Maybe you have been under a rock today or maybe you just don’t read the news or social media so let me tell you an amazing story that may anger you but make you smile when you realize people will not tolerate this and the incredible amount of support for this inspiring kid.

Ahmed is a 14 year old kid in the ninth grade who created his very own own alarm clock to show his teacher at school because he was proud of what he made. Ahmed is a young maker which should be celebrated instead of just settling for purchasing a manufactured plastic alarm clock from the big brick store like thousands of others settle for. In making something he learns and explores what makes things work, and how you make things. This making of things which is a big movement gaining steam each year and supported fully by Autodesk with many technologies free for kids to explore and learn to be Makers and should be celebrated but unfortunately some for whatever poor choice and reason had this young kid arrested and they had this young kid placed in handcuffs knowing this was not a bomb but a homemade alarm clock.

Irving ninth-grader arrested after taking homemade clock to school

From Gizmodo story:

http://gizmodo.com/istandwithahmed-the-internet-is-outraged-over-14-year-1731056201

“Fourteen-year-old Ahmed Mohamed is a kid who loves to tinker, and was excited to show teachers at his Irving, Texas High school his latest invention: a clock with “a digital display, built into a metal case with a circuit board.” For this offense he was handcuffed and arrested, while bullying cops persisted in pointing out that the contraption “looks like a movie bomb to me.””

It is this young Maker Ahmed that had so many stand up and speak out. So many great words of support including the President of the United States who said on Twitter:

”Cool clock, Ahmed. Want to bring it to the White House? We should inspire more kids like you to like science. It’s what makes America great.”

.

Our own Chief Maker and Autodesk President and CEO Carl Bass said:

“Ahmed, don’t let this stop your creativity. Come hang out at Autodesk and we’ll make something new together. #IStandWithAhmed”

This was sad, depressing, and poor choices by many adults and should have been handled better and I only hope it changes some people and caused a “teachable moment” for all. 

If a kid makes a clock
It works like a clock
It is most likely a clock..

Ahmed, the Makers of Autodesk stand with you.