INTRODUCTION
THINK stands for Technology for Humanity guided by Innovation, Networking, and Knowledge. The competition challenges high school students across the United States to take a refreshing approach to designing a technological solution to a social problem. In the process of fulfilling the challenge, we hope students will experience the three fundamental steps embedded within “THINK” and develop their skills accordingly:
- Innovation: Lying foremost is creativity and a drive to innovate for a positive impact on society. Exploring desires to initiate and make a difference help students establish visions and lasting passion for their projects.
- Networking: Connect with reality! Students may seek challenges to address for their projects by talking to community members and identifying the needs of the society. Students are encouraged to improve their networking skills as they share their innovative vision with their peers and teachers. In the process, students are expected to find resources and mentors to help advance their projects.
- Knowledge: Materialize the ideas! Students should move beyond the classroom setting and learn what it takes to carry the projects to a practical level. To devise plans to implement their ideas, students will first need to understand the necessary concepts involved. Seek knowledge from every possible opportunity in life!
THINK - A Powerful Message & A Unique Learning Opportunity
THINK is more than a science and technology competition. As students who have succeeded in finding their own ways throughout high school, THINK founders believe that it is necessary to inspire those students with limited resources, telling them that extraordinary work can be accomplished with their personal initiative and hard work to create a learning adventure; passion and persistence can transcend the present limitation to fulfill daunting endeavors. And THINK is here to provide the incentive and to deliver this encouraging message. In fact, THINK can be more challenging than other competitions because it requires not only the technical skills but also the social networking skills to obtain resources from the society in order to carry out the student’s own ideas. This is what makes THINK a distinguished high school competition: its founding vision for applicants to learn how to be resourceful in the society brings to THINK a powerful encouraging message that makes the networking component a core feature of the competition.
"If you can create a path on your own, then you will be more successful down the road than other people whose paths are paved by their parents and teachers,” these words of wisdom from my mom, a laundry worker, really transformed my life. I lacked guidance as a freshman in high school, but thanks to the gracious support from several professors, whom had no prior acquaintance with me but responded to my requests of help with such kind encouragements. Their guidance helped me realize the power of science. Looking back, I've realized that however intimidating a task may seem at the beginning, success is surprisingly as simple as the curiosity to explore, the will to persist, and the initiative to ask, "I am very interested in this, could you help me?" This is the story behind THINK. What can be more rewarding and joyful than encountering pleasant surprises along a challenging path, finding hidden treasure after you've struggled and sweated, and arriving at a place you never dared to dream about through a journey created all on your own? We hope THINK will stimulate an amazing adventure as you explore the world and discover your true self along the way. Developing technology for humanity is one of the best ways to put the power of your mind into practice. The reward for your hard work is always more than what you can imagine. Welcome aboard!”
