Have you ever wanted to know what makes successful people successful? What goes through a person’s head when they perform any action? That’s what piqued my interest when going to class one day. And I was determined to find out. So, I went to the library and picked up the closest copy of Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill. The book was a pretty fast read and gives a lot of supporting advice for one central idea: thoughts become reality.

Human beings by nature are thoughtful creatures. Thoughts are what propelled us through the evolutionary timeline to become what we are today. When a thought pops up in my mind, I naturally act upon it. Whether it is to get good grades, live a healthy lifestyle, or performing in a sport, I must first think inwards before I can perform the actions to the outer world. Such a simple process of acknowledging the process of thinking should be routine for many people, but even I was ignorant of how to think for the first twenty years of my life.

This past spring break, I traveled to North Carolina with seven friends and I realized thinking’s effects. While we were hiking on a trail in the mountains of North Carolina, each step I was taking was a preemptive thought. I envisioned each step taking place before the step actually occurred. When I was thinking about other things, such as my food or drink later on that night, my footing was unsure and slipped often. Applying this principle of thoughts becoming reality to other aspects of my life, such as school work or design has proven to be just as effective.

When people say, “I can’t do this,” all they’re really doing is not allowing a thought to be planted in their mind. I know many people like this, and all they have to do is change this backwards way of thinking. Take risks. Plant an idea. Live well.

Or more specifically, are students getting enough utility through resources available to them? I know for a fact that as an undergraduate college student, I have countless resources at my disposal. Everything from integrated student information systems to roommate matching services exists to help me develop my college career. However, because students are bombarded with a flurry of resources, much of what is thrown at them is not sticking.

In Aesthetic vs. Utility in Higher Ed Web Design, Eric Olsen of higheredlive.com writes about the importance of designing university websites to include the essential information looked for by students. This ease of information facilitates a focused experience for students to find their resource without jumping through hoops.

 

Which makes a whole lot of sense.

 

Through designing RoomSync, we have realized students don't want to feel like they are on an online dating website; they just want to discover a roommate whom they will enjoy living with on an easy-to-use platform. 

All environments should thrive on high energy, aim to fix problems, and be aesthetically pleasing. As a designer and student, I can say that getting the maximum utility out of a resource happens when I can gather what I need easily and immediately from a resource, enjoy my experience, and ultimately feel good about the whole exercise. It is a quick and painless process that should be the goal of all higher education, regardless if you are a large institution, apartment complex, or RoomSync.

Hello!

Kevin Wu here, with RoomSync! I am a student at the University of Florida, studying information systems and operations management. My projects here at RoomSync has ranged everywhere from making icons, business cards, and the like, to creating a new landing page for a client. I don’t really fancy having a concrete title, but a common theme for my working title is: "The person who makes everything look good."

My deep passion for design and aesthetics has been within me for quite some time; as a little kid, I used to draw Dragon Ball Z characters from video stills on my TV. After all, where is the value in something if it isn't functional and also aesthetically pleasing? I'm hoping here at RoomSync, I can add value through my design skills, whether it's decorating the office, creating business cards, or improving the RoomSync app user experience (commonly referred to UX in the tech world). I love the idea of diving into office design and functionality, even though I'm traditionally a Graphic Desginer.

Besides my fondness for design, I enjoy playing piano, guitar, sports, performing magic, and doing other fun things. I consider myself a lifelong learner who, from both professional and personal life expereinces, continues to enhance his skills and knowledge. We get true value from our experiences when we elegantly take the thought processes from one subject and apply it to a completely different area.  

They say, "You can’t teach an old dog new tricks." I urge you to prove this statement wrong by learning something new each day and taking on a challenge into your lifetime and building continuously on each of your experiences.