This wasn't just a hackathon for me, it was a personal mission. I built ReflectoBot during a month of surgery and recovery, juggling freelance work, life stress, and the unpredictable chaos of healing.
And somehow, this project gave me strength.
There were late nights where the code wouldn't work, and I could barely sit upright. But ReflectoBot kept pulling me back in. Creating something for kids, something emotionally intelligent, goofy, and meaningful, reminded me why I love building. It became therapy, purpose, and momentum all wrapped in a friendly bot interface.
I didn’t have a team, but I wasn't alone. The Bolt Discord, the hackathon community, the feedback from friends and family, it all carried me. Special thanks to the people who beta tested, gave voice feedback, or just encouraged me to keep going. It helped more than I can say.
This wasn’t my first project focused on emotional impact. Years ago, I launched CreatableMe, a platform that blends mindfulness and creativity for families. But ReflectoBot goes deeper. It's my first attempt to make mental wellness interactive, alive, and accessible for kids.
No matter how the contest ends, I feel like I won. Because I remembered why I do this, not for glory, but for connection.
— Brian Castleforte
heyreflekto.app
Devpost Project
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