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Week 1 - Sahil Gupta

6/10/2018

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"Don't get mugged" or "why would you choose Detroit" are a few of the many degrading comments I heard when I would tell my friends and family that I'd be living in Detroit for the next two months. I myself wasn’t too sure how great of a place Detroit would be, but I refused to believe that Detroit could be as shallow of a place as the media portrayed it to be. And I was right. The moment I stepped off the plane, I was genuinely surprised by how nice the airport was. There was the hustle and bustle of people, and nothing I was experiencing made me feel as though I was in a “bankrupt” or “run-down” city. Throughout orientation I quickly realized that Detroit is a vibrant city with amazing architecture, passionate people, and a beautiful culture.
 
During our orientation we were able to see some amazing aspects of Detroit. The Heidelberg project in particular was fascinating to explore. This project is an artistic masterpiece widely known around the world; it drives home the idea of acting in the present to see the change that we want to see. With a variety of clocks present in the art, the artist would famously respond to the question “What time is it?” with “the time is now”. The Rouge factory was also very interesting as it had cutting edge technology and provides many jobs for the city of Detroit. Even just walking around during our scavenger hunt was an eye-opening experience. I saw beautiful buildings and a variety of locally owned shops that show how much life Detroit still has.
 
Working at Build Institute has already been a unique experience, and I’ve gained a lot of insight into the startup culture. While they are undergoing many changes, I have had the opportunity to sit in their meetings and observe first-hand how this non-profit is changing Detroit for the better. Build Institute empowers aspiring entrepreneurs and visionaries to fulfill their dreams by providing a variety of programs and classes to the community. It’s admirable how many people in Detroit strive to achieve their dreams by starting the companies they’ve always wanted to start. This reminds me how true the Heidelberg project’s message is in Detroit. I hope to assist Build with its upcoming projects and challenges to help them continue to succeed at what they are doing. I’m excited for all the experiences to come :D
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