What are three to six key points or impressions that you will take away from these stories? 

1. Universities are not only a breeding ground for innovation of academic and private research, but for public value projects. Students are inspired to take action, universities are challenged to make a change. 

2. You don't always need to create something new to create value for the underserved portions of a community. Simply finding a way to make your system more efficient, such as by using unused food swipes which would go to waste for donations.

3. Change happens at all levels, and the biggest factor involving change is the educational system, where the constant challenges of education push individuals to go above and beyond, testing out the skills they've developed, to change the world.

Write a 200-word reflection that engages, analyzes, critiques, expands upon, and/or questions what you read or listened to.

My first instinct upon reading the story on Temple University students who organized with their university to allow for students to donate their unused meal swipes, I thought to myself that I should do the same thing. Then my mind began to wonder, and all of a sudden I was wondering why I hadn't thought of the idea. It's simple enough, the only issue was that I Was actively searching for areas of inefficiency in my life. I was too focused on the need to create a new venue of value, a new standalone opportunity, idea, or creation which could impact my community. The lesson I learned was that I need to be open to all the ways I can impact others. While it is true that innovating a solution to a problem with a venture can be an exciting task and extremely valuable to a community, it is not always the most efficient mechanism for change, and ultimately that robs you of your ability to make the most impact. I plan on pursuing this idea in my own university and will start by reaching out to the TempleU students who organized their drive and learn how I can go about doing it myself.

Share your reflections on your experience reading, watching or listening to the solutions journalism stories. Did you learn new information; gain new understanding; see things with a different perspective than you had in the past? Did the stories reinforce an idea or thought you'd previously had? Did you meet new people, or learn about opportunities you were previously unaware of? 

I learned a lot about the developments in activism around education. I wasn't aware that colleges alter their tuition prices based on how to satisfy the needs of those who can't afford them by raising prices. It seems counter-intuitive, but by charging more they can afford to give more aid. I don't believe it would work at colleges that are not very prestigious because they do not attract particularly wealthy students. I also learned about new designs for attracting teachers based not on their experience, but their willingness to innovate. I think that ultimately experience is not the key, its value and innovation is priceless. The same routine practiced year after year provides mastery, but it does not provide innovation. Perhaps though experienced teachers are experienced because they've innovated and they know what works, but that doesn't mean that others cannot learn from those teachers. From students teaching sex education to student-led financial education programs, the education environment is seeing massive strides in activist momentum.

Were there other stories this week that you’d like to give an “honorable mention” -- that you enjoyed, but were not your top choice to share?

In many Arab countries debate is stifled, but in an effort to develop their university programs, several universities in Arab countries are developing debate programs. I think this is incredibly important because without the movement of free thought development is challenged.

What else would you like to share?

I am excited to share this platform so that others can learn about stories like the ones I have read. I think that awareness is one of the biggest challenges to change, and SolutionsU is definitely working to address that.

What are three to six key points or impressions that you will take away from these stories? 

1. Universities are not only a breeding ground for innovation of academic and private research, but for public value projects. Students are inspired to take action, universities are challenged to make a change. 

2. You don't always need to create something new to create value for the underserved portions of a community. Simply finding a way to make your system more efficient, such as by using unused food swipes which would go to waste for donations.

3. Change happens at all levels, and the biggest factor involving change is the educational system, where the constant challenges of education push individuals to go above and beyond, testing out the skills they've developed, to change the world.

Write a 200-word reflection that engages, analyzes, critiques, expands upon, and/or questions what you read or listened to.

My first instinct upon reading the story on Temple University students who organized with their university to allow for students to donate their unused meal swipes, I thought to myself that I should do the same thing. Then my mind began to wonder, and all of a sudden I was wondering why I hadn't thought of the idea. It's simple enough, the only issue was that I Was actively searching for areas of inefficiency in my life. I was too focused on the need to create a new venue of value, a new standalone opportunity, idea, or creation which could impact my community. The lesson I learned was that I need to be open to all the ways I can impact others. While it is true that innovating a solution to a problem with a venture can be an exciting task and extremely valuable to a community, it is not always the most efficient mechanism for change, and ultimately that robs you of your ability to make the most impact. I plan on pursuing this idea in my own university and will start by reaching out to the TempleU students who organized their drive and learn how I can go about doing it myself.

Share your reflections on your experience reading, watching or listening to the solutions journalism stories. Did you learn new information; gain new understanding; see things with a different perspective than you had in the past? Did the stories reinforce an idea or thought you'd previously had? Did you meet new people, or learn about opportunities you were previously unaware of? 

I learned a lot about the developments in activism around education. I wasn't aware that colleges alter their tuition prices based on how to satisfy the needs of those who can't afford them by raising prices. It seems counter-intuitive, but by charging more they can afford to give more aid. I don't believe it would work at colleges that are not very prestigious because they do not attract particularly wealthy students. I also learned about new designs for attracting teachers based not on their experience, but their willingness to innovate. I think that ultimately experience is not the key, its value and innovation is priceless. The same routine practiced year after year provides mastery, but it does not provide innovation. Perhaps though experienced teachers are experienced because they've innovated and they know what works, but that doesn't mean that others cannot learn from those teachers. From students teaching sex education to student-led financial education programs, the education environment is seeing massive strides in activist momentum.

Were there other stories this week that you’d like to give an “honorable mention” -- that you enjoyed, but were not your top choice to share?

In many Arab countries debate is stifled, but in an effort to develop their university programs, several universities in Arab countries are developing debate programs. I think this is incredibly important because without the movement of free thought development is challenged.

What else would you like to share?