I went to meet my group mates to check on and help with finishing our Mini Elevator powered by Arduino Uno. It was 99% complete, and there was nothing significant left to do. The only remaining task was the LCD display, which would show which button was clicked and the current floor of the elevator.
While I stood off to the side, watching them connect the wiring to the electrical board, I realized I hadn’t contributed much to this project. My only contribution had been financial, helping buy the materials we needed to build the Mini Elevator. I hadn’t shared any ideas about how our elevator should function or look.
This made me feel like I was just a freeloader, benefiting from a project that was the result of their original ideas, time, and effort. The thought of being a freeloader made me feel uncomfortable because it wasn’t something I was used to. In the past, I had often been the lead and one of the minds behind our group projects, but now I felt like I had shifted to being insignificant and unimportant.
On the other hand, I have to admit that I know very little about electrical circuitry and don’t know how to use an Arduino board to power our elevator. Although we have lessons on these topics, our professor unfortunately didn’t cover them in class. As a result, I’m left with a gap that I don’t know how to fill because I’m unsure where to start or what the basics are. Thankfully, I have a friend who was willing to go the extra mile and learn how to get our project off the ground.
I took some time to reflect on myself and think about what I can do to alleviate these sad feelings. I don’t want this negative emotion to consume me further, as I’ve noticed it’s starting to affect how I see myself. In the past, I viewed myself as someone willing to learn and take on any challenge. Now, I’m beginning to feel as if I’ve been pretending I can do everything.
However, my mind was tangled with so many thoughts that I was having trouble thinking clearly, so I decided to talk to someone special to me—someone I trust to listen and understand. I shared with him what was bothering me and weighing on my chest. It was a vulnerable moment, but thankfully, he didn’t invalidate my feelings. He reassured me that it’s normal to go through this phase, as he had experienced it too. He added that it’s up to me to work through it and not let it distort my sense of self-worth.
In the end, I view this as a humbling experience. It reminded me that everyone has their own limits, and I am no exception. While I may be knowledgeable in some areas, I have to accept that there are things I don’t know. Recognizing my own strengths and weaknesses is essential, and I can use this understanding to motivate myself to improve and grow.
So, what’s next? If I have some free time, I’d like to explore the world of Arduino—it seems both fun and interesting to learn. For now, though, I’ll focus on our ongoing projects; it would be overwhelming to tackle everything at once.
Note: The image from my thumbnail came from Sahand Babali. It was enhanced and edited on Canva.
