Meet Andy Barrett, the 13-year-old Ohio student who turned a school 3D printer into a small business, selling 150 fidget toys and raising money for epilepsy awareness

Most 13-year-olds walk into middle school tech lab thinking about passing their next assignment or making something cool to toss into their backpack.

Andy Barrett, an eighth-grader at Granville Middle School in Ohio, saw something entirely different when he looked at his school's 3D printer.

He saw an opportunity to build a business that could actually help people.Armed with basic design software, brightly colored plastic filament, and a personal drive to make a difference, Andy launched a micro-business right from his classroom.

He designed, printed, and sold roughly 150 custom fidget toys to fellow students, teachers, and neighbours.

Instead of pocketing the money for video games or new shoes, he directed every cent of his profits toward epilepsy awareness and research.From classroom tool to business ideaThe project began inside a standard technology and engineering class, the kind of room where students typically learn the basics of digital design and manufacturing.