The last badge I won from Google Maps about conquering new space filled me with joy and I would like to share it with you.
I am a faculty member at a private university in Fortaleza and completed my doctorate in 2019. I’m an explorer. I like to take practical matters into the classroom. Even outside the classroom. Google Education products help me to be a more connected teacher and my students love the tools of Google Class Room. But today, I’m the student. I’d like to share how my volunteering on Google Maps has helped me reflect on our work in this community.
After ten years away from a undergraduate class as a student, I decided to return to class. Even though I had finished my studies in Media Studies, I understood that it was necessary to explore other challenges in the area of computer science. Last week was the last stage of the selection process of the Federal University of Ceará (UFC). I got the job, but it wasn’t easy. The last stage took place in a UFC auditorium and it was not easy to find the place. The auditorium that was going to be selected was extremely hidden and the campus was simply the size of a small town.
I wasn’t late, but it took me half an hour to find the place. There was nothing registered on Google Maps. While waiting to be called I reflected on the eventual people who were looking for the auditorium like me or the people who had missed the selection process by not finding the place. The line for selection was long, but I was already in the auditorium. I decided to do at that moment what I always do when I can’t find a place Get out of the auditorium. I added a pin on Google Maps signaling the place name. I took amazing pictures and made detailed comments explaining the location of the auditorium. Right then I discovered a new place, next to the auditorium: my bank. At that moment I really needed to withdraw some money. I couldn’t find any pictures on Google Maps of the bank, so I decided to do the same thing. I positioned the camera and new photos were added. The place was extremely hidden. And I knew it would be important to my fellow Googlers.
I went back to the auditorium to be attended and improved the photos I had taken of the place. My hobby was helping the community to discover new places. At the end of the day, the good news. I was approved and am in my first week of class.
Getting back on campus was and has been inspiring. Helping the Googlers has been even more rewarding. As I Brazilian poet said: “Kindness begets Kindness”.