Link to Project Slides Presentation Here

1. Please provide a brief description of your STEP Signature Project. Write two or three sentences describing the main activities your STEP Signature Project entailed.

For my STEP Project, I participated in the STEP Computer build program, where Mr. Ty James instructed us on how to find the appropriate computer parts for our specific needs, how to assemble those components within the computer case, and advised us on potential career opportunities to pursue with our new devices. The program also provided us with a 1500 dollar budget to utilize towards the price of the computer parts, which we could then utilize personal funds if we went over budget. 

2. What about your understanding of yourself, your assumptions, or your view of the world changed/transformed while completing your STEP Signature Project? 

Personally, the idea of building a Personal Computer always seemed an unattainable, overly complicated, non-approachable concept. I had seen others online do it and had always had an interest in the process, but once I took closer looks into the specific steps and components, I always felt overwhelmed by the entirety of the process. Coming into this program, those nerves and apprehensions were still there at the very beginning, but were quickly tossed aside after the instruction and resources provided by Mr. James. 

Now, looking back at the entirety of the program, my knowledge of PCs and my experience with them has increased exponentially. My roommate, who had lots of experience building PCs in the past, helped me a lot throughout the process, and now I’m excited to do the same for others who are looking to create their own computers. The impossibility of building a computer had not only been completely removed, but been replaced with confidence and skill all because of this program. 

3. What events, interactions, relationships, or activities during your STEP Signature Project led to the change/transformation that you discussed in #2, and how did those affect you? 

As aforementioned, I had a lot of assistance throughout this process to help me get to where I am now; first and foremost, the resources and knowledge provided by Mr. James was indispensable and incredibly helpful. The introduction to PCPartPicker.com, the website and organization tool I used throughout the building process, streamlined the entirety of the build, and allowed me to store and compare part selections and see the final compatibility and performance options. Mr. James also offered to give a second opinion on our part choices, voice any concerns about our selections, and verify performance expectations. He also helped us jump-start the process of getting our operating system (in our case, Windows 11) and various softwares and launchers downloaded that we may need for our specific career aspirations.

My roommate was also incredibly helpful during the selection and construction processes. I would voice my desires and requirements for my ideal PC, and cross-verify my part selections with them for the final product. Then, once I had all of my parts in my posession, he helped me with the construction process. His experience with PCs was really highlighted, and I learned a lot about the process as a whole by working with him. If I didn’t have a roommate with that much experience, I would still have someone to turn to for all of the help I would need, as Mr. James offered to be that outlet for help if we did not have someone to turn to. We could always reach out to him with questions if we had them, and we could reach out to him during the construction process for assistance as well. 

All in all, the people around me were instrumental to my success during this process. They, and the resources they provided for me, taught me all I now know about PC construction. Being a part of this program and having these discussions with those around me is what allowed me now to have a powerful device that will be incredibly important in my future filmmaking endeavors, as well as the knowledge of how to create one in case I need to make future upgrades or help others. 

4. Why is this change/transformation significant or valuable for your life?

My ideal career is in the landscape of film and video production, and one of, if not the most, instrumental aspects of this career is the post-production/editing process. With a powerful and capable device like the PC I built during this program, I will be able to streamline the editing process for my future creative projects, and have access to more editing possibilities that were not available on less-powerful computers. Being able to make these improvements will create a significant jump in quality and a decrease of technical errors as I create videos throughout the remainder of my schooling and the entirety of my future career.