Sometimes, All You Need To Learn Something Or Get Something Done Is Chaos.

I can remember the first time I worked on an Embedded System project, it was in my 200l during Corona.

 

I and my team members registered for a competition organized by the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS).

 

We were to design and develop a system/product that solves a pressing problem (there are other criteria but I can’t remember them again).

 

The registration was done before Corona, and we never knew we wouldn’t be physically together to do it.

 

We brainstormed on a project topic, and we called it “Automated Electric Fault Detection System.” The aim of the project was to automatically detect electrical faults in homes, such that anytime something spoils, you just have to go to the system and it will tell you where the fault is.

 

When we decided on this project, none of us knew how to implement it. All we had was our mentor; Ancestor. He was even the one who told us to register.

 

In my 100l days, I had witnessed Ancestor working on projects for people. He was in his 400l, but he used to help final-year students and post-graduate students with their projects… especially the hardware part.

 

I can remember a time he worked on a particular project, he showed me different components and what they were used for, but in reality, I didn’t understand (I’m sorry Ancestor).

 

Now, we already created chaos for ourselves by registering for a competition on something we didn’t know how to do, and we needed to come up with a solution to the problem we submitted as soon as possible.

 

Covid happened and we couldn’t meet again physically.

 

I was the team leader, and the deadline for submission of the project was fast approaching. We started the research when we chose the topic, but we were yet to implement anything.

 

Realizing that time was against us. we divided the tasks and every one of us worked tirelessly.

 

Ancestor wasn’t spoon-feeding us, and all we did was give him the report of our progress. 

 

Forget that I’m unserious with school, when it comes to anything practical, you will always see me there. Na just school I no like.

 

During this period, we learnt, brainstormed, and got to know things we wouldn’t have known normally.

 

I had never written an Arduino code in my life nor worked on a system like that, but because we already created the chaos, somehow, I was doing it and it was working.

 

One thing I so much enjoy is working on projects or building things, it gives me an unexplainable type of joy.

 

We met up with the deadline somehow and submitted the project.

 

The presentation was supposed to be physical, but because of the lockdown, it was done virtually.

 

Our project was chosen and we were to present how it worked. Remember I’m the team leader right?

 

At that time, I had not mastered public speaking and I was afraid. But what needs to be done has to be done.

 

I presented the project on behalf of my team, and our project won us the third position.

 

Initially, the proposed prizes were N500k, N300k, and N200k, but Corona affected them and they changed it to N150k, N100k, and N50k.

 

It was a huge achievement for me and my team members because we never expected we could reach that stage. We were just a set of visionaries looking to build ourselves by participating in competitions.

 

This is one of the moments that made me realize that you can do anything as long as you put in your mind and the necessary efforts.

 

Beyond the prize, we learnt, implemented, and gained experiences. It really can’t be compared to just learning without implementation.

 

So, my friend, you see that thing you have been reluctant to start learning? create chaos for yourself by putting yourself in a tight corner to get yourself to start learning it.

 

Get a mentor you can report your progress to at each point, and most importantly, put in your all and you are going to see yourself doing it.

 

This principle has helped me in lots of ways.

 

Create chaos first and face the consequences later.

 

My last write-up was about me being unserious, but today’s own is meant to expose you to another side of school you can enjoy.

 

Don’t be the boring type, explore different things. It doesn’t have to be in the line of your career, it can just be anything you have an interest in. This is how I’ve been able to know something about everything and everything about something (I don’t need to explain this right?)

 

P.S. My team members: are Toyin Usman Olawale, Ibrahim Hussaini, Ani Emmanuel, Bello Mustapha, and Sittu Rahmah. 

 

P.P.S. I randomly just remembered now that the project topic was determined before we registered for the competition.

 

The back story is that we were planning to apply for the Engineering Project Exhibition (EPEX) in Unilorin, but it also didn’t hold because of Corona, so we used the topic for NCS.

 

P.P.S. If you are enjoying my stories, feel free to give me feedback and also share with your friends and family.

 

Peace out.

Jafar-Sadiq

Team Leader of the third place position