A crucial part of all schools is teamwork, which is tested and presented in many ways. Most places will have group projects like PowerPoints and experiments, but PLP is on a whole other level, as they use the most team-reliant type of project, Destination Imagination (DI)! DI is a school-wide event, where people attend a school to witness their families and friends compete for first. There are 4 different challenge topics: Technical, Engineering, Scientific & Fine Arts, each getting a new challenge every year. This year, it was my first year in DI, and I got placed in the technical challenge this year – Pinball Hero! In Pinball Hero’s, each group has to create a working pinball machine, with 3 or more modules. The pinball has to complete one full pinball round where the size three soccer ball interacts with every module to get any points. And this year, we had to make it themed around an action/adventure movie. But, you’re not here to read paragraphs on the rules and regulations, so let me indulge you in the absolutely crazy process of making a pinball machine.
When it was first announced in early January, my mind instantly started brainstorming ideas for potential ideas. I was working on some plans when we were assigned our groups and challenges, and as soon as we did, my group started collaborating. It turned out that I wasn’t the only one with ideas, because our conversations were full of cool and crazy thoughts for modules, art and the story. We bounced things around but eventually ended up with the story idea of Mario. It was a classic, and everyone in my group was familiar with it, so it seemed like the perfect idea. Once we had the basics of the plan, we split up into 2 groups; one from the machine, and the other for the story.
Jannik, Logan and I worked on the story and script while Magnus and Charlie worked on the actual machine. We stuck to the original elements and stories in Mario but added our twists to it. We had fun creating it, reminiscing on the joy that Mario brings us, and focusing on the specific ideas we think would fit best. Then, once we had the story, I created the script to bring our story to life. While we did that, our 2 grade 10’s (Charlie and Magnus), worked diligently on the machine and the modules. We all communicated throughout the entire thing, to make sure the story matched the machine and vice versa. Everything and everyone was great and on the same page completely, until the semester change. During February, my group lost touch. We all had conflicting schedules, never agreeing on times to meet up, and having to do all our tasks on our own. I spent that time collecting my costume and making all the necessary props we agreed upon.
I made fireballs out of whiffle balls, mystery boxes with cardboard, and fire flowers with both. It was stressful enough working together every day in Maker, but not meeting up added a whole new layer of anxiety. But finally, everyone’s schedules cleared up, and we started working again. The 10’s built and assembled the machine, while the rest of us started to paint it, adding more of the Mario feel to it. Before we even knew it, it was March 2nd, Destination Imagination Day! The day was eventful, to say the least. We all met at 8:30 am in our practice rooms and started rehearsing immediately. Hours and hours we practiced, trying to make sure everything was perfect for our 12:45 pm presentation time. In between we had our instant challenge, then lunch, and the next thing we knew, it was time! We grabbed our props, sign, and machine and headed onto the stage.
The presentation went well! We all remember our lines, acted to the best of our abilities, and completed a pinball round. Our group was sure we snatched a place on the podium, but when we talked to the appraisers, that idea was quickly dismissed. Because of some technical problems and actions, we placed last, and I was furious. How dare I put 3 months of hard work into it, just to end up at the bottom?! I didn’t understand, but I kept my anger inside as I congratulated the groups that won. I realized that my group has many things to improve from the art of the machine to the modules themselves. After the day was over, went home and started again from square one, thinking of new ideas to make sure we secure a podium spot for next time. We may have not won, or come close in any way, but we all learned the hard way, that if you want to win, then you need more than a half-finished product and a dream. So until the next teams, may the best and most improved machine win.