Quarantine Inspiration to Living the Moment: My Journey to Meeting Mark Rober

Back in 2020, just like pretty much everyone else, I was stuck at home with nothing much to do. So, following the crowd of fellow elementary school kids, I jumped online and got lost in the endless rabbit hole that is YouTube. Honestly, what better way to kill time, right?

Of course, I binged the usual stuff—Lego reviews, wildlife videos, and Star Wars cartoons popping up everywhere in my recommendations. But then, one video totally grabbed my attention.

The video "Backyard Squirrel Maze 1.0 - Ninja Warrior Course," created by Mark Rober and featured on his eponymous channel, offers an innovative solution to the common problem of squirrels stealing food from bird feeders. Although his efforts did not entirely deter the squirrels, Mark Rober succeeded in capturing global interest in the potential of engineering through this project. I was among those inspired, and it was through exploring his content that I developed a strong appreciation for engineering. So much so that I even attended the very first online class hosted by Mark Rober on Monthly.com.  And with that, I embarked on my very own engineering projects at home – motion sensor lights in my LEGO city, a laundry alarm that would set off based on the weight of my laundry bag, and, of course, my mom’s favorite – drip irrigation for our backyard, which keeps her garden blooming. The motivation continued in middle school post-pandemic, and I joined the First Tech Challenge (FTC) robotics team. FTC offers an experience that closely resembles real-world engineering. The competition highlights the importance of integration, as a robot consists of multiple subsystems and programs that must work together effectively. While individual components may be straightforward to design, combining them can present significant challenges, particularly when integrating software with hardware. The process of testing and tuning frequently reveals unexpected potential issues. Robotics also emphasizes the need for persistence throughout these challenges.

Robotics taught me that things rarely go as planned, and problems can pop up at any time. What really matters is sticking with it and not giving up, no matter how tough things get. The key is to keep working and troubleshooting until the robot works the way it should. That determination is what helps you push through the hard parts and finish the job.

Outreach is a critical component of the FTC Challenge. Engaging with STEM professionals in the community and encouraging middle and high school students to pursue STEM education are essential aspects of our efforts. Our team was involved in several outreach events like robotics camps in the local YMCA, Outreach booths in local fairs,

And then one day, we received an email from Dude Perfect! They are a YouTube channel with very engaging trick-shot videos. Their next video shoot was a battlebot with Mark Rober, and they were looking for assistance from a community Robotics team to help them build their robot for the battle bots against Mark Rober! We were excited. Not only do we get to meet the Dudes, but we also get to meet Mark Rober himself! We spent a week or 10 days at the Dude Perfect Studio in Frisco, working on building three Robots designed to compete against Mark’s robot. On the day of the filming, we were excited to be at the studio. We made some final checks & fixes to our robots when Mark finally walked in. He was right there in front of us, and not on a YouTube screen. It was a total fan moment for us. What struck me was how humble and approachable he was. I got to share with him on how his videos helped me get over boredom during COVID and inspired me to join Robotics. It was a light-hearted conversation, as he spoke about his engineering journey & robotics.

The studio visit and this interaction strengthened my conviction that technology can solve several problems, including environmental ones, and help keep our planet special. Meeting someone like Mark Rober in person and seeing his passion for engineering up close made me realize that innovation isn't just about creating cool gadgets but about making a real difference in the world.

Sharing below my very first Lego STEM project back in 2020. Powered by Arduino motion sensors, my Berlin skyline (LEGO Architecture set) is an energy-efficient smart city! The Reichstag dome, Brandenburg Gate, and Berlin TV tower are lit by motion-sensor lighting, blending energy efficiency with creative design.