By Stephen Mbugua, Thome Boys High School
I am pleased to share my experiences as a third-year student at Thome Boys High School and as a participant in the Butterfly Effect Project. Alongside thirteen colleagues from my school and Loise Girls High School, I had the privilege of engaging in this transformative research program.
At the beginning of the project, I faced a significant learning curve. I was initially unfamiliar with using a laptop, which was essential for our research. Tasks that now seem simple such as typing my name were originally time-consuming and difficult. However, with the guidance of our supervisor, I gained technical proficiency and adapted to using these digital tools effectively.
The initial phase of research presented several hurdles, particularly in navigating online databases and engaging meaningfully with digital content. Initially, I struggled with the etiquette of blogging and peer review; I eventually learned the importance of thoroughly reading and analyzing a colleague’s work before providing constructive feedback.
One of the most rewarding aspects of this project was the opportunity to interact with peers both locally and internationally. These interactions provided me with diverse perspectives that enriched my research and offered valuable life lessons. I am deeply grateful for the exposure to such a broad, global community
A significant highlight of my journey was our final presentation day. Although I initially felt a great deal of anxiety about speaking before a large audience, the experience proved to be a turning point. After the first session, my confidence grew, allowing me to present my findings with clarity and poise. We concluded the day by celebrating our collective achievements .
committed to applying the skills I have acquired to produce a high-standard research project that As I enter my final year of study, I am eager to begin the next round of research. I am contributes meaningfully to my field of study.
Hello Stephen! it has been so interesting for me to read on your blog since we had the same challenges. Also, for me it was more difficult to use computers but after sometimes I adopted the culture of using computers and even gaining some skills such as typing and saving references. Hope as per now for you it is simple and easy since you are a computer student. I’m looking forward to following your research for 2026 program. I wish you all the best as you’re continuing with your research.
Hey Stephen! I loved reading about your learnings. Your writing is strong, clear, organized and detailed, it was easy to understand your story. I felt connected to your journey in computers, personally my father makes me assist him with the processes of creating PCs and programing. Which, I still don’t completely understand, and continue to need help with. A suggestion I have is to write about a takeaway on how technology effects others or yourself or how this helped you grow. A site that could help you is: https://www.edweek.org/technology/what-weve-learned-about-technology-and-learning-in-the-last-3-years/2023/03. In summary, your posts is very insightful and I can’t wait to hear more.
Hi Stephen, I’m so glad to hear that you’ve been able to work through some of the technical challenges and successfully connect with this amazing community. Overcoming obstacles with technology is not always easy, and it takes patience and persistence to push through those frustrating moments. As someone who also struggles at times with using technology, especially when it comes to computers, I truly understand how discouraging it can feel. That’s why it’s especially inspiring to see you build confidence and continue moving forward. It’s also impressive how clearly and confidently you were able to speak about your project. Explaining something complex can be intimidating, particularly when it involves technical elements, but you handled it thoughtfully and with poise. You should be proud of the progress you’ve made, not just in mastering the technology, but in sharing your ideas with others. It really shows growth, resilience, and dedication. Good luck with all your future research and I’m super excited to see what’s to come!!!