Nord Anglia Education
WRITTEN BY
Nord Anglia
28 August, 2024

Dominik's STEAM Journey: From Motivating PBIS Students to Engineering Computer Networks

PBIS Alumni
As the saying goes, if you want something done right, you’ve got to do it yourself. Now at the Faculty of Informatics at CVUT (Czech Technical University in Prague), Dominik’s journey to studying computer science began out of obstinance–he didn’t want to pay anyone else to run his servers, so he figured out how to do it. He hasn’t forgotten his roots, though. Now he pays it forward by mentoring PBIS (Prague British International School) students through a collaboration with his university in hopes of inspiring the next generation of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) academics. 

You were one of the founding members of the STEAM Ambassadors at PBIS, right?

Yes, I knew five people who were applying for the role, so I decided to apply too. It turned out to be a great group, and despite limited resources in the first year, we progressed from zero to an actual makerspace so that others with similar interests had a place to come together and learn. The school eventually decided to renovate it. One of my favorite projects was building a rocket engine. We still have it at home as a trophy. It worked for a while before exploding, but it was a fantastic learning experience. Being in the makerspace was incredible. We had the freedom to work on whatever we wanted, whether it was building a Stirling engine or experimenting with computers.

Why did you choose to specialize in Virtualization and Data Centers at university?

I wanted to manage servers myself instead of paying someone else. It started with running servers at home, which then snowballed into operating servers in a data centre. I'm fascinated by how networks function seamlessly, allowing users to experience almost no downtime. It's all about ensuring efficient transitions, so resources are accessible, whether at home or in a data centre. 

Do you collaborate on projects with others?

Yes, I actually still maintain a direct line with my PBIS teachers, Mr. Toman and Mr. Millington gave me the freedom to explore my interests. He was instrumental in helping us secure an Ethernet connection for the Maker Space, which was crucial for our projects. Without his support, none of that would have been possible. And Mr. Toman is a person to go to when I’m short on resources and need to find some parts to my projects, such as the tracked vehicle I'm building now. We constantly exchange updates on our projects. If something happens, one of us can usually solve it.

Can you tell us about a particularly memorable project?

There are many, but one that stands out is bringing PBIS students to Czech Technical University in Prague (CVUT). Basically, PBIS computer science students visit the uni for a day to get some hands-on experience. When I graduated, I promised Mr. Millington I'd bring his class to my university.

What do the students experience during their visit?

They arrive around 11:00 AM for a campus tour, visiting labs and meeting teachers. After lunch, we have a two-hour lab session where they engage with actual equipment, setting up networks and working with real hardware.

You're so involved with projects and students. Why do you do it?

I feel a sense of obligation. PBIS was the first place where school felt enjoyable and not like a chore. In Poland, I had severe anxiety about school, but PBIS changed that. We could have after-school clubs and do exciting things like picking up radio waves from satellites. I felt empowered, and I want to give back to the school that did so much for me.

What advice would you give to current and future STEAM Ambassadors?

Don't fear failure. It's inevitable in projects. If you fail, keep trying; success takes multiple attempts. For instance, my truck vehicle project is on its third iteration. Always test your work thoroughly, even if it succeeds initially.

Can students reach out to you?

Yes, I encourage it! If students face a problem they can't solve, I tell them to reach out to me. It's all about doing something great together.