Each year we sit down and look at all the work-related activities we were involved in throughout the year and reflect on a few things like: the effort involved, the monetary return, the level of grief/pain, the level of enjoyment . When I thought back on all the things I’d done this year, it turned out my top 3 were activities that didn’t directly earn me money doing them, and in fact I gave up my own time and days away from paid work to do. It’s good that we’re in an industry and in a position in life where we can do work and then can afford to give time and effort to things that are rewarding. So my top 3 rewarding activities for the year:
- Imagine Cup – This year I was really fortunate to be involved in Imagine Cup. Many thanks to Andrew Parsons for getting me involved. This wasn’t around when I was at university, but I really wish it was! This year I was involved in judging two rounds of Game Design and the finals of Software Design. The game design was very cool. It was amazing the quality of the games that had been entered by students in their own time on top of their studies. If you want to check out the top 3 Games Finalists for 2010 have a look at these:
By Implication’s Wildfire: http://www.kotaku.com.au/2010/07/wildfire-preview-power-to-the-people/
NomNom Productions’ Shift: http://www.kotaku.com.au/2010/07/shift-preview-staring-at-the-sun/
Green Gear Studios’ Island of Nazeth: http://www.kotaku.com.au/2010/07/island-of-nazeth-preview-taking-out-the-trash/
The Software Design finals, held in Poland in 2010, was an awesome experience! The energy, enthusiasm and the actual solutions that were presented were overwhelming! Here you had finalist teams from over 100 countries truly tackling some of the world’s biggest problems. Listening to the students presentations, motivations and how their software had actually changed people’s lives was really a touching experience.
- Technology Takes You Anywhere – This was our 3rd year at this event where we entertained 500 school girls between the ages of 8 and 15 with our surface geography game. We got some great pics of the girls collaborating here. What we love about this event is the energy and enthusiasm to learn the girls have. It’s amazing to watch them pick up the technology so quickly and how they teach each other like second nature. The day is lots of fun, with heaps of questions and interaction but by the end you are totally exhausted!
- Microsoft Australia Evangelism Academy – We were lucky enough to be selected in this 12 month program, named EvangelOz by the group, which aims to take a small group of enthusiastic technology geeks and turn us into awesome presenters. The first 3 days were intense but totally awesome! I can’t wait to do more of this program throughout the year and improve my presentation skills. Many thanks to Andrew Coates and Sarah Vaughan for getting us involved in this.
So fingers crossed I get to be involved in such awesome things again in 2011!