Dear 2008 InvenTeams,
Congratulations on your Lemelson-MIT InvenTeams Grant, and welcome aboard! You’re in for an incredible ride. My name is Vicky Thomas, and as a 2005-2006 InvenTeams alumna, I speak from experience. I remember what it felt like to be in your position two years ago. If you’re anything like my InvenTeam, you’re probably shocked, excited, enthusiastic, and overwhelmed. Don’t worry – this, too, shall pass. Well, actually, only the overwhelming feeling will pass. The excitement and enthusiasm will probably stick with you through June and beyond.
Lucky for you guys (or unlucky, depending on how much you like to read), there are InvenTeams alumni like me who are still so enthralled by their experience that they want to share it with anyone who will listen. And what better audience than recently selected InvenTeams? So with that said, here are a few nostalgic thoughts for you (if I knew then what I know now…):
- Get an organized game plan as soon as possible. For the most part, the timeline and project organization document that you submitted with your final application should do the job. Now that you’ve got it, stick to it. It’s really important to adhere to the deadlines you’ve set down for yourselves so that you can make efficient progress. If you’re overwhelmed, just take things one-step at a time. And remember, it’s an InvenTEAM effort!
- It’s OK to be confused – in fact, that’s a huge part of the process. Don’t be afraid to tackle the unknown! Learn how to seek and teach yourself new information (you’ll often learn it best that way). Aspire to have no idea what’s going on, and then to master the task at hand.
- Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be (whispering words of wisdom…). When you get stuck on a problem, it’s easy to get wrapped up in a giant ball of frustration and end up trying to force solutions that aren’t the best ones. It’s OK to take a step back! In fact, I’ve frequently found the solutions to problems when the problem itself is the farthest thing from my mind. If you’re really involved in your project, it will always be simmering in your subconscious. Sometimes, you need to remove yourself from it to find the answer.
- On that note, always be on the lookout, and try to take in as much as you can from everywhere that you can. You never know how doing the dishes might solve your problems. Perhaps you run across a kitchen gadget whose basic principles are just what you’ve been looking for, or maybe your mind just wanders its way to an apparently unrelated, random thought that triggers those ever-so-longed-for “Eureka!” moments.
- Above all else, HAVE THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE. Honestly. Absorb everything you possibly can from your InvenTeams experience. Sure, we want to see you with a super-cool invention at the Odyssey, but really, it’s about the experience. Prime example: My school got flooded two months before the showcase, and we didn’t have a completely finished invention in June. However, we had a blast during the year and at the Odyssey. We all learned how to brainstorm, design, invent, communicate, network, interact with the media, work to benefit a community affiliate, look for and interact with mentors and sponsors, divide and conquer, delegate tasks, write code, solder, work as a team, order matching t-shirts, consume lots of pizza … I could go on for a while, but I’ll spare you.
When I said “WE want to see your InvenTeam with a super-cool…” in that last paragraph, it’s because I’m now an InvenTeams intern. Yes, I had THAT great of an experience. I fell in love with the initiative, and I want to help it do for all of you what it has done for me. So if you ever have any questions, please feel free to email me at v_thomas@mit.edu. I’d love to hear from you!
In the meantime, gear up for the incredible ride I mentioned earlier. Every single project this year sounds really exciting (that’s code for I wish I were working on them), and I can’t wait to see them at the Odyssey!
Good luck!
Vicky Thomas
St. Paul’s School InvenTeam (2006)
http://web.mit.edu/inventeams/teams/2006/paul.html