Iron Chef BLF

I think that the most challenging aspect of this challenge was working with fellow's parents. When I began working with Team First Gear last semester, we all felt like there was a fine line with how to work with one another without hurting each other's feelings. I experienced this again when I was working in the kitchen with two moms. It was natural for everyone to allow them to step up and take the main rolls but it turned out that our meal really came together because of teamwork.
Our team did a great job at utilizing all of your skills. We were also efficient. We began chopping up veggies while other made broth and we really made use of our time.
Our group was slow deciding what we wanted to make, bouncing around from rice, pasta and finally a sandwich. Of course we realized there was no bread or eggs so we had to be incredibly creative in making our base of the sandwich. We decided to make potato pancakes which took a lot of brain storming deciding how to decorate up this pancake.
This challenge would not have been possible without team help and I think that was one of the most important lessons I took away. We worked as a team to accomplish an entire meal in an hour. We had to use all of our strengths and work united to get done in time.
Carrying this forward, I think that I have learned that things are done best when everyone works together. I also think that in the food challenge we did not plan as well from the beginning and because of that, we lost time. I will keep that in mind when working with the Mid-Ohio Foodbank. Teamwork and planning make for the most efficient time

Lake Nights and some Critical Thinking

Part 1:

My expectations for the critical thinking workshop were that we would be given situations and have to determine the best way to solve them, challenge-like. I was pleasantly surprised that we engaged in games and group activities that encouraged us to build off of one another’s thoughts and ideas. After the workshop, I am looking forward to the creativity workshop in a few weeks because as discussed the combination or mastery of both skills is important for innovation.

Something new that I learned was to look at art, and anything abstract for that matter, for a good amount of time before giving up and reading the blurb or deciding I am can’t uncover the meaning of the artwork. I liked that we were encouraged to think for a while before talking because in life, there is often a pressure to be the first one to speak or that contemplating something for a while is a fault and not a mark of a good critical thinker.

I am realizing that critical thinking is a valuable skill to develop in BLF because strong leaders must be able to think on their feet but also work in groups to grow and improve ideas that others begin.

Applying what I learned at the Columbus Art Museum to real life would allow me to think before speaking and be more confident in my daily activities. I think that this workshop also focused on a group dynamic and thus will help in future BLF challenges. Learning to understand and listen and then interpret what a teammate says is extremely important in team settings.

Part 2:

After observing the photograph, I see dark background with lots of small lights. It seems clear that it is of a lake and that lights are reflecting off the water. There is also a building in the background, which is not easily distinguishable. The picture has a stark contrast between the light objects and the darker setting.

Interpreting this picture is interesting because I have recently studied Gestalt’s theories of object-ground rules. One of the theories is that lighter objects and objects that seem to be surrounded appear to be the objects. I think that is interesting because some of the “objects” are not easily distinguished and light eliminates a branch or post but the rest of the tree of fence remains in the dark. This vagueness encourages the viewer to make connections in their mind without know the full story or setting of the image. I also really like how there are three places on this picture that especially draw my attention; the three brightest lights are strong but each fade slowly into the background. I think this compares to the Christmas lights that seem dimmer, however there are more of them so they have the same potential to be someone’s focal point.

Most Ohio State students would probably venture a guess that this is Mirror Lake, and although it is correct, I think it could be any lake. I like how this picture does not capture any defining details of the setting, rather makes someone wonder where this is.