The idea for this app was born out of personal frustration during my first year, shortly after I had moved to a new school. I remember sitting in class, watching everyone quickly form groups while I hesitated, unsure of where I belonged. Even when I did end up in a group, I saw the exact same pattern repeat: one person would shoulder most of the work while others stayed silent. It didn’t feel fair, and it certainly didn’t feel collaborative. That experience stuck with me. The summer before, I had attended a workshop on app design, and it opened my eyes to how technology could be used to solve everyday problems. I realized that with the right tools, we could reimagine how students work together and form groups based on actual data, such as academic strengths, preferences, and backgrounds, to ensure that everyone has a voice and a role. Since then, I’ve been developing this app not just as a project, but as a mission to make classrooms more equitable and efficient. We’re now working toward full development and funding. After pitching the idea to my principal, I was thrilled to hear their support and openness to integrating it into the school system. This journey started with a feeling of isolation, but it’s become something that could bring students together in a whole new way.
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- Shivani Narayan Khandavilli