Reﬂection-Learning  Launch

Challenge

As  a  sophomore,  I  joined  my  high  school’s  Student  Launch  Initiative  program.  Our  major

assignment  was  to  form  a  team,  identify  a  problem,  and  eventually  create  a  solution.  My

team  was  instantly  drawn  towards  helping  those  in  our  community  who  were  not  given  the

same  opportunities  we  were.  In  hopes  of  providing  equity  and  opportunity  to  kids  born

into  lower-income  families,  we  began  searching  for  an  area  we  could  change  for  the  better.

After  going  through  a  series  of  brainstorming  activities  and  eliminating  countless  ideas,  our

team  settled  on  sports.  As  all  of  us  had  participated  in  sports,  we  knew  ﬁrsthand  the

beneﬁts  they  had  and  how  many  essential  lessons  we  had  learned  through  playing  sports.

Despite  the  high  cost  of  participating  in  sports,  doing  so  reduces  the  likelihood  of  drug

usage  by  92%,  the  likelihood  of  teenage  pregnancy  by  80%,  and  the  likelihood  of  obesity  by

39%.  In  addition,  athletes  are  three  times  more  likely  to  graduate  than  non-athletes.  Our

challenge  was  to  ﬁnd  a  way  to  provide  the  underprivileged  kids  in  our  community  with  a

means  to  participate  in  sports.

Selection

Although  we  didn’t  know  it  at  the  time,  my  team  used  the  learning  launch  method  to

identify  and  implement  an  approach  that  would  make  sports  accessible  for  everyone.  The

learning  launch  method  is  essentially  a  process  that  tests  an  idea  in  the  real  market.  By  ﬁrst

analyzing  data  regarding  sports  participation  demographics,  we  were  able  to  better

understand  the  problem  at  hand.  Then,  we  generated  ideas,  surfaced  our  assumptions,

and  tested  our  ideas.  The  learning  launch  method  was  how  we  began  to  close  in  on  a

solution.

Application

In  our  ﬁrst  learning  launch,  we  were  testing  the  idea  of  collecting  used  sports  equipment  at

school  and  then  distributing  it  to  those  who  needed  it  at  no  cost.  We  left  donation  bins  at

several  locations  at  school  and,  over  the  course  of  a  week,  we  collected  around  70

items—an  estimated  $2,411  worth  of  gear.  Though  seemingly  a  success  at  ﬁrst,  we  realized

that  actually  distributing  the  gear  would  be  the  real  issue.  As  a  result  of  this  ﬁrst

experiment,  we  concluded  that  this  idea  would  only  be  suﬃcient  as  a  secondary  part  of  our

organization.

Our  second  learning  launch  entailed  reaching  out  to  a  local  after-school  program  called

The  Boys  and  Girls  Club.  We  were  able  to  schedule  and  hold  a  volleyball  clinic   with  kids  who

already  attended  the  after-school  program.  This  was  a  huge  success.  The  feedback   we

received  from  the  kids  and  excitement  they  showed,  led  us  to  believe  we  were  on  the  right

track.  Other  than  a  few  minor  adjustments  as  to  the  way  we  were  running  our  clinic,  we

had  found  our  model.

Insight

The  learning  launch  tool  enabled  my  team  to  test  our  assumptions  and  identify  the  errors

in  our  thinking.  Although  we  initially  expected  to  run  an  organization  that  repurposed  used

sporting  gear,  our  learning  launch  experiments  showed  us  that  we  could  make  a  huge

diﬀerence  for  kids  through  clinics.  After  interviewing  parents,  kids,  and  the  program

managers  at  The  Boys  and  Girls  Club,  we  knew  this  was  an  area  we  needed  to  pursue.

As  the  director  of  operations,  the  insight  I  gained  from  the  learning  launch  process  allowed

me  to  lead  my  team  in  the  right  direction  and  identify  the  needed  steps.  The  learning

launch  experiments  were  frustrating  to  conduct  and  interpret  but  totally  worth  the

information  we  gained.  Our  organization  now  had  a  solidiﬁed  purpose  and  newfound

name:  Ahead  of  the  Game.

At  the  end  of  our  ﬁrst  few  months  as  a  team,  we  pitched  our  newly  acquired

mission—providing  the  means  for  children,  especially  those  experiencing  ﬁnancial

instability,  to  participate  in  sports  through  free  clinics  and  equipment  donation—to  four

judges  at  our  school’s  Shark   Tank   event.  We  were  given  $1,000  to  begin  working  on  our

idea.  This  year  (my  junior  year),  we  solidiﬁed  our  partnership  with  The  Boys  and  Girls  Club,

formed  an  additional  partnership  with  another  after  school  program  (Up  On  Top),  designed

a  logo,  ordered  t-shirts,  and  scheduled  two  clinics  every  week.  We  pitched  our  organization

to  the  judges  again  and  were  given  another  $1,000  to  spend  on  equipment.

Approach

Looking  back   at  the  process  that  led  us  to  what  we  have  built  today,  I  wish  we  had  worked

at  a  faster  pace  and  implemented  the  other  three  design  approaches  (storytelling,

visualization,  and  mind-mapping)  for  various  aspects  of  our  organization.  In  other  words,  I

wish  we  had  been  better-educated  and  well  versed  in  the  design  process  before  we  started

working  on  an  organization  of  our  own.

Today,  our  clinics  have  been  canceled  due  to  COVID-19,  but  we  are  working  on  creating  a

YouTube  channel  to  motivate  kids  to  work   out  and  practice  the  skills  they  have  learned

through  our  clinics.  Despite  currently  being  in  a  good  place,  this  design  thinking  course  has

taught  me  that  reworking  and  expanding  our  service  will  be  necessary  in  the  future.  I

believe  this  course  has  equipped  me  with  the  tools  our  organization  needs  to  succeed.


Reﬂection - Learning Launch Challenge As a sophomore , I joined my high school ’s Student Launch Initiative program . Our major assignment was to form a team , identify a problem , and eventually create a solution . My team was instantly drawn towards helping those in our community who were not given the same opportunities we were . In hopes of providing equity and opportunity to kids born into lower - income families , we began searching for an area we could change for the better . After going through a series of brainstorming activities and eliminating countless ideas , our team settled on sports . As all of us had participated in sports , we knew ﬁrsthand the beneﬁts they had and how many essential lessons we had learned through playing sports . Despite the high cost of participating in sports , doing so reduces the likelihood of drug usage by 92 % , the likelihood of teenage pregnancy by 80 % , and the likelihood of obesity by 39 % . In addition , athletes are three times more likely to graduate than non - athletes . Our challenge was to ﬁnd a way to provide the underprivileged kids in our community with a means to participate in sports . Selection Although we did n’t know it at the time , my team used the learning launch method to identify and implement an approach that would make sports accessible for everyone . The learning launch method is essentially a process that tests an idea in the real market . By ﬁrst analyzing data regarding sports participation demographics , we were able to better understand the problem at hand . Then , we generated ideas , surfaced our assumptions , and tested our ideas . The learning launch method was how we began to close in on a solution . Application In our ﬁrst learning launch , we were testing the idea of collecting used sports equipment at school and then distributing it to those who needed it at no cost . We left donation bins at several locations at school and , over the course of a week , we collected around 70 items — an estimated $ 2,411 worth of gear . Though seemingly a success at ﬁrst , we realized that actually distributing the gear would be the real issue . As a result of this ﬁrst experiment , we concluded that this idea would only be suﬃcient as a secondary part of our organization . Our second learning launch entailed reaching out to a local after - school program called The Boys and Girls Club . We were able to schedule and hold a volleyball clinic with kids who already attended the after - school program . This was a huge success . The feedback we received from the kids and excitement they showed , led us to believe we were on the right track . Other than a few minor adjustments as to the way we were running our clinic , we had found our model . Insight The learning launch tool enabled my team to test our assumptions and identify the errors in our thinking . Although we initially expected to run an organization that repurposed used sporting gear , our learning launch experiments showed us that we could make a huge diﬀerence for kids through clinics . After interviewing parents , kids , and the program managers at The Boys and Girls Club , we knew this was an area we needed to pursue . As the director of operations , the insight I gained from the learning launch process allowed me to lead my team in the right direction and identify the needed steps . The learning launch experiments were frustrating to conduct and interpret but totally worth the information we gained . Our organization now had a solidiﬁed purpose and newfound name : Ahead of the Game . At the end of our ﬁrst few months as a team , we pitched our newly acquired mission — providing the means for children , especially those experiencing ﬁnancial instability , to participate in sports through free clinics and equipment donation — to four judges at our school ’s Shark Tank event . We were given $ 1,000 to begin working on our idea . This year ( my junior year ) , we solidiﬁed our partnership with The Boys and Girls Club , formed an additional partnership with another after school program ( Up On Top ) , designed a logo , ordered t - shirts , and scheduled two clinics every week . We pitched our organization to the judges again and were given another $ 1,000 to spend on equipment . Approach Looking back at the process that led us to what we have built today , I wish we had worked at a faster pace and implemented the other three design approaches ( storytelling , visualization , and mind - mapping ) for various aspects of our organization . In other words , I wish we had been better - educated and well versed in the design process before we started working on an organization of our own . Today , our clinics have been canceled due to COVID-19 , but we are working on creating a YouTube channel to motivate kids to work out and practice the skills they have learned through our clinics . Despite currently being in a good place , this design thinking course has taught me that reworking and expanding our service will be necessary in the future . I believe this course has equipped me with the tools our organization needs to succeed .