There’s No Cube Like Rubik’s

Olivia Rekittke, features writer| November 21, 2014

Anna Mullendore

To David Shengelia, Disney World meant the beginning of a newfound hobby. Shengelia, sophomore, bought his first Rubik’s Cube at a store in Disney World when he was in seventh grade and has not put it down since. He owns 15 different sized, colored and shaped Rubik’s Cubes and said he has solved them all.Screen Shot 2014-11-18 at 10.30.21 PM

“After I got [my first Rubik’s Cube] it took me about a month to figure it all out,” Shengelia said. “I just kind of sat in my room, thought about it and reflected on the mechanics of it.”

Having ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), Shengelia enjoys doing hands-on activities to keep himself busy, and the Rubik’s Cube is the best solution.

Along with solving Rubik’s Cubes, Shengelia participates in boys’ swim and dive and band.

Matt Beasley, boys’ swim and dive coach, knows Shengelia is very productive and successful in all activities he is a part of, and the Rubik’s Cube is one more thing that displays his intelligence.

“My first thought when I think of a Rubik’s Cube is kids that are brainy and smart, because I know it’s pretty heavy in mathematics,” Beasley said. “He tried to explain it to me and I acted like I knew what he was talking about, but I had no clue.”

Screen Shot 2014-11-18 at 10.34.38 PM The people closest to Shengelia are astounded by what he is able to do with such a complex and intricate object. Friend of Shengelia since early elementary school, Nate Curtis, sophomore, knew how smart his friend was but was surprised to find out about the relationship Shengelia had with Rubik’s Cubes.

“I was fascinated by how he managed to figure all of it out so quickly,” Curtis said. “It was only a while after he started bringing Rubik’s Cubes to school that he started getting really quick.”

With a personal record of 7.83 seconds for the three-by-three cube, Shengelia is two seconds from beating the world record. He does not necessarily consider himself competitive, yet when he saw the world record video, he was determined to beat it.

“I like going fast,” Shengelia said. “Don’t over think it, otherwise you won’t get it.”