Thursday, January 12, 2023
SECOND SEMESTER
This is it. Second semester of senior year is here!
I am most excited for all of the end-of-the-year senior events. Special senior activities, prom, and of course - graduation! - are super exciting and I can't wait to experience all of them. I am also hoping for a more relaxed workload this semester so that I can spend more time preparing for college and preparing to be an adult.
We are also starting our capstone projects this semester. I am partnered with Jacob Gonzalez and Jacques Barnett and we're currently trying to fix the problem of sun glare while driving (this problem may change though). Despite how specific this problem is, I can't at the moment think of any potential solutions. Thus, I fear our team will not be able to build a successful product. But I don't want to lose hope. I think with the appropriate time, effort, and resources available, we should be able to succeed.
PRODUCTS made for PROFIT versus PRODUCTS made ALTRUISTICALLY
The difference between products made for profit and products made to benefit others, is that the latter has a much more honorable goal and thus requires a lot more time and effort. Products made solely for profit can be equated to money-making schemes that pump out cheap products for easy cash.
There are plenty of positives to for-profit companies: self-employment, for instance. By being able to profit off one's products, one can enjoy self-employment, self-sufficiency, and the satisfaction of monetary gain. This of course comes with the downside of being completely liable if said for-profit company goes under.
Examples of products made for profit:
Chips (EX: Lays, Doritos, Fritos...)
Stuffed animals (EX: Pillow Pets)
Card Decks (EX: Bicycle Cards)
Lipstick (EX: Sephora)
Products made to benefit others have the noble goal of humanitarianism pushing them forward, with the obvious downside being lack of financial incentives. Of course, companies/individuals developing their product can still choose to profit off it. Or they can fund their goals through other means - fundraising, donations, government grants, etc.
Examples of products made to benefit others:
Toilet Paper (Charmin)
Online classrooms (Google Classroom, Khan Academy...)
Cars (Lexus, Toyota, Honda...)
Ultimately, the lines between the two goals intertwine all the time. They are many products that are made for profit but also happen to serve humanity in some shape or form. When our team eventually develops our capstone project's product, I hope it manages to succeed in both goals.