Summary
Week two has flown by, and there’s much to be grateful for. My team and I have made significant progress on our project, building on a previous OEDK fellow's work by improving and refining the design.
This week, we participated in a Soldering workshop, which enhanced my skills despite prior experience, and a Team Communication Workshop, emphasizing the importance of effective teamwork. Also had a networking lunch with Rice University alumni, where we gained career insights and expanded our professional network.
I also visited the Houston Museum of Natural Science, which was an extraordinary experience. Highlights included the Burke Baker Planetarium, Morian Hall of Paleontology, Cullen Hall of Gems and Minerals, Cockrell Butterfly Center, and the Hall of Ancient Egypt. The museum’s exhibits were captivating and educational, deepening my appreciation for the natural world.
On Sunday, I rode the Metro bus and train to Lakewood Church, where I enjoyed Pastor Joel Osteen’s sermon and the beautiful church environment.
This week has been a blend of hands-on work, skill-building, networking, and cultural exploration, contributing to my growth as an engineer and individual. Stay tuned for more updates from my incredible internship at OEDK!
Hi everyone … I am back Penina here!
It’s already week two and days are moving so fast… turns out that the busier you get time just seems to fly. There is a lot to be grateful for this week because, for the most important part, me and my teammates have at least managed to get somewhere with our project. Since we are carrying on a project that was done by a former OEDK fellow. Our job is to make an even better version of it and carry where our fellows left off. So, after being able to rebuild our prototype and finally keep it up and running. We are now pacing down the road of modification and refining the design.
Morning Standup Meetings
Every morning, our team gathers for a standup meeting led by Dr. Holmes. These sessions are a great start to the day, as they encourage us to embrace and learn from the failures we encounter in our prototyping journey. This positive approach to challenges fosters a growth mindset to help us know where we stand, plan where we want to be at the end of the day, and motivate us to keep improving each day.
As part of the Summer Experience in Engineering Design, we were able to engage in two workshops this week that I truly enjoyed. First, we got to participate in the Soldering workshop and it proved to be very fruitful even though I have had a couple of soldering experiences, I got to relearn the topic and gained more insight into soldering, and to my surprise, it was a short and sweet lesson I go to enjoy to its fullest and come up with my a successful electrical connection. Secondly, we had a Team Communication Workshop where we learned the importance of team communication to make the working environment friendly and productive.
Networking Lunch with Alumni
I had the privilege of attending a networking lunch with several Rice University alumni. Hearing their stories and advice was inspiring and provided me with insights into various career paths and opportunities in the engineering field. I also enjoyed getting to know them and talking about their life experiences and culture. It was a fun and enjoyable lunch where we grew the network of people who can help us and who potentially have the chance to help them back.
Cultural and Spiritual Exploration
Visiting the Houston Museum of Natural Science for the first time was an extraordinary experience, I underestimated the fact that the museum was the first stop I had to visit outside Rice University but still I was just excited to go out. Trust me I was very impressed with everything about the Museum. From the grand entrance to The Burke Baker Planetarium I saw amazing stuff about astrophysics, the physics of the cosmos, the life cycles of stars, black holes, and the fundamental forces that govern the universe. Onto the Morian Hall of Paleontology featuring a colossal dinosaur skeleton to the Morian Hall of Paleontology with its towering T-rex and Triceratops, the museum captivated me from the start. The Cullen Hall of Gems and Minerals dazzled with its stunning array of gems, minerals, and meteorites, while the Cockrell Butterfly Center offered a serene, magical environment teeming with butterflies. The Hall of Ancient Egypt showcased impressive artifacts, mummies, and interactive elements like virtual mummy unwrapping, adding a sense of mystery and reverence. The Burke Baker Planetarium and Space Exploration exhibit sparked wonder about the universe and humanity’s space missions. Special exhibits and interactive displays throughout the museum catered to all ages, making it both educational and engaging. Overall, the visit left me with a deeper appreciation for the natural world and a desire to return and explore more and more….
I also got the chance to board the Metro bus and Train to and from the Lakewood Church on Sunday. Which was very exciting plus I got to see Pastor Joel Osteen live and enjoy his sermon and of course the church was huge and beautiful in each and every way, and it surely made me wanna go back there again and again😊.
Reflections
This second week has been a blend of hands-on work, skill-building, networking, and cultural immersion. Each experience has contributed to my growth as an engineer and as an individual. I’m excited to continue this journey, tackling challenges and celebrating successes along the way.
Stay tuned for more updates as I navigate through this incredible internship at OEDK!