I remember when I was building a prototype product as part of a semester-long project in 2.009 (a mechanical engineering class) at MIT. I was part of a team of about a dozen engineering students working furiously to finish our new imagining of a safer walker. You know the things: metal frames found in senior care facilities with bright yellow tennis balls fashioned to the ends. But with this new walker, an unfortunate fall victim could drop the seat to the floor and scoot onto it. The seat could be driven back up to a seated position – which we had learned was typically enough for the person to recover from a fall.

Anyway, this project typified my college experience. It was hard work and a long race to the finish line.

Late night hours of soldering wires, sleepily trying not to touch the hot parts, was commonplace. In fact, I set my record of 2 all-nighters in a row in the days leading up to the presentation. It was a lot, but it was worth it. When we finally presented to an audience of a couple hundred, I was flushed with wonderful emotions. There was relief, pride, happiness, and gratefulness to my team. Sure, the sleep deprivation was accentuating my emotions, but that experience proved that hard work and joy went hand-in-hand.

Having pride in your work was worth some burnt fingers and a sleep-debt hangover.

Today, I think about how I can capture that drive and that heads-down work ethic from MIT. If I could do that, I could make things happen in the world. Yet, while working hard is important, I don’t believe it’s the only thing you need to be successful. I realize that my school projects are rigidly structured with mentoring every step of the way. We were given supplies and tools and more importantly, encouragement. There was an expectation we would succeed. In the “real world” of trying something new or when you’re on your own, you rarely get any of those.

Working hard is what moves the train forward, but when you’re on your own, you have to build the tracks too.

I’ve spoken with friends who have been working on a secondary education degree and they share these same challenges. My experiences have helped me be a better friend. Asking questions like “Working hard?” or “Get another page done on that thesis?” are only part of it. Now I ask questions like “Staying motivated?” or “Are you getting support from your advisor?”

If you have found ways that help people that are working in a structureless environment, I’d love to know.