Grade 11 Students in Victoria

Devante and his Rubik's Cube [N. Clark]

If you happen to be wandering around Delview Secondary School at lunchtime, you can often see Devante solving a Rubik's Cube puzzle. Usually you will see him with an audience, as well.

Devante doesn't like to show off, but ever since he brought his Rubik's Cube to school one day, people have been clustering around him if they so much as catch a glimpse of the puzzle.

Not only does he appear to have several fans, but other people have picked up the skill as well. In fact, his choice activity has become somewhat of a trend among other students. He is no longer the only one lining up blocks of the same colour at lunchtime instead of eating, although he was the first.

Should you wish to also learn how to solve a Rubik's Cube and become one of a growing number, asking Devante is always an option. He has been teaching others how to complete the puzzle and doesn't mind sharing his secret.

The secret wasn't his in the first place, however. He readily admits that his skill was not self-taught. Devante learned how to solve a Rubik's Cube from a video he found on YouTube, which is easily accessible to anyone with a computer.

Devante didn't learn everything from the internet, though. Some of it came naturally to him. For those attempting the puzzle, Devante would advise you to "do every step without stopping."

Perseverance is also key. Although Devante began playing with his Rubik's Cube at the young age of eight, he didn't manage to solve it until he was 14. Now he can solve any Rubik's Cube you present to him in any state of disorder. Usually he manages to complete the puzzles in under five minutes.

Devante's record time for solving the puzzle is 45 seconds, but that isn't good enough for him. "I'm kind of competitive," says Devante, "so I try to get better." He practises in his spare time, so it is likely that he will beat his record soon.

It isn't very entertaining to only compete against yourself, however. If you think you can do better than Devante, he would like to hear about it. He would also like to prove you wrong.