Traveling to Tokyo feels like stepping into the future. There are high-speed bullet trains, interactive digital art installations, museums dedicated to emerging technology, and even an entire neighborhood that revolves around video games and electronics. It’s a wonderland for anyone even slightly interested in STEM innovations—and for people who are already passionate about the subject, it’s an absolute dream.
Students Carson P. and AJ V. are two such people, and lucky for them, they got to explore all the above and more during their school’s EF STEM tour to Japan. And out of all the hands-on, eye-opening moments they experienced, perhaps none made quite as large of an impact as their visit to a robotics manufacturer called Cyberdyne.
While at the Cyberdyne showroom, the two friends got to experiment with a wearable technology designed to help people with physical rehabilitation. They spoke with real leaders in the field, getting immediate answers to their questions, and were blown away by seeing the types of advancements that already existed. Even better? They were inspired to start thinking about ways they could make their own wearable tech to help even more people.
Carson and AJ left Cyberdyne, and later, Tokyo, feeling more excited about their futures. In the short term, they were eager to get started on their new invention. And longer-term, they were looking forward to diving deeper into the different possible STEM career paths their tour had unveiled.
Five months after Carson and AJ returned home, we checked in to see if their tour was continuing to have the lasting impact on them that they had predicted. Safe to say, their hypothesis was correct.
As they told us, they constantly reminisce about their tour and talk about how much they hope to return to Tokyo in the future, perhaps even through a college study abroad program. Plus, their tour has influenced their current summer activities, propelling them to do additional research on wearable tech and even inspiring Carson to finish designing a video game. As he said, “I felt like, ‘Okay, this is something I know I can do. Because I’ve seen people do it before and it’s doable. It is possible.’”
It’s so impressive to see what the boys have already accomplished, and we know this is just the beginning. In fact, we have a good feeling we’ll see them on another EF STEM tour in the future. Only this time, they’ll be the professional experts answering the next generation’s questions.
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