“In my book I really split up this concept of inventing and innovating, where inventing is building something from scratch and innovating is building upon what is already existed. Both of them are completely functional ways to come up with ideas. It’s okay to use existing tools out there because all you’re doing is building upon really cool technology that somebody’s already done for you.”

“My definition of innovation is building and creating something using existing technology to impact the community and I think that impact and empathy should be the driving force of what innovation really is.”

“I think it’s a sense of ingenuity and a lack of having a box around a kids head at any given point in time. Kids aren’t afraid to blurt out ideas that may not work, while adults can be so restricted due to their past experiences that they throw a box around their head before they’re even able to come up with one idea that may not even work. They expect perfection at any given point in time.

I think a lot of students have realized that, you know, it’s okay to mess up and it’s okay to make those mistakes and it’s almost a lack of experience that helps a lot with bringing in a new perspective, a diverse perspective, and creative approaches toward solving the bigger problems that we’re seeing out there.”

“It’s not just influencing kids to realize that, ‘Hey, it’s okay to come up with solutions to problems people might consider adult problems,’ but even beyond that, I think it’s important to influence organizations to say, ‘Hey, it’s okay to accept other kids’ ideas.'”

“Everyone comes from a sense of just sticking to what we know is normal and I think once we flip the script on that it will allow for a lot of opportunity.”

“Personally, teamwork has never been my strong suit, but that individualistic approach only lasts for a little bit and I learned that the hard way as well, wanting to do everything by myself.”

“But, you have to realize that you have to talk to people, regardless of whether they’re your age or three times your age, and that’s a big part of who I am is because of people telling me it’s okay to not only ask for help but to receive more opportunity in that way and work with more people and see how our ideas can intertwine.”

In  your book you write that the first step to innovation is to “go in with a positive mindset, understand your goals, remember the big picture, and know why you are here.” In the face of daunting problems, how do you maintain positivity? 

“Where that positivity came from for me was personally recognizing all these problems exist and then thinking about how how I could play a small role in solving them. I think a lot of students would also gain positivity as long as we don’t put a deadline on when innovation and creativity should occur.”

“As soon as it becomes a school assignment or becomes almost mandatory to try and solve a problem, for me, it turns into a worse experience. But, as soon as it turns into something that’s self-guided – something that you’re choosing to do, that you’re choosing to be passionate about – that’s where I get a lot of my positivity from. Like, ‘I’m doing this as a choice’ and it turns into almost a hobby, to come up with solutions to problems and play a small part in solving them.”