First Person: Eggcepting the Challenge at the Annual Poly Pack Egg Drop Event

I watched in despair as my egg was raised to the sky.

A student held the package I had created to protect the egg from a 30-foot drop, but the wrapping had already begun to unravel. Once the lift had reached its peak height, the speakers counted down: “3… 2… 1… Release!”

It’s a bit funny being a subject in this article. When I began working as a photographer for the College of Business in 2023, one of my first jobs was photographing the Egg Drop, put on annually by Cal Poly’s Poly Pack club. For that story, Neta Bar, a former Orfalea College of Business student, tried her hand at creating the perfect package, then wrote about the experience.

Two years later, I’m back on that exact block. The egg drop always happens around the same time of year; The setting looks identical. Neta is charming and witty. Although she did not succeed in her egg drop, she remained steadfast and confident the entire time. I, on the other hand, craved the validation, and the money aspect of the victory. There’s only one thing running through my mind as I register to compete: I don’t think I can fill the shoes of my predecessor.

What a nice indication that summer’s right around the corner. We’re late enough in the season that much of the SLO Farmer’s Market happens just as the sun is setting. The air is cooler but not freezing. It’s still bright but not blinding. The weather’s got me in an optimistic mood, one that could easily change depending on how this goes.

Jahan Ramezani’s idea to protect an egg from a 30-foot drop entailed a pyramid design — except he ran out of toothpicks. (Photo: Katy Clark)

The premise is simple: With a small bag of materials, construct a vessel that can keep an egg intact from a 30-foot drop. The execution, however, is much more difficult.

Upon opening the bag you realize the materials you have been given look like your parents’ junk drawer. A few toothpicks, bubble wrap, napkins, and rubber bands is all that can protect your egg from the cold, hard pavement.

Your options for construction are, to say the least, limited.

From my menial knowledge gleaned in introductory physics courses, I concluded that the creation of a pyramid shape around the egg could divert the impact force of the ground away from the center of mass.

My surefire hypothesis, however, will remain untested — I ran out of toothpicks.

To top it off, I had cracked the egg slightly while trying to string a rubber band on it. Eventually, I opted to wrap the rest of my materials over the egg and call it a day.

It was time to return my not-so-cherished egg to Poly Pack. Approaching the booth I could feel the pressure building. I was surrounded by engineers, children, and child engineers. In round two, a six year old won. How on earth would I survive this.

I knew my feeble construct wouldn’t cut it. I timidly gave my creation to the staff before retreating into the crowd. One by one, eggs were raised and dropped. At last, I bore witness to my egg, suspended three stories above the ground.

Normally the one shooting photos, Jahan Ramezani gets photographed during the egg drop competition. (Photo: Katy Clark)

Moments later, I fell to my knees as I watched volunteers throw my disheveled and leaking egg into the trash.

I, expectedly, had not done well. But two years forward, I’d say it was a successful drop. At last, Neta’s optimism reached me, and I understood the meaning of it all. Despite the results of my negligent engineering, the event has transformed into an uplifting event: One which I can look forward to in the years to come.

It’s an annual bastion that reminds me the days are getting longer. It’s a testament to the community that San Luis Obispo is known for. It’s a remembrance of friends

long-graduated, and a reminder that my five years at Cal Poly are almost over. And lastly, it’s just fun.

With my project smashed, and my spirits high, I just had one question: “How can they afford to destroy so many eggs in this economy?”

Clubs in the Orfalea College of Business receive support from the Dean’s Excellence Fund, which furthers their Learn by Doing experience.

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