Elaine Werffeli wanted to give her son Ryan something meaningful when he graduates this spring from University Prep in Seattle. The answer was a website – filled with wisdom for the future.
The Kirkland mom launched “Gems of Insight” on April 24. “The catalyst for me was what’s meaningful that I can pass on to Ryan,” said Werffeli, who works in the online services division at Microsoft. “If Ryan had the insights, the benefit of people who’d gone before him, this would be a meaningful lasting gift; if only I’d known then what I know now.”
Werffeli’s quest for “the gift” grew when she and her family — husband Claude, Ryan and daughter Julianna — were in the car together doing college tours. Along the way, they met people excited about Ryan going off on his own. They’d say, “Let me give you a piece of advice.”
The idea of a website emerged. Werffeli recalls, “It was the realization the world doesn’t revolve around just what I think. I began thinking—it’d be real cool to get other people involved–If there’s a place to collect those pieces of information.”
She elaborates: “When I think about pieces of advice … I think of them as gems–ordinary people like you and me sharing insights.”
After the family returned home, the idea lay dormant for awhile. Then the school year began flying by and Werffeli thought, “Oh my gosh! We’re starting to (note) the last of things: the last homecoming dance, the last semester. I realized, I’d better get started.”
Werffeli’s husband recalled the idea’s early days in a recent phone interview. “When Elaine began this project, each of us wrote our individual lists of personal gems and then shared notes. It was remarkably fun and revealing comparing lists. I couldn’t be more proud of her.”
Werffeli created different shapes for gems to reflect the individuals giving advice, whether it’s grandparents, parents, teachers or others. Different colors represent different themes such as friendship, success, motivation… The combination of shape and color reveals who’s talking and what they’re talking about. You can navigate the site by different pathways, vote on favorite quotes, etc.
The unique feature of this website, Werffeli noted, is that it consists of contributions from people like you and me, not famous people.
Werffeli drew upon her experience at Microsoft while creating the site. “I love my job–after 21 years, I still feel that same passion about it,” she said. Werffeli’s team answers business questions by analyzing marketing data. This helps determine product and marketing strategies. She noted, “It’s important to have an impact on business to make a difference, my passion. We make a difference.”
Making a difference, of course, is also what’s behind the creation of Ryan’s site as well. Many of Werffeli’s family members and friends applauded the idea.
“It’s a good way to connect and reach out to our kids,” said Manjusha Deo, a friend. “Kids today are online most of the time. They seem to absorb information better from Internet than books.”
Kelly Herrington, director of college counseling at University Prep, said, “A brilliant idea! As seniors look into the next stage of their life, they will get the wisdom of those who followed before, so beneficial.”
What does Ryan think? “I think it’s pretty unique,” he said in an email. “ It’s not something I’ve heard of other people getting for graduation, that’s for sure. But I’m also very excited–it definitely shows effort and thought. My favorite gem? ‘Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.’”
Ryan, 18, plans attending Northwestern University in Illinois. His mother’s goal: obtain 500 gems before September.
You’re invited to visit Gems of Insight at Gemsofinsight.com; it’s also on Facebook and Twitter.
Peggy Kunkel is a student in the University of Washington Department of Communication’s News Laboratory.
