Written by Steve Rees
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Looking back at the preparation for the trip and the trip itself the first thing that anyone involved, students and mentors, would say to describe the experience, was the creation of a family called MINDDRIVE.
The students have grown and matured academically and personally and the mentors have played the important role in that growth. Along the way the students have not only learned about math, science and presenting but also how to travel and live together as a group. They have had heart felt and dedicated guidance from the mentors. Moving our group of nearly 20 people, in close quarters was an interesting chorography. There was a lot of “social” learning along the way by both the mentors and the students. There was a required give and take to make it move together as one. The students were impressive in their spirit and dedication. They typically were always engaged and productive doing their daily tasks of research, writing, photography and data gathering.
We saw them experience America from stem to stern, the mountain, the desert and the sea. They ate food from different regions and saw different cultures. They spoke to people all across the country and they were able to realize the importance of their work by the interest and coverage by local communities, schools and media.
It was a well oiled machine that stayed on schedule the entire trip leaving the students with the desire to spend more time in some spots, like the beaches. If anything it would have been nice to have a little more “chill” time in places but looking back they made their fun along the way and they experienced a ton.
It was a bonus that the car made the trip, almost, without any problems. A loose bolt and a link in the chain that broke and a puncture in a tire caused by a sharp edge in the trailer were pretty minor, not having an impact on the timing.
We tried a charging method that was unusual and untried and it worked like a Swiss watch every time.
At a lunch with students and mentors a year ago someone said that we were all mentors to each other. It was obvious that this was the case on this trip. The mentors all learned more about themselves because of the students. It was a two way street.
The bottom line will be how this influences the lives of the students as they go forward. We are all confident that it will because it has already given them confidence and a much expanded vision of what is possible. I think that if you asked the mentors they would say that they too did something that they would not have imagined possible before.
Steve Rees
