Project History

Question Connection was born out of the social challenges I faced at the lunchroom table beginning in 6th grade. I was a student in a diverse bilingual community, and everyone—including me—tended to keep to him or herself or cling to those they knew best. Meeting and interacting with different people was especially difficult because we were so shy and insecure. All of this was further complicated by the constant presence of technology and social media. It was a difficult time filled with angst and self-doubt; I often wondered how different my experience might have been if I had been afforded a safe way to meet and connect with my peers on a deeper level.

While a sophomore in high school—not so far removed from my middle school days—I felt inspired by my experience to create a practical and fun social tool that would facilitate conversation and build relationships.

That is why Junior year, under the supervision of my AP Psychology teacher, I engaged in an independent study seeking to develop a vehicle to help tackle these social challenges. Throughout the yearlong course, I worked with and learned from teachers, students, graphic designers, manufacturers, and many others in order to make Question Connection a reality. I even started a GoFundMe to cover the cost of the project.