Our team attended the Big Ideas Fest Half Moon Bay with a group of eight amazing Roadtrip Nation students from South San Francisco High School who interviewed Leaders at the conference! I had a chance to talk to Roadtrip Nation student Natasha Lee about her experience at Big Ideas Fest!
Molly: How would you describe Big Ideas Fest?
Natasha: Eight lucky students from South San Francisco High school got a golden opportunity to go to Half Moon Bay to take part in the 2011 Big Ideas Fest. At the Big Ideas Fest there are mostly adults who are all apart of education and look forward to improving it. The people at the conference liked to listen to us talk about ourselves and what we look forward to when it comes to finding our future niche. They never once doubted a decision or idea that we shared with them. On our few days there we listened to “Rapid Fires,” where speakers would come up and present how they are involved with education and explain what really motivates and inspires them to stay with what they are currently doing. We got into groups with our cohorts and discussed how to make education more engaging with students, we also made “experiments” with those ideas.
Molly: What were your thoughts going into this experience and how did they change coming out of the experience?
Natasha: First going into the whole concept was amazing! Doing Roadtrip Nation in school has definitely inspired me to not only follow what I want to do in life, but to also pursue it to the furthest I can. Even at the beginning, I knew Roadtrip Nation would be just as awesome as I knew it would be from our AVID curriculum but experiencing it in person is WAY better. You have a better feel of what Roadtrip Nation is really trying to tell you because you are literally talking to an inspirational person right in front of you!
Molly: Who was your favorite person that you interviewed?
Natasha: My favorite person that I got to meet was between Kaycee Eckhardt and Gerald Richards. When I talked to them one on one, they really related to me and gave me helpful tips on finding the right thing to do in life. And of course the ‘right’ thing will not always come easy to you at first but in the end you will find it.
Molly: What was your favorite part of your experience at Big Ideas Fest with Roadtrip Nation?
Natasha: My most favorite part at B.I.F. with Roadtrip Nation was that we got to interview the most inspirational people I have ever come in close contact with. I mean, they are a part of the many that I find very inspirational. Meeting the Roadtrip Nation crew in person was something that I found to be one of my favorites as well.
Molly: How did your Roadtrip Nation Experience change your views about your future?
Natasha: In the very beginning when someone asked me what did I want to be when I grew up, I honestly had no idea, but I told them what I was expected to be. After my experience with Roadtrip Nation, I finally understand that I too have that voice of decisions. Learning along the way from everyone I have talked to, I feel more reassured that there are always going to be changes in life that could be either good or bad but will lead you to the right path later on. I should take life by surprise and not plan everything out perfectly.
Watch the video of the students’ Big Ideas Fest experience:
