Ohio Invention Convention plays a crucial role in my life. The program not only provided me a path toward my career development but also developed key skills that have given me momentum in my professional and personal life. I participated as an 8th grader and feel that Ohio Invention League helped me find my stride during a pivotal time.
I feel that Ohio Invention League has shaped me into who I am today as a volunteer and member of the Invention League Board of Directors.
As I mentor students, I can share how I learned to use what I considered “failure”. Though I had some success with my invention for the Regional and State judging, I more clearly remember this being the first time I failed during a school project. While it may seem counterintuitive, this failure during my invention process was extremely important to my development as a young student simply because I asked “Why?”. I was not quick to become frustrated, or give up; I started to look at the problem from different perspectives.
In addition, I honed my public speaking skills. Throughout high school, college, and into my professional career I never would have imagined how crucial this skill would be to my success as an engineer. After Invention Convention, I decided to pursue more science and project-based learning courses in high school. I loved to ask “Why?” and use the design cycle to be a problem solver. When it came time to decide my college major I reflected on my experience as an inventor and decided on Mechanical Engineering to continue solving problems. Now as a Product Manager, I work to develop products for the medical, aerospace, and defense industries.
Over the past year, I have mentored a number of students as they prepared for Invention Convention U.S. Nationals. It has been so gratifying because I feel that I am not only impacting their current project, but also their self-esteem, confidence, and career development. I am able to help students understand what they are learning from the invention process is the same as the product realization process.”
– Emma Sampson, Ohio Invention League Alumni and Board Member