Listening is when you give a person your attention and you respond to what they have to say. Listening to those you care about might be simple for you but others, it could be hard. Listening to strangers is the hardest I think, you don't know them therefore you shouldn't care. You never know what that person will say. It could be a sad story or a happy one. Sometimes there's a problem that needs to be addressed, so you should always listen. I make sure I'm listening to the ones I know. And when there's someone I don't know I listen unless they are asking for money. In New York City is hard because you never know who's asking for what. When I'm with my friends I get into the conversation. I listen and focus on them. Once a conversation has started it can lead to another conversation. When a friend needs help I make sure that I listen to them and I give them my full attention. I come up with ways to help them out. When a distraction appears I cancel the noise out or move somewhere where it's quieter. Having someone's full attention helps a person's feelings. If you don't focus on them they can feel like they don't matter. Making sure that friends matter is key to friendship.

In 2006, Georgette Yakman, a graduate student at Virginia Polytechnic and State University, developed a framework that took the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) acronym one step further. Her STEAM framework incorporated the arts into the traditional STEM curricular areas. Yakman, who holds a BS in Clothing and Textiles, has also worked as a middle and high school engineering and technology teacher and was named NCTC's STEM Teacher of the Year in 2009. It's no wonder that, for her, the connection was obvious. A program that incorporates the arts into the curriculum has been proven to increase creativity, improve academic performance, increase motor skills, enhance visual learning, and boost higher decision-making skills. Art is about using creativity and imagination to increase the development of STEM's essential skills, as well as enhance flexibility, adaptability, productivity, responsibility, and innovation - all required skills for a successful career in any field of study. The connection is also obvious for anyone who has ever worked in any traditional STEM career. Everyone from software engineers and aerospace technicians to biotechnical engineers, professional mathematicians, and laboratory scientists knows that building great things and solving real problems requires a measure of creativity. More and more, professional artists themselves are incorporating technological tools and scientific processes into their art. STEM education is not merely a focus on four core classes or an increased focus on any individual letter in the acronym. STEM is the marrying and undeniable connection between science, technology, engineering, and math. When I think of STEM education, I think of the biochem labs that our Juniors wrote using charts and diagrams of their data gathered through experimentation and their questions. I think of the Rube Goldberg machines built by engineering students in our maker space, and I imagine the classroom furniture and prototypes being built by the students in my Art and Tech elective class, projects that start with 3D models and prototypes and end in functional designs that are in use throughout the school. STEM education gives people skills that make them more employable and ready to meet the current labor demand. It encompasses the whole range of experiences and skills. Each STEM component brings a valuable contribution to a well-rounded education. Science gives learners an in-depth understanding of the world around them. Math is the string that holds all of these projects together: data analysis and presentation, measuring, and angles. Students interpret their scientific findings through their data visualization, and they can work through real-life math problems while troubleshooting a design. If we're teaching STEM subjects in isolation, and if we're still teaching STEM from a textbook or through exams, then we're not teaching STEM. True STE(A)M education means that students are creating, applying, and incorporating mathematics and at least one of the other content areas into their work. Not every project is going to include every letter in STEM, but ideally, they should allow for the integration of at least two of them. Honestly, it’s pretty hard to complete a quality project without exploring at least two of the letters. In the STEM examples that I described above, it's easy to pick out the "A," even if it's not explicit. Technical writing is a skill -- a hard one at that. Writing a cohesive lab report that incorporates and effectively and correctly analyzes data requires strong technical writing. In many fields, writing is considered an art, a talent that is considered the creative expression, even if the writing in question is a nonfiction work. Creating a successful Rube Goldberg machine goes way beyond just having the machine "work." The best Rube Goldberg machines are whimsical and fun to watch. This aspect of such feats of mechanical engineering requires creativity, and the results can be considered art in and of themselves. As for the furniture, these works require thoughtful and practical mechanical design as well as functional design. Students researched actual needs in our building and then developed their designs based on these real-world needs and their creative flair. If we are teaching STEM, we are also inherently teaching the arts. For those students who may not be motivated by math, science, or even technology, it may be the creative piece that gives them the spark they need to truly engage. As educators -- and, indeed, as a society -- we need creative people in STEM fields. And if we're not showing students the creativity in what they're doing and how it allows them to explore their creative interests, then we're not giving them the full picture of what it means to work in a STEM field.

Starting a major life chapter at the age of three is different from your typical childhood. Living in foster care changed my future, going from living with my parents in Kentucky to living in foster care in New York City. My parents lost their rights to me because both of them couldn't take care of me. My mom was mentally ill and my dad had a learning disability and was a drug addict. I was taken by CPS and was brought to a woman whom I still know today. I called her Grandma, but there was someone else: her name was Edie; she never lived with Grandma and me but she was Grandma's best friend. While I was in foster care I had to go to school. Preschool was interesting, with three strong, independent women. The best parts of preschool were nap time and recess. The elementary school was so big, it had five floors. Each grade was a challenge while being in foster care. Going on to a new kid living with me was the most difficult thing in my life. I can't imagine myself living with another kid, but more come and go. I was the lucky one because I never went to another home; I stayed with the same foster mother for five years. When I was seven, I was allowed to live with my dad because he had shown improvements in parenting. If my father continued to show improvements, I had the chance to live with him permanently. I went to a different school and went to a babysitter. Unfortunately, after living with him for an abusive three months, I moved back to my foster mother until I turned eight. My life was about to get better, though: my grandpa found out that I was in foster care and wanted to take custody of me. July 17,2012 is a day to remember for me. My grandpa and I went to the courthouse, and my parents and foster mother were sitting in the courtroom. The judge asked if I could go up to her so she could ask me a question. The famous question from the judge was, “Who do you want to live with? Why?” What I said in the courthouse made everyone laugh: “ My grandpa, because he has a dog”. It was the best day of my life. My father started to cry, “You’re not taking Yahweh.” My grandpa stated, “Watch me.” We left the courthouse and headed to the train station. Coming home was a big change. Getting used to living with my grandparents and not being in foster care was different, but foster care prepared me for the real world. Living with my grandpa has made me happy and more stable. Showing my true self helps me in school and feeling safe is key when it comes to living situations. One quote I live by is “One of the greatest regrets in life is being what others would want you to be, rather than being yourself” by Shannon L. Alder. I should live up to my standards in order for me to be happy. My goal is to become a locomotive engineer, because I’ve always been fascinated by trains and engineering. My grandpa always took me to all of these railroad museums, so that gave me the inspiration, and I thank him for that and more.

An idea. Started from scratch. From a brilliant mind. That’s exactly where entrepreneurship begins. We can think of someone who is defined as an entrepreneur such as Elon Musk, Walt Disney, Steve Jobs, or maybe someone you know personally. Students who pursue a STEM degree have a wide variety of future career choices, but when you add entrepreneurship into the mix, this opens the door to even more opportunities. Entrepreneurial skills and STEM skills go hand in hand. To succeed in a STEM career, you need to be able to problem-solve, be creative, have a growth mindset, and be adaptable – just as with becoming a successful entrepreneur, these are equally suited skills. STEM education provides a broad range of skills that reach beyond careers in science or engineering. It teaches students how to think, not what to think. While STEM gives students the tools and skills they need to work a problem out on their own, it’s the desire at the heart of students – and entrepreneurs – that pushes them to solve that problem and learn why “It’s really good to fail.” Flexibility: We can all attest that things rarely go right the first time! Keeping an open mind and being able to switch gears when something doesn’t go as expected is fundamental to success in both STEM and entrepreneurship. Creativity: Being able to imagine a solution to a problem that doesn’t even exist yet – now that’s creative! Creativity and forward-thinking are skills that drastically overlap in both STEM and entrepreneurship. Teamwork: A company’s success depends on its teams’ collaboration, not just working with others but working together. Engineers work in teams, software coders work in teams, and yes, even entrepreneurs work in teams! Knowledge: And, of course, practical skills – knowing how to actually perform the task set before you – are important for anyone in any career. Entrepreneurship can happen at any age and at any time! Check out these 10 successful young entrepreneurs to get you inspired. There are lots of ways students can get involved with entrepreneurship at a young age. Explore some of these programs to help nurture that inner innovator in all of them: DECA – This organization provides high school and college students with opportunities to network, compete, and experience real-life scenarios to be college and career-ready. Acton Children’s Business Fair – Create a business fair in your community! This program enables students to create their own businesses and sell the products they create. LaunchX – This program brings together high school entrepreneurs to support them in bringing their start-ups to life. Lemonade Day! – Students will learn how to start, own, and operate their own business: a lemonade stand. Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) – Through academic competitions, leadership development, and educational programs, high school students can prepare for careers in business. The Pitsco Idea Shop – For those who live near Pittsburg, Kansas, this shop is along the lines of a maker space, equipping innovators with everything they need to think, make, and innovate.

In a society in which people are expected to work long hours and pass on vacation days, there is an underlying belief that we must always be productive – which can ultimately take away from opportunities for self-care. But by taking some time out to engage in self-care, you may relieve the pressures of everyday life and reset yourself to get back to a healthy point where productivity is once again maximized. Considering the costs associated with mental health services, lost wages, and more, spending some time on yourself may ultimately benefit everyone. Burning the candle at both ends, so to speak, comes with significant consequences, which may include but are not limited to burnout, depression, anxiety, resentment, and a whole host of other negative implications. Engaging in a self-care routine has been clinically proven to reduce or eliminate anxiety and depression, reduce stress, improve concentration, minimize frustration and anger, increase happiness, improve energy, and more. From a physical health perspective, self-care has been clinically proven to reduce heart disease, stroke, and cancer. Spiritually, it may help keep us in tune with our higher power as well as realize our meaning in life.

Friendship is a privilege that shouldn’t be underestimated. Simply put, good friends are good for you. Social interactions trigger all those feel-good vibes in your brain’s endorphin system. There’s actual science behind this! If you have enjoyed friendships and active social life, you’re less likely to develop serious illnesses later in life and more likely to live long. Friendships may even be more effective at extending your life span than exercise! The crucial point here is the nature of those relationships, and how they make you feel loved, cared for, and listened to. When interacting with others for an extended period of time, the easiest thing to do is spot their flaws; however, friendship entails knowing we are both flawed but still valuable to each other and the world at large. Above all else, I am a private being, and someone being my friend does not necessarily entail that they will know everything about me or my day-to-day life, and that’s okay, too. Navigating friendships is subjective, however worthwhile. Friendship is reciprocal in that you give in order to receive.

Having a “growth mindset” has never been more important than now. The world is changing at an incredibly fast pace, and there are new challenges we must face every day. Our way of life is changing, norms are changing, and we must keep up and adjust to all of these changes. This is why having a growth mindset is so necessary. Having a growth mindset is important because it can help you overcome obstacles you may face when learning something new or developing a new skill. Growth mindsets understand the importance of persistence and determination. By changing the way you think, you can change the way you learn. Knowing that your talents and intelligence can be developed allows you to explore, experience, and achieve more in life. People with growth mindsets are also more likely to reach or maximize their potential. They tend to learn from their mistakes, be responsive to criticism, and face challenges head-on, while people with fixed mindsets try to ignore criticism or avoid making mistakes completely. You may be guilty of having a fixed mindset if you find yourself saying things like “I’m a procrastinator,” “I’m unathletic,” or “I’m not smart enough to…” Fixed mindsets lead you to avoid experiences where you may struggle or feel like a failure. Do you think you might have a fixed mindset? Let’s learn how we can change that.

An impatient person is often restless, easily irritable, and might not hesitate in saying things that can hurt other people. Impatience clouds our reasoning and can make us behave rudely or inconsiderately. Consequently, an impatient person is likely to offend other people with his behavior. Hence, if you care about your relationships, you must be patient and focus on the good qualities and individual traits of the people around you. One way to learn the importance of patience in our life is to adopt an empathetic approach towards people. Empathy can help you understand other people and their circumstances so you don’t feel impatient with them. By knowing the importance of patience in life, you will be able to build and maintain strong relationships. Quite often, people wrongly assume that wealth or high physical strength are the only measures of a successful life. However, more than one’s physical skills or material wealth, it is patience that guides people towards greatness in their respective fields. Hellen Keller could neither hear nor see, but she achieved her desired goals by the virtue of patience. She knew that by patiently working towards her goals, she could fulfill her aspirations. By learning the importance of patience, you can transform your lives too. If you follow sports like soccer then you would know how important the extra players are. Those substitutes on the bench are perfect examples of patience. They know they are good enough to go out on the field and play well. Many times, a substitute thinks that they could have tackled a pass better than the players on the field. Yet, the substitute doesn’t mind waiting in the wings and remains confident and focused. When he gets a chance to play, he welcomes the opportunity and plays a great game.

Starting a major chapter at the age of three was different from your typical childhood. Having been in foster care has changed my future. Going from living with my parents in Kentucky to living in foster care in New York City. First started with my parents losing their rights to me because both of them couldn't take care of me. Having my mom being mentally ill and on the other hand, my dad having a learning disability and him being a drug addict. I was taken by CPS and was brought to a woman that I still know today. I called her Grandma, but there was someone else, her name was Edie; she never lived with Grandma and I but she was Grandma's best friend. The biggest accomplishment was about to appear in my life. My grandpa found out that I was in foster care and wanted to take custody of me. July 17th, 2012, is the day to remember. My grandpa and I went to the courthouse, my parents and foster mother were sitting in the courtroom. The judge asks if I can go up to her so she can ask me a question. The famous question from the judge was “Who do you want to live with? Why?” what I said in the courthouse made everyone laugh, “ My grandpa because he has a dog”. It was the biggest day of my life. My father starts to cry, “You’re not taking Yahweh”. My grandpa stated, “Watch me”. We leave the courthouse and head to the train station. Coming home was a big change.

Starting a major chapter at the age of three was different from your typical childhood. Having been in foster care has changed my future. Going from living with my parents in Kentucky to living in foster care in New York City. First started with my parents losing their rights to me because both of them couldn't take care of me. Having my mom being mentally ill and on the other hand, my dad having a learning disability and him being a drug addict. I was taken by CPS and was brought to a woman that I still know today. I called her Grandma, but there was someone else, her name was Edie; she never lived with Grandma and I but she was Grandma's best friend. The biggest accomplishment was about to appear in my life. My grandpa found out that I was in foster care and wanted to take custody of me. July 17th, 2012, is the day to remember. My grandpa and I went to the courthouse, my parents and foster mother were sitting in the courtroom. The judge asks if I can go up to her so she can ask me a question. The famous question from the judge was “Who do you want to live with? Why?” what I said in the courthouse made everyone laugh, “ My grandpa because he has a dog”. It was the biggest day of my life. My father starts to cry, “You’re not taking Yahweh”. My grandpa stated, “Watch me”. We leave the courthouse and head to the train station. Coming home was a big change. Getting used to living with my grandparents and not in foster care was different. Foster care has prepared me for the real world. Living with my grandpa has made me not only happy but made me more stable. Showing my true self helps me in school and to take care of my grandpa. Feeling safe is key when it comes to living situations. In life, a person will experience multiple accomplishments, in my life I experience small goals but big accomplishments. I plan to study Engineering in college in order to become a Locomotive Engineer. Locomotives have always been my dream to drive. Locomotive engineers drive freight or passenger trains between stations. They drive long-distance trains and commuter trains, but not subway trains. Most locomotive engineers drive diesel-electric engines, although some drive locomotives powered by battery or electricity.

Starting a major chapter at the age of three was different from your typical childhood. Having been in foster care has changed my future. Going from living with my parents in Kentucky to living in foster care in New York City. First started with my parents losing their rights to me because both of them couldn't take care of me. Having my mom being mentally ill and on the other hand, my dad having a learning disability and him being a drug addict. I was taken by CPS and was brought to a woman that I still know today. I called her Grandma, but there was someone else, her name was Edie; she never live with Grandma and me but she was Grandma's best friend. While in foster care I had to go to school. Starting with pre-school, the teachers were interesting. Three strong independent women. The best parts of preschool were nap time and recess. Kindergarten felt like all the fun had less said there was no nap time. At least the teachers were good. The elementary school was so big, it had five floors. Each grade was a challenge while being in foster care. Going on to a new kid living with me was the most difficult thing in my life. I can't imagine myself living with another kid, but more come and go. I was the lucky one because I never went to another home, I stayed with the same foster mother for five years. The biggest accomplishment was about to appear in my life. My grandpa found out that I was in foster care and wanted to take custody of me. July 17th, 2012, is the day to remember. My grandpa and I went to the courthouse, my parents and foster mother were sitting in the courtroom. The judge asks if I can go up to her so she can ask me a question. The famous question from the judge was “Who do you want to live with? Why?” what I said in the courthouse made everyone laugh, “ My grandpa because he has a dog”. It was the biggest day of my life. My father starts to cry, “You’re not taking Yahweh”. My grandpa stated, “Watch me”. We leave the courthouse and head to the train station. Coming home was a big change. Getting used to living with my grandparents and not in foster care was different. Foster care has prepared me for the real world. Living with my grandpa has made me not only happy but made more stable. Showing my true self helps me in school and to take care of my grandpa. Feeling safe is key when it comes to living situations. In life, a person will experience multiple accomplishments, in my life I experience small goals but big accomplishments. Going to college will better help me. Knowing that I have the option to get my education makes me wanna take the opportunity.

4D printing is the process through which a 3D printed object transforms itself into another structure over the influence of external energy input as temperature, light, or other environmental stimuli. This technology is part of the project of MIT Self-assembly Lab. The purpose of this project is to combine technology and design to invent self-assembly and programmable material technologies aiming at reimagining construction, manufacturing, product assembly, and performance. In the video above, we see a flat-printed structure that, once placed in hot water, slowly folds itself into another structure. The video below is a test from MIT Selfassembly laboratory demonstrating the functionality of shape transformation: 4D Printing: Self-Folding Surface Cube from MIT Self-Assembly Lab 4D Printing has one more “D” than 3D Printing. What does that mean and why does it bring so much added value to the technology? 3D Printing is about repeating a 2D structure, layer by layer in a print path, from the bottom to the top, layer by layer until a 3D volume is created. 4D Printing is referred to as 3D printing transforming over time. Thus, a fourth dimension is added: time. So, the big breakthrough about 4D Printing over 3D Printing technology is its ability to change shape over time. A 4D-printed gripper grabs an object when the temperature is optimal A 4D printed object is printed just like any 3D printed shape. The difference is that the 4D Printing technology uses programmable and advanced materials that perform a different functionality by adding hot water, light, or heat. That’s why a non-living object can change its 3D shape and behavior over time. 4D printing technology uses commercial 3D printers, such as Polyjet 3D printers. The input is a “smart material”, that can be either a hydrogel or a shape memory polymer. Thanks to their thermomechanical properties and other material properties, smart materials are given the attributes of shape change and are differentiated from the common 3D printing materials. On the other hand, objects printed with 3D Printing technology, are characterized by rigidity. That means that the 3D-printed objects are going to keep their 3D shape once printed. The most obvious advantage of 4D printing is that through computational folding, objects larger than printers can be printed as only one part. Since the 4D printed objects can change shape, can shrink, and unfold, objects that are too large to fit a printer can be compressed for 3D printing into their secondary form. Another advantage of 4D Printing technology is the usage of possible applied materials. 4D printing has a vast potential to revolutionize the world of materials as we know it today. Imagine 4D printing being applied to a variety of smart materials that today we cannot even imagine!

The American Singer Beyonce is an inspiring, strong snd independent woman. Beyonce has shown me that I can get out there to sing and perform in front of people. Showing me that I can be my true self on stage.

The black community has been a constant victim of racism, prejudice, violence, and lack of social, economic, and political resources. These factors have generated psychological pressure and fear that have harmed members of this community in a gradual way, not only socially, but psychologically as well. The social problems that afflict African American society have harmed their mental health. Directly, we can state that a utopian way to solve these problems and allow improvements in the mental health of these people would be the total and definitive extermination of racism and prejudice in American society. This is because racism and prejudice are the main sources of the problems that black people go through and that affect their mental health. Thus, a society where blacks are free, have all their rights guaranteed, and are treated equally, without being judged by their skin color, would be an ideal society, where even white people would be favored. For that to happen, a long way must be traveled, as racism is something deeply rooted in modern society, but that must be fought by everyone every day. Stress leads to physiological responses that raise the risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Trauma and violence are also more likely to affect the lives of boys and young men of color, often leaving them with unresolved psychological wounds. Compounding these problems are the many barriers that prevent African-Americans from receiving adequate mental health services. These include stigma and a lack of representation among and trust of providers. Mr. Yolo Akili Robinson, an inspiring leader, is dedicated to addressing this very problem. Robinson received a 2018 RWJF Award for Health Equity, which honors leaders who are changing systems and showing how solutions at the community level can lead to health equity. He is the executive director of BEAM, which stands for Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective. BEAM trains health care providers and community activists to be sensitive to the issues that plague black communities. BEAM has many programs that focus on men, boys, and nongender-conforming people. We all grow up internalizing things we hear, whether we like them or not. BEAM's approach to unconscious bias is that all of us grow up learning racism, sexism, and other “isms.” So for me, as someone raised and perceived as male, it would be impossible to not, in Mr. Yolo Akili Robinson’s life, have learned biases toward women or have been taught behaviors that encouraged me to dominate, silence, or diminish them. That's an unfortunate aspect of American culture. Instead of denying or pretending to be "color or gender blind," we need honest exploration about the toxic things we learned and this can help us unlearn them, along with ongoing assessment. For example, as a man, am I taking up too much space? How is power being used to support women? How could we be engaging other men to stop a culture of violence against women? That work is ongoing—and that means I need to always be cognizant when I am engaging someone different that I may embody privilege in relation to them.

Being my true self can be one of the hardest things in my life. Somehow I always find a way to achieve that. Hiding behind a mask is so easy but yet it's not showing other people who you are. I like to hide behind a mask when I'm having anxiety over something and put on a fake smile. I also like to control my anxiety so that I don't have to put on a fake mask. Opening up only goes to a select few. The word trust means someone is not going to hurt you or make anything worse, they’ll be there for you. Knowing that you have a few friends that you can fully trust and open up to does help you and put a smile on your face. Having your values can show your true self. it can be that you are kind, passionate, or it can be you can be hiding in the dark. My values are that I am an empath and that I care for my friends and the people around me. That's how I stay true to myself towards people. I recognize the small things that can make me happy or smile. I appreciate all of the things people do for me. I develop unique talents such as having the willingness to drop everything and be there for someone.

Starting a major chapter at the age of three was different from your typical childhood. Having been in foster care has changed my future. Going from living with my parents in Kentucky to living in foster care in New York City. While in foster care I had to go to school. Each grade was a challenge while being in foster care. When I was seven I was allowed to live with my dad. After living in an abusive three months the accomplishment I can save is moving back to the Foster mother I live with until I turned eight. The biggest accomplishment was about to appear in my life. My grandpa wanted to take custody of me. July 17th in 2012, the Day to Remember. I was brought to court, my father, mother, Foster mother, and my grandpa which I was with. The famous question from the judge was “Who do you want to live with? Why?” Yes sir I said in the courthouse made everyone laugh, “ My grandpa because he has a dog”. We leave the courthouse and head to the train to go home. I was only eight years old and I'm still living with my grandpa to this date.