Chapter 53 - A Visit to Westbrook
Several university mentors accepted Superintendent Grant's invitation to visit Westbrook High.
Their goal wasn't to recruit students.
It was to observe how engineering education connected with accessibility initiatives already underway.
The robotics lab buzzed with activity.
Freshmen assembled beginner projects.
Sophomores experimented with programming.
Alex and Emma guided younger students rather than building their own prototypes.
Dr. Ortiz watched quietly.
"You've changed."
Alex looked puzzled.
"Since the competition."
"You spend more time teaching than building."
Alex smiled.
"I noticed people helped me for years."
He glanced around the room.
"I think it's my turn."
Nearby, Lily proudly demonstrated a simple automatic door opener her group had designed.
"It still needs work," she admitted.
Dr. Ortiz examined it carefully.
"Everything needs work."
She laughed.
"So it's okay?"
"It's excellent."
He pointed toward one hinge.
"Now tell me what you would improve next."
The question immediately started another discussion.
Coach Daniels smiled from across the room.
The laboratory no longer revolved around one talented student.
Ideas moved naturally between everyone.
Later that afternoon, Superintendent Grant announced the completion of the district's first accessibility review.
Many recommendations from the student council had already entered implementation.
Others remained under budget review.
Nothing happened overnight.
But progress was measurable.
As students left for the day, Alex stopped beside the display case holding the regional engineering trophy.
For several seconds he simply looked at it.
Emma joined him.
"You don't seem very interested anymore."
Alex smiled.
"I am."
He looked toward the robotics lab.
May you like
"I'm just more interested in what comes next."
---
