It was a mentorship program to introduce aspiring students to science. It was a very well-structured project that I honestly missed the opportunity to do a good job on, both due to lack of motivation as also happened in previous projects. I was doing it more because redacted had suggested it, but we struggled a lot, first because the premise of my participation was completely wrong and second because the project idea was completely unfounded.
The initial idea was to create a bioplastic from eggshells. But eggshells didn’t have any component that integrates plastics. The most logical thing would have been to do something based on calcium, like a recipe to strengthen the casts used for treating broken bones or something like that.
The bioplastic idea soon died and we had to pivot. Redacted was clearly exploring what interested her, still undecided whether she wanted to focus more on science or education, she ended up deciding we should research gifted students, which I personally didn’t care much about.
I did everything wrong, and at the same time as this project that I barely helped with, I was also doing my first scientific initiation. I think it was here that my need to create some form of time management was born. But I didn’t take this project seriously since I had no purpose for doing it. That’s why I don’t even bother to put it on my resume.
What should I have done differently? I should have had agency to begin with, I am the kind of proactive person in projects, which is why I usually end up being responsible for leading the efforts. It shouldn’t have been any different. But my lack of self-knowledge and inability to see the bigger picture held me back. Again, it’s the lack of being intentional with what I commit to, so I don’t take it seriously and open the door to irresponsibility.
I was so frustrated and ashamed of myself that I didn’t even save the certificate I received. I think the only media I currently have is this video about the project status and this post from redacted