February 27, 2024
Pivoting Projects and Perseverance in Bengaluru
Today marks the beginning of week 9, signifying, as they say, “the beginning of the end”. This is my last blog post for GCIL and it’s surreal to reflect on everything I’ve experienced in India— the sights, the activities, and yes, of course, the food. It feels like I’m only just beginning to grasp the intricacies of navigating GCIL, Rise, and Indian life as a whole. I find myself reminiscing about the initial weeks of the program, when the GCIL crew would dedicate entire days to NGOs and sightseeing, returning to relax at UTC or enjoying a night out with friends.
Recently, the Rise team has been putting in a tremendous amount of effort. Following a somewhat disheartening meeting with mentors and Arun, we were told to pivot our project which felt a little world-shattering. I felt as though my thoughts were in a whirlwind, compounded by pneumonia after Pondicherry. Questions like: “What am I even doing here?”, “What are we going to do next?” and, “Will we come up with a good solution?” swirled around in my head. Yet, despite these worries, we pressed on, focusing on completing Rise deliverables— particularly the corner seat prototype and formalizing the workflow of scanning patient documents.
Immersing myself in hands-on work and creation provided a welcome distraction from GCIL worries. After the first iteration of the corner seat, we’ve significantly improved upon the original prototype, culminating in a tangible and functional final product. I never thought I’d know so much about the intricacies of different materials like EVO foam, MDF wood, screws, nuts, and bolts, or find so much joy and satisfaction in gaining skills using power tools, from drills to jigsaws to heat guns. Collaborating closely with Matt, Arielle, and the Rise medical team, we pushed through brainstorming sessions to bring our prototype to life. Today, as we put the finishing touches on the corner seat, Arun’s satisfaction mirrored our sense of accomplishment.
Late nights and long hours became the norm as we tackled the challenge of pivoting our GCIL project. Despite setbacks and uncertainties, I’m grateful that I could rely so heavily on the Rise crew, which (as cliche and cheesy as it sounds) has become stronger and more united. Matt and Arielle’s unwavering support and goofy, light-hearted natures have been invaluable, keeping me motivated even in moments of self-doubt. During a late-night session at Third-Wave-Coffee, we pulled together and pushed through despite our exhaustion and fried brains until we were all satisfied with our progress. Yesterday, on Monday, after numerous back-and-forth meetings with Arun, Julian, and Kaylea, it feels like we’re back on track and have gained a much better grasp of our new problem and solution. Looking ahead, I’m filled with optimism for the final leg of our GCIL journey.
By Casera
Arielle, me, and Matt in our company-given polo shirts on our way to a rural health clinic that has a partnership with Rise Bionics.