THIS IS WHAT STEAM BOX MEANS TO ME

Sheyla Esteves

home town: Providence, Rhode Island

STEAM Box? (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math).

STEAM Box is a program run by students involved in activities that require hands on experience such as Science, Technology, Engineering, Art or math. If you ask me why is it relevant I would say the following: STEAM Box changed me. No, it didn’t only change me, it helped me shape myself. Figure out who I am or who I want to be. After meeting the brilliant, humorous, trustworthy man who pretty much inspired me to do extraordinary things for a kid my age; Everything started to shift for me.

I was an apathetic slacker who didn’t want to come to school. I felt like I was being dragged every morning. I was never looking forward to learn anything, nor expand my intellect. The reason I specifically went to school every day was because I did not want to hear my mother holler at me around7 o’clock in the morning.

Before I even met Roberto Gonzalez I was influenced by a Business Education teacher, Michael Scott. He encouraged me to get involved with marketing, advertising and accounting. I already had interest in filming, Therefore our daily conversations became more and more stimulating. In a way I felt like he was guiding me towards the right path, although I might’ve had some trouble with school I still managed to keep up with him and his lectures. It was around the time trees were slowly losing leaves and the grass seemed colorless as the days went by ; when I had told Mr.Scott about my shift of interest. Web design and writing was slowly stealing my heart away from business. When I explained to him that I wanted to do more. I knew that some how he would manage to get me what I asked for, He did not fail.

After Roberto took me under his wing, I began to envision miraculous things. Images, Ideas of short films and contexts began to flow through my developing brain. Roberto gave me the opportunity to do things no one else could do for me. It all began with web journalism, going behind the scenes of ABC6 News RI, to building apps for RIDOT, running a blog, working with a Director on a show, to creating and shooting videos for the administrators of the school I attend. I’m currently working on a short film for LADO, A foundation that hands out scholarships for Latinos that meet the foundations requirements. Teachers, Officers, Politicians and etc will be attending the banquet for the scholars. My short film will be presented throughout their banquet in January of 2016.

Although I had help from Mr.Scott, without Roberto Gonzalez I probably would not be where I am now at such a young age. In the process of working with Roberto I assimilated the knowledge and ability to be two steps ahead of everyone. I gained the ability of awareness with my self and others. I’m grateful that Roberto is someone in my life I can go to for advice or maybe even chat for a while. Without STEAM Box I would probably be out in the streets under the influence. Now I am above the influence and tend to guide the upcoming freshmen to follow my foot steps. What is STEAM Box? STEAM Box is an escape, from all the negative vibrations. A tunnel to the other side of oneself. A pathway to success.