. Our collective experiences have restored our faith in ourselves and our love for engineering. These memories will forever hold a special place in our hearts. I am eager to see where our respective paths take us, knowing that we will always be connected by the bond we formed at Rice University OEDK. Let’s keep pushing the boundaries, making a difference, and always remembering to “go crazy” in pursuit of our dreams.

 

Until next time, stay safe, curious, inspired, and keep making amazing things happen! 😊