Being the first to do anything isn’t easy, but that’s what makes it special. I am the oldest of three to an immigrant mother from Ghana, and although my upbringing hasn’t always been easy, it has equipped me with the vision to see past my current reality and into a future where I use my passion for economics and technology to bridge the gap between low-income individuals and their hopes for a better life. I didn’t choose to be the first person in my family to be born in America, or the first to go to college, but those callings have shaped me into someone stronger, more determined, and ready to pursue entrepreneurship and philanthropy, no matter how challenging or uncertain the path may seem. Seeing the long hours my mom worked overnight to provide for my younger sisters and me, while also building her food catering business during the day, showed me firsthand what sacrifice looks like. She worked tirelessly to make my dream of higher education a reality despite financial burdens, and I’m grateful, because I understand how often those burdens stop others from reaching their full potential. This is why being a first-generation college student doesn’t just influence my goals, it defines them. It’s the reason I’m committed to building tools, businesses, and systems that empower underserved communities and make success more accessible for those who come after me. Socioeconomic status should never define what a person is capable of; it’s the content of their mind and heart that truly matters.

By the grace of God, I have been able to attend Worcester Academy for my three years of high school education; one difference between my peers and me, though, is that they roll through the campus with their Teslas and BMWs while my mother drops me off in her 2005 Toyota Rav4. Ironically, I am one of a few Worcester Academy scholars who lives in Worcester and is provided with a scholarship to attend the institution. Over three years, my commute from Lincoln Village to Worcester Academy exemplifies the power of finances in the lives of wealthy and working-class individuals. My mother works two jobs in an attempt to provide for my two sisters and me, but when I compare her efforts to those of my peers’ parents, they appear to toil less but reap significantly more substantial rewards for their efforts. The most valuable piece of information that I acquired at school was not found in a textbook, but rather from a friend. Bill, a companion of mine who is originally from Vietnam and studies abroad in America; when I asked him how his parents work so little yet had the money to send him across the world for a high school education, he said that his family doesn’t work for money, their money works for them. Before this discovery, I had accepted a job as a sales associate at Kohl's with the idea from my mother that the only way to make money is to spend as many hours as possible working. I planned to accumulate hours and work with nothing in mind other than receiving my paycheck each week's end. Shortly after my exchange with Bill, I sought out business-oriented individuals to converse with as I grew hungry for knowledge that could improve my family’s lives and those of future generations. Soon after, I met with a Harvard underclassman, the son of my mother’s friend. He was considerate enough to spend two and a half hours acquainting me with what he knew about gaining financial independence, and the plausible steps he takes while working towards that goal himself. Toward the end of our conversation, he introduced me to stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, and several other aspects of the expansive trading world. At the time, I couldn’t imagine that such efficient methods for gaining capital were not taught in schools or more widely known. I took it upon myself to learn how the stock market worked, and how I could partake in the benefits of trading while I am still young. Aside from my 10% tithe and savings, I have been strategically growing my capital with a series of mutual funds and stocks, and I have seen a $70 increase in my portfolio in the last month. Although this may not seem like much, I believe that the principles I have learned from my connections and resources will allow me to lead my family into the promised land of financial freedom very soon. I plan to use the discipline of saving and investing to graduate from college debt-free, become the first homeowner in my family, and show the world that I am not a product of my environment. Rather, I am a product of my principles.