"What if it fails? What if it doesn't work out?"
This fear-driven mindset has been ingrained in students around the world, especially in South Korea. Despite the presence of bright and intelligent minds scattered throughout the country, the fear of failure, embarrassment, or falling short of expectations often prevents students from reaching their full potential. I know this is true because I used to be one of those students.
Contrary to what some might expect, this project did not begin with a groundbreaking vision that altered the course of my life. Instead, it started with a simple request from a staff member at KIS. After watching a presentation that my partner Michael and I delivered during the Design Your Impact Celebration Day, she approached us with a potential project idea. She wanted us to create an application that would allow educators to easily set professional learning goals based on the Danielson Framework while utilizing the capabilities of artificial intelligence. At first, the proposal seemed like a relatively small challenge. It felt more like a favor to help a teacher navigate the complexities of technology. However, in no time, what began as a simple request quickly evolved into something far greater and more enriching than either of us could have imagined.
Over the next few months, after countless email exchanges with the school, long hours spent in meetings, and hundreds of revisions based on feedback, Michael and I finally developed the first working prototype of our website, Lapis. We initially thought that reaching this stage would be the most difficult part of the project, but we quickly realized how wrong we were. As conversations shifted from simply building a functional platform to actually implementing it within the school for teachers to use, concerns about data privacy, cybersecurity, and user protection began to surface. Suddenly, the issue was no longer just about creating a website that worked. We had to ensure that it could responsibly handle sensitive information and meet criteria that neither of us had ever dealt with before. Recognizing the complexity of the situation, the school connected us with a private IT consultant who worked closely with us throughout the process. With his guidance, we have learned how to address security concerns, protect user data, and think about technology not only from the perspective of developers, but also from the perspective of the people who use and rely on our product. To this day, Michael and I continue to seek his guidance as we navigate new challenges and further develop the platform.
Through this project, not only was I fortunate enough to experience a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to gain insight into the authentic worlds of entrepreneurship and education, but I also had the opportunity to develop a strong partnership with one of the most brilliant individuals I have ever met, Michael. Through countless late-night calls, tribulations, and moments of doubt, his humility and diligence constantly reminded me that there was no adversity we could not overcome. His mindset helped me become not only a better person but also a stronger critical thinker and problem solver who is not afraid to embrace setbacks. That is why, regardless of what the future holds, I take pride in knowing that this project gave me more than just technical experience. It gave me a companion whom I can look up to and collaborate with long after high school.
Looking back to December 2025, no one could have predicted how successful and expansive this project would become. However, if there is one thing I took away from this experience, it is that being a high school student is not a limitation. With enough grit, persistence, and willingness to embrace uncertainty, obstacles become opportunities that make you stronger.
So the next time you find yourself debating whether to start a new project or embark on a new challenge, remember this. The biggest asset you have is yourself. Trust in your abilities and take the leap, because the greatest risk in life is not failure but never trying at all.
This fear-driven mindset has been ingrained in students around the world, especially in South Korea. Despite the presence of bright and intelligent minds scattered throughout the country, the fear of failure, embarrassment, or falling short of expectations often prevents students from reaching their full potential. I know this is true because I used to be one of those students.
Contrary to what some might expect, this project did not begin with a groundbreaking vision that altered the course of my life. Instead, it started with a simple request from a staff member at KIS. After watching a presentation that my partner Michael and I delivered during the Design Your Impact Celebration Day, she approached us with a potential project idea. She wanted us to create an application that would allow educators to easily set professional learning goals based on the Danielson Framework while utilizing the capabilities of artificial intelligence. At first, the proposal seemed like a relatively small challenge. It felt more like a favor to help a teacher navigate the complexities of technology. However, in no time, what began as a simple request quickly evolved into something far greater and more enriching than either of us could have imagined.
Over the next few months, after countless email exchanges with the school, long hours spent in meetings, and hundreds of revisions based on feedback, Michael and I finally developed the first working prototype of our website, Lapis. We initially thought that reaching this stage would be the most difficult part of the project, but we quickly realized how wrong we were. As conversations shifted from simply building a functional platform to actually implementing it within the school for teachers to use, concerns about data privacy, cybersecurity, and user protection began to surface. Suddenly, the issue was no longer just about creating a website that worked. We had to ensure that it could responsibly handle sensitive information and meet criteria that neither of us had ever dealt with before. Recognizing the complexity of the situation, the school connected us with a private IT consultant who worked closely with us throughout the process. With his guidance, we have learned how to address security concerns, protect user data, and think about technology not only from the perspective of developers, but also from the perspective of the people who use and rely on our product. To this day, Michael and I continue to seek his guidance as we navigate new challenges and further develop the platform.
Through this project, not only was I fortunate enough to experience a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to gain insight into the authentic worlds of entrepreneurship and education, but I also had the opportunity to develop a strong partnership with one of the most brilliant individuals I have ever met, Michael. Through countless late-night calls, tribulations, and moments of doubt, his humility and diligence constantly reminded me that there was no adversity we could not overcome. His mindset helped me become not only a better person but also a stronger critical thinker and problem solver who is not afraid to embrace setbacks. That is why, regardless of what the future holds, I take pride in knowing that this project gave me more than just technical experience. It gave me a companion whom I can look up to and collaborate with long after high school.
Looking back to December 2025, no one could have predicted how successful and expansive this project would become. However, if there is one thing I took away from this experience, it is that being a high school student is not a limitation. With enough grit, persistence, and willingness to embrace uncertainty, obstacles become opportunities that make you stronger.
So the next time you find yourself debating whether to start a new project or embark on a new challenge, remember this. The biggest asset you have is yourself. Trust in your abilities and take the leap, because the greatest risk in life is not failure but never trying at all.