Walking into class on Friday, I braced myself for another boring lecture in which I would pretend to scribble notes frantically but actually work on another class time masterpiece like a stick figure with long hair or a rocket ship. However, when I got there a surprise awaited us. Instructions: Create Value Using Post-It Notes. I envisioned the creator of this “experiment” as some evil, mad scientist type who loved to mess with sane people’s minds. How can you create monetary value out of yellow paper besides selling origami post-it notes? Well, my group members and I thought about it and realized value could be anything that people will cherish or hold dear.
When our instructor just stared at us after he announced the instructions, we realized we had to get to moving. We went outside and starting brainstorming. Should we create value by speaking out about an issue or should we do something artistic, fun and light hearted? Maybe we should speak out about Haiti? Maybe we should speak about women’s rights? We decided to speak out about Haiti. Then, we walked to Turlington Plaza and to our surprise two of our classmates had an awesome idea for awareness about Haiti. Feeling defeated, we went and thought of another idea.
As we wandered toward Library West, we saw a group of students organized for Writing on the Wall (an event put on to symbolically knock down the walls of intolerance). We decided to piggy back off that idea and create a way for people to post a pledge to break down the walls of intolerance and “speak no evil.” Yet, the project got off to a rocky start when people rejected us for literally a minute of their time left and right. Yet, we persisted. Let’s be honest, our grade depended on it.
Afterward, I definitely reflected on the fact that this experience taught me that thinking outside of the box can lead to bold ideas. Also, the project opened my eyes personally to the hypocrisy in my own life in terms of the way that I treat others. Many times, the words that we say have an effect far greater than we could have imagined. All in all, this project taught me a lot about myself and I got to work with a great group of people along the way.
Here’s a video that shows our wall.
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