20th December 2023 - 10th July 2024

The theme for British International Education Association STEM Competition this year is Sustainable Fashion. The goal was to choose a textile to research thoroughly, and create a sustainable clothing using that same textile with an adaption. This year, I participated with a friend, and we created a clothing inspired by origami tessellation, which are customisable and adjust to your size. The textile we chose to research and use was linen. Currently we are still awaiting results to whether we were shortlisted.

During the time we took to write the report and design the clothing, we met about once or twice a week. I was happy with our progress, however slow, and didn’t worry too much about it. However, nearing the deadline, our supervisor quickly realised the pace at which progress was being made, and advised us to hurry. However, I wasn’t too worried, we were half-way there, and if I continued to consistently dedicate my time to the project, we would have completed it well before the deadline. I wasn’t worried, took my time, and left it for a couple of days.

As time continued on, I was multitasking each week, working on my school work, then designing the clothing for the BIEA STEM competition. One day, during the Easter break, about a week and a half before the deadline, my parents reminded me that we were going to Taiwan for a week’s vacation. I had completely forgotten. The feeling of regret that followed was inevitable, as I had spent some time dawdling and didn’t take the deadline seriously. That week, we went to Taiwan, and I was able to get some of the tasks done, but most was incomplete. I received multiple messages from both my friend and supervisor, telling me that when I arrived back at Hong Kong, we had to meet up. Of course, I enjoyed my time in Taiwan, however there was still a burden on my shoulders to complete the work.

When I arrived back in Hong Kong, I immediately started working. The guilt of having left the work consumed me, and I promised myself to meet the deadline and dedicate myself and my time. Over the few days before the deadline, me and my friend wrote the report and drew the design, helping each other with the tasks and cramming everything into the weekends. At long last, we had completed it, at the expense of our time and freedom. Never had I felt so responsible for the work I was in charge of, which ultimately led to the near down-fall of our team.

It is much safer to dedicate my time to work before the deadline than cramming it in a day. I learnt that in order to complete work on time, it must never be left until the last minute, and should be treated seriously with consideration.

Thanks to my friend and supervisor for being so patient with the progress we made!