3, 2, 1, lift-off! What did I learn from Space Technology Laboratory (STL)? - Part 1
Before we get started, here is something I want to share to briefly introduce our laboratory and what we have done for the past 5 years.
Hi there, my name is Mark. I am a computer science student and avionics engineer at Space Technology Laboratory (STL), Tamkang University. For the past year, I have spent most of my time at the lab advancing the avionics systems. And here are the top four lessons I learned throughout these experiences. But before getting into the detail of the story, I would like to give my highest acknowledgment and appreciation to the friends and partners along this challenging but fantastic journey.
The first lesson, accepting failure and disagreement is the seed for growth for individuals and organizations. When I just entered the laboratory with my total momentum in building a reusable TVC rocket, I was depressed that we couldn't accomplish this upon the current capacity in the laboratory. Also, most team members couldn't understand or agree on the trajectory of building a reusable TVC rocket. That was a struggle for me at the time when my dream was on the edge of failure.
But after months of reflection, I started to accept that not everyone should have the same goals and vision. Instead, we should embrace differences in ideas and imagination rather than enforce our views on everyone. It is the foundation for the growth of any individuals and organizations with collective efforts toward a single mission.
The second lesson, inspiring others to innovate, is challenging but will pay back in the long run. Sometimes, it is hard to inspire others to take on the path of innovation as often innovation brings risk to your life and career. However, from my laboratory experiences, it is worth encouraging and inspiring others to innovate because it will pay off in the long run, even if you fail at the start.
The mind of innovation isn't grown in a day or so. Instead, they take time to thrive. And it is why I said that inspiring others to innovate is challenging but will pay back in the long run. It is just like a seed in everyone's heart. Waiting for your inspiration to thrive. If innovation and transformation are something you would like to impact your organization, then trying to inspire others to take action is genuinely worth trying!
The third lesson, learning how to manage your energy and mental condition, is the priority of everything. Being an innovator is not just about bringing new ideas to life but also dealing with failure and risk, as innovation means loss first and triumphs second. Therefore, I can't stress the importance of physical and mental energy management could impact your moonshot mission.
Back in the days when I had just entered the laboratory, I was full of momentum and innovative ideas, but these sparks weren't brought any revolutions. Instead, they got an intense depression in my life. However, this lesson taught me how to manage my mental and physical energy to continue my passion and mission to space!
The final lesson, the end of failure and downtime, will be your fuel for the next launch of any venture or endeavor. People always say that failure is the foundation of success and is valid. But we can do it not just by becoming a failure-enduring person but a failure-inspiring learner! Failure can teach us more than success. Therefore, we should be grateful for our failures, and like MIT AeroAstro said, "we look ahead by looking up!". Look up at the stars and wonder what makes this universe unique.
During my time in the laboratory, whether it is an idea proposal, experiment set up, or even a launch mission, we constantly face failures and thrive through struggles. What I learned from the laboratory showed me the truth of
Again, I want to present tremendous gratitude to those who support me along this journey of struggle and growth and give my most immense appreciation for the opportunities in the laboratory to thrive and go beyond what is possible.
Let's go beyond!
