Maglev Train
Laser-cut maglev train built at Wesleyan with an Arduino and custom electromagnets.
Coding Projects
Sveltekit-UI
UI component library I made to satisfy my preferred look and coding style
Contibase
Backend system to help me build side projects quickly
Crush Blackjack
Place to learn basic strategy and mathmatical system to try and beat blackjack
Shark Tank Update
Blog to provide updates on what happened to entreprenuers after they went on Shark Tank (Only finished up to season 6 so far)
Survivor Snuff
Data about the show Survivor (very surface level early hobby project)
City Updates
Daily local newsletter that is autogenerated and sent out each morning to several cities
On This Very Day
Events that happened this day in history with autogenerated blog posts and audio.
Speakreps
Website and app to practice getting in the habit of speaking more
Hobby Projects
Maglev Train
This was a maglev train project I made in May 2018 at Wesleyan University, where I designed the whole thing using a laser cutter, Arduino, and custom electromagnets.
Architecture Projects
Wesleyan studio work spanning compressed-earth walls, structural studies, and kinetic LED forms.
Architecture Projects
These are various projects I worked on while at Wesleyan University. One is a concept library using compressed earth for the walls. Another is both a glass and structural interpretation of an existing house. The ball is a more abstract piece using a 3D shape and 3D-printed structure to grow and shrink, and we used an Arduino to control the LEDs and the repeated opening and closing movement.
Lightbox
Layered laser-cut lightbox built from traced artwork to create depth and shading.
Lightbox
I took a photo and used Adobe Illustrator to trace each layer into its own sheet, then used a laser cutter to make each layer and the box. When you place all the layers together with a light behind it, the shading looks cool.
Electric Car
Remote-control electric car upgraded with Arduino navigation, steering, and sonar obstacle avoidance.
Electric Car
This is a remote-control electric car that I customized to use an Arduino to control the electronic speed controller and steering. I used a compass and geolocation to direct it to different coordinates down my driveway, down the street, and back, with sonar in the front to avoid objects.
Sequoia
Years of trying to grow sequoias in Ohio from seeds, seedlings, and young trees.
Sequoia
For many summers here in Ohio I took on the challenge of growing the most fascinating tree to me at the time: the sequoia, one of the largest and longest-living trees in the world. I had read that they might be able to survive in Ohio. I tried seeds, seedlings, and older starts, and maybe some would make it a year or two, but they always ended up dying.
Fishing Lures
Handmade fishing lures shaped from wood, cast from a fish mold, and even 3D printed for fun.
Fishing Lures
I made a few different lures for fun. One I shaped from wood with a Dremel, balanced with counterweights so it would stay steady in the water, and painted. Another started from a mold of a real fish that I used to pour a soft gel lure with dye. I also 3D printed one.
Food
Fresh home cooking with simple ingredients, from homemade pasta and pizza to ribeye and brisket.
Food
I enjoy cooking fresh food with simple, healthy, quality ingredients. I enjoy making bowls, pasta with homemade spaghetti, fajitas, steak (ribeye is my favorite) with fries, Philly cheesesteaks, burgers, chicken sandwiches with my mom's homemade sourdough buns, ice cream, homemade pizza, and the occasional brisket.
Travel
Europe 2025 - Iceland (#1)
Golden Circle, Sky Lagoon, Reykjavik walks, and a few classic Iceland firsts.
Europe 2025 - Iceland (#1)
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Iceland kicked off the trip with a Golden Circle day trip through Thingvellir, Gullfoss, Geysir, and Kerid, plus time soaking at Sky Lagoon. I spent time wandering Reykjavik and trying a few classic Iceland experiences, including whale and fermented shark. It was a great introduction to the pace and scenery of the rest of the trip.
Europe 2025 - Stockholm, Sweden (#2)
Stayed in Gamla Stan and explored Stockholm on foot and by ferry.
Europe 2025 - Stockholm, Sweden (#2)
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I stayed in Gamla Stan, Stockholm's old town, which ended up being a perfect home base for the city. From there I could walk or hop ferries to different neighborhoods and just explore. It felt central, easy to move around from, and full of character.
Europe 2025 - Copenhagen, Denmark (#3)
A lively, bike-filled city made even better by instant hostel friends.
Europe 2025 - Copenhagen, Denmark (#3)
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Copenhagen had a great energy to it: bikes everywhere, busy streets, and a city layout that made it fun to walk around for hours. I also made fast friends with people at my hostel, which made the stop feel even more alive. It was one of those places that immediately felt easy to enjoy.
Europe 2025 - Lulea / Kalix, Sweden (#4)
A personal northern Sweden stop with frozen-river walks and first northern lights.
Europe 2025 - Lulea / Kalix, Sweden (#4)
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I flew up to Lulea, then took a bus to the smaller town of Kalix to meet up with the friend who inspired this trip in the first place. We explored the local area, walked out on the plowed river, caught some northern lights, and spent a day back in Lulea. It was one of the parts of the trip that felt less like tourism and more like stepping into everyday life up north.
Europe 2025 - Oulu / Rovaniemi / Inari, Finland (#5)
Arctic Circle stops, a Finnish sauna, Sami culture, and some of the trip's best northern lights.
Europe 2025 - Oulu / Rovaniemi / Inari, Finland (#5)
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From Oulu to Inari, this stretch mixed classic Lapland stops with experiences that felt genuinely local. In Oulu we met up with my friend's friend for an authentic Finnish sauna and a cold plunge in the river. Then I went north through Rovaniemi, where you can visit Santa Claus Village, see reindeer, and cross the Arctic Circle, before continuing to Inari for incredible northern lights and the Siida Sami Museum.
Europe 2025 - Kirkenes, Norway (#6)
A rougher-edged border town stop before boarding the ferry south.
Europe 2025 - Kirkenes, Norway (#6)
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In Kirkenes I visited a museum and went down into a World War II bomb shelter. It felt more like a working, industrial city than a polished tourist town, but I liked that about it. It was also where my Havila ferry down the coast of Norway was leaving from.
Europe 2025 - Kirkenes to Bergen Havila Ferry (#7)
One of the best legs of the trip: coastal scenery, great food, and memorable stops.
Europe 2025 - Kirkenes to Bergen Havila Ferry (#7)
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I loved the setup of the ship, and the food was surprisingly high quality with smaller portions built around the regions we were passing through. Stops like Hammerfest, Tromso, Trondheim, and Bronnoysund were amazing to explore between stretches of dramatic coastline. I also managed to get into a little trouble along the way. Let's just say the newspaper referred to me as the Hammerfest Flyer, so maybe be careful where you fly your drone.
Europe 2025 - Bergen to Flam, Norway (#8)
Bergen and the fjord route to Flam delivered some of the trip's best scenery.
Europe 2025 - Bergen to Flam, Norway (#8)
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Bergen was a great city to walk, and riding the funicular up for the overlook was absolutely worth it. From there I took the scenic train, bus, and boat route through the fjords to Flam, a tiny town of only a few hundred people. After that I boarded the famous Flam Railway and continued on toward Oslo.
Europe 2025 - Oslo, Norway (#9)
Oslo was endlessly walkable, with great museums and views packed into every day.
Europe 2025 - Oslo, Norway (#9)
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I walked all over Oslo and kept finding worthwhile stops like the Opera House, the Munch Museum, and the ferry out to Hovedoya. I also took a bus tour that covered the ski jump, some art-focused areas, and the Fram Museum with the polar exploration ship. Somewhere in there I also got waffles with brown cheese and lingonberry jam, which felt mandatory.
Europe 2025 - London, UK (#10)
A classic London loop of landmarks, markets, and good food before heading home.
Europe 2025 - London, UK (#10)
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I did a long walk across Tower Bridge and down through Borough Market by the Shard, then kept going past the London Eye toward Big Ben and Westminster Abbey. I caught the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace and made sure to check off fish and chips and beef Wellington. After that it was on to Southampton to board the transatlantic cruise back to the U.S.
Europe 2025 - UK to NYC Cruise (#11)
A relaxed transatlantic reset with editing, a whale sighting, and a surprise NYC arrival.
Europe 2025 - UK to NYC Cruise (#11)
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It probably was not the most exciting part of the trip on paper, but it was a great way to wind down. I relaxed, edited video, spotted a whale, and even found one piece of the ship's giant puzzle. We were supposed to arrive in Boston, but the plan changed and we sailed into New York City instead.
Europe 2025 - New York City (#12)
A simple final stop in New York before flying back home to Ohio.
Europe 2025 - New York City (#12)
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I spent a couple days in NYC before heading home, mostly just walking and taking in the city again. It was less of a headline stop than the Arctic and Norway parts of the trip, but it was still a good way to land back in the U.S. before flying home to Ohio.
Background
Born
September 14, 1996
Hometown
Powell, Ohio
High school
Olentangy Liberty (Class of 2015)
University
Wesleyan University (2017-2021)
Major
Economics
Minor
Integrated Design, Engineering, and Applied Science (IDEAS)
College sport
Hockey
Hobbies
Cooking, hockey, walking, and yoga
Favorite meal to cook
Ribeye steak and fries
@24jrose
me@jordanalexanderrose.com