So I am finally getting a chance to sit down and write. I have like 10 min, not even sooo....
On Sunday I went to church...a United Church to be more specific. It was pretty interesting. Different format and structure. They gave us cookies and juice afterwards. We then worked the rest of the day on our house project and stayed up till 4am that day doing so. It actually wasn't that bad. I got cold and tired at 3am, then recovered 15min later. We worked long and hard all day long. PS HAPPY BELATED WILLY :)
Monday, June 19 was presentation day. I got up at 7:30am. My group finished off our business plan at 10:45am. We then had to send it off to Staples to print 4 copies and have them bounded. We were able to get through our 20 min presentation once by the time lunch came at 12pm. We got dressed and walked to the Four Sciences Centre Building to present. Our group went second. The products proposed were our bracelet "Valetudo" by [b]eHealth[y], molded utensils for elders with arthritis called "Formgrip", an electronic pill dispenser called "Pillz", a wheelchair handle mechanism that acts as a break when a person stands up from their chair called the "Airis" by INH Technologies and an adhesive heat sensored sticker that detects when objects/liquirds are too hot or cold. The panel of judges thought the Airis was the best overall, and so did the rest of the Shads who voted on Tuesday. Our group won best presentation. I definitely thought we had the best product, yes I know, there might be a bit of bias in that, but still. There were sooooo many flaws with the wheelchair breaking design system. Like errrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. What if someone didn't put enough pressure? Or too much? We were talking to our PA today. Our bracelet and the Airis were the top 2, by about 25 to 20. She said their product seemed to be more feasible than ours, as ours would go more hand in hand when the eHealth system is proposed to come out in 2012, and full force in 2015 (according to my research!). I'm keeping a copy of the business plan, so I will definitely bring it home. As much as I wished I filmed our presentation, I didn't because I forgot the camera errrrrrrr.
Ya, so I was CMO (Chief Marketing Officer). I was in charge of doing that portion, which was about 15 pages of the 35 page report. Mhhhmmmm, it was a whole lot of stuff. Presentation went awesome. My group was all super impressed. I was really mad with myself though because I didn't know an important fact, how many MedicAlert bracelets are sold in Canada annually. I had my laptop with me, and after the presentation I checked to find that one million are sold yearly. Gahhhh, anyway, yaaaay, super happy to be done. I learned sooo much about business. And wow, business plans take a lot of work and effort. So my product isn't going on to nationals aka the RIM Shad Cup, though I really do think it should because it is the BEST. But whatevs, so my group wants to pitch it on Dragon's Den. I can still go to nationals and represent UBC. Anyone can join. After the presentations, we were given free time and me, Sarah, Alicia, and Julian went to this cafe shop up Thunderbird Rd. I got a strawberry smoothie with whipped cream. MMHHHMMM. Me and Sarah laid on the grass for like an hour just looking in the sky, talking about our group, and how happy we were of what we had accomplished, but sad that our Shad experience would soon be over. It was the best feeling of life right there, and we wished we would have so many more of those feelings in the few days to come. We had dinner that night, and then went swimming!!!! First time for summer 2010 :) My hair was craving to be damaged.
Today, we had a workshop and had to build these links to hold weights. Each group of 5 was either a rich, mediocre, or poor country. My group was Columbia, who was given limited time and resources. We actually ended up beating bigger countries like Canada and the US. yaayy! We then did more Shad speeches, had lunch, then did rec. We played assassin. I got out super fast as Sarah Park, the girl chasing me, was waiting outside the exit to the building. We played more Fifa World Cup soccer. Adam was my partner, and we represented France quite well. Right now, I am in monthbook, supposed to be browsing through pictures. I think someone might come yell at me soon. Sh*t. It's the computer programming guy. Oh, AND ALYSHA'S BIRTHDAY!!!
Shoot, I forgot to explain my hike to Mount Garibaldi. But I am super tired. I'm thinking about it, and I feel like crying. The place was BEAUTIFUL. I cannot even explain it. I am astounded by the beauty of BC. I feel like my parents have been hiding this place from me all my life, preventing me from wanting to move out here. But too bad, because I am asap. OMG ALL OF YOU HAVE TO COME. COME. COME. It is freaking amazing. ahhhh. Gorgeous, lovely, relaxing. I will explain what we did when I'm not tired. I know I will remember. It was a day to remember for sure. I wish you were all here to share it with me. You would have been impressed. I know.
Today is Sept. 1/10 and last night I was shelving magazines at the library and I came across "Explore - Canada's Outdoor Magazine, June 2009 issue." The cover title calling my attention was Best of Canada's Parks; 32 Places to Go in: Banff, Algonquin, Garibaldi, and more... I saw this and I immediately smiled. I quickly started flipping through the pages and came across page 34 on Garibaldi and a smiled gleamed across my face. There was a beautiful picture of the mountains and turquoise water spanning almost two full pages! The picture captured the beauty of the place perfectly. I checked the magazine out and showed my mom when I got home. She asked if the picture was a painting. I could only smile more. "Explore" described Garibaldi as
"Effort equals reward on this Coast Range classic. The trail up will feel like a StairMaster as it climbs 3,000 feet from the valley to the alpine through a pleasant old-growth forest with the occasional waterfall and meadow. And then it really gets steep. But when you crest the top and look down on Wedgemont Lake - a perfect alpine tarn ringed by huge glaciers and peaks - the toil will be forgotten. Plan to spend a day or two exploring this high-country playground."
...couldn't have said it better myself!
I'm out, we going beaching demain. wahooooooo. A full day of tanning and relaxing. Someone's going to have to remind me how to do this.
See you all very soon,
-Carolyn.
Here's the account of July 20 by a fellow UBC Shad.
It’s only now that the House Project has finally ended that we’re starting to realize how close to the end we truly are.
Amid sniffles and coughs, a sleep-deprived group of UBC Shads got up this morning to eat one of our last breakfasts in the cafeteria. Others, like myself, stayed in bed from a variety of illnesses –most likely caused by too many late nights.
After breakfast, we went through some of the remaining Shad Speaks. Among others, we learned a new language and how to make origami dragons.
Today we also had our very last rec. session. We played a campus-wide game of Assassin, an old favourite. Running through the campus we now knew so well – or at least better than before – brought back bittersweet memories of our first week at Shad. Even now, it’s hard to believe that we’ve been at Shad for three whole weeks. In a whirlwind of events that just seem to be one incredibly long day, we’ve gone from wary strangers to family.
Shads spent the evening in small groups, either slaving away on Monthbook or starting preparation for the Variety Show. Others just sat in circles, reminiscing about all the unbelievable things that have happened. The winner for the House Project was decided on, and amid many tears, valedictorians were picked as well.
Even as I write this, Shads around me are discussing ways to keep in touch, places to hold reunions, and holidays when everyone will be available. Although deep down we all know that no reunion will ever compare to the experience that is Shad, each one of us is determined to keep hold of the lifelong bonds we have made with one another.
Nina Chen, Shad Valley University of British Columbia 2010
Hometown: Mississauga, Ontario
Now I know why you have been absent for such an extended time. You and your group must have worked like beavers to finish on time. A tough journey but very satisfying when you get done. I sense your disappointment on your House Project placement but remember ... good ideas just do not happen automatically, it needs patience. What you have acquired through the process will be invaluable and you are now an expert(?) on eHealth >>> a career choice maybe? And you're right, I'm mad that you did not film your presentation ... would have loved watching you et al in action. But I am very anxious to see your business plan. We'll compare notes.
ReplyDeleteLooks like you will have some RnR time coming to you, that's great and it's well earned!
Now to answer your accusation of hiding BC from you to prevent you from leaving ... who suggested UBC to you in the first place? However, you should see northern Ontario as well ... it's suppose to be equally beautiful without the mountains.
I understand that Aunt Jane will be joining Sue and Rob at your Luncheon. They are so excited to see you. So would we but the rest of the family would have agreed to starve for a month.
Love Dad and Mom ... see you soon.
Carolyn, I hope your group gets a chance to go see Whistler and Blackcomb ... take vids if you do.
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