“I will never forget the time I destroyed my project. I had an idea to make a new kind of die. It would be a die inside a die...the second it touched the ground, all the pieces started to pop off. It was heartbreaking that it couldn’t stay together, but also funny since it was clearly going to break. It was a great moment of failure that I got to share with my classmates.”

From dicey experiments to snowboards to “bat-a-rangs,” for senior Myles Willett, every endeavor includes an opportunity to learn from failure. His advice for the next generation of Academy makers? Plan your days wisely, but fit in time to socialize and make connections (while distancing!) Read on...

Tell me a little bit about your journey to IYA? What were you looking for in an undergrad program?

When I was applying to colleges, I didn’t know what I was looking for. I was heavily debating applying to USC as an undecided major, but then I was introduced to the Academy. When my mother showed me that there was a new program launched at USC that covered art, tech, and business, I realized that I didn’t have to try out different majors to see what I liked. Instead, I could choose an all-encompassing major and learn about everything which will help me decide where I want to go in the future.

How have you evolved over the past four years?

I have stayed true to my core values, but also learned a lot about how the world works. I now understand why specific design styles are easier on the eye than others; I now know the proper steps to take when starting a business; I now understand how websites use databases to gather and sort their information. Now I can use this information that I’ve learned to add something to the world while also adding my own personal touch to it.

Describe an IYA moment that you’ll never forget.

I will never forget the time I destroyed my project. We were tasked to make something out of plastic. I had an idea to make a new kind of die/dice. It would be a die inside of a die: so when the player rolls the dice, the dice inside of the dice rolls around while the big dice is rolling around. The plastic was see-through, so the smaller die could be seen. Kind of stupid, kind of simple, but also kind of cool and original. It took me a couple of tries to get the sizing of the squares right when cutting the plastic, but I finally had my cube inside of a cube with dots on every side. After everyone presented and class was over (my grade was intact) I was ready to “test” my creation. The second it touched the ground, all the square pieces started to pop off. It was heartbreaking that it couldn’t stay together, but also funny since it was clearly going to break. It was a great moment of failure that I got to share with my classmates.

A miniaturized museum exhibit (left) and Batman boomerangs (right)  designed by Willet

What advice would you give to a freshman?

Plan everything out. It is a lot easier to forget to do something or to leave it to the last minute in college than in high school. Plan out when you will work on an assignment, not just when it's due. Plan out your personal life as well; school work sometimes can get in the way of that, and you definitely need to stay as social as possible (while distancing of course) in this time.

Describe one thing most people don’t know about you?

I am a pretty open book, and tell people pretty much anything they want to know. Although most people don’t know that I have been certified to scuba dive, twice.

What’s one thing your parents taught you that you’d like to share?

Something that my mom taught me when I was about six years old was that “life isn’t fair”. This has been a lesson that has stuck with me forever. Not only do I wish to do everything in my power to make that untrue, but I also realize that it is true, everyday. The world is a messed up place, and it can be taken advantage of if done properly. So if you can, take advantage of the world but don’t do it for yourself, do it for the people that need it. 

Is there an inspirational quote you live by?

"The greatness of a man is not how much wealth he acquires. But in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively." -Bob Marley 

To figure out what I’m doing with my life.

Describe a passion project you’re currently working on and how you came up with the idea for it?

I am working on an application where people can order groceries while also handing off their old (not yet expired) groceries for the people in need. I got the idea for it by realizing how much extra food I personally waste.

What are the essential things you always keep in your backpack?
Phone, wallet, keys, and now face mask.

Favorite class at USC and why?
GERO-315: A journey into the mind. This was one of the most interesting science courses I’ve ever taken. Not only was it super interesting to learn about the brain and how it reacts to different substances, but the professor, John Walsh, was such an awesome and fun teacher to learn from. I highly recommend taking this course for your life sciences GE.

Favorite way to de-stress? 
Sitting outside with friends, looking at a beautiful view, talking about extraterrestrials or the matrix or some higher meaning to life. 

Guilty pleasure? 
Oreos and milk

Thanks, Myles!

Senior Spotlight: Myles Willett