I am currently a high school student focused on finishing school strong while preparing for my future beyond graduation. School has taught me discipline, responsibility, and the importance of balancing multiple priorities at once. I am especially interested in personal development, business, and creative work, and I enjoy learning about topics that help people grow mentally, emotionally, and financially. Outside of academics, I spend time working on self improvement, exploring content creation, and learning how to turn ideas into real projects. I am motivated by growth and constantly looking for ways to better myself and expand my skills. My interests extend beyond personal success and into helping others. I am deeply interested in mental health, motivation, and self awareness, especially for people who may not have access to proper resources or support. I believe mental health is just as important as physical health, yet it is often overlooked or misunderstood, particularly in underserved communities. This belief influences how I approach my goals and how I want to make an impact in the world. After high school, I plan to continue my education while pursuing entrepreneurial and creative opportunities. I am interested in studying business and personal development related fields, with the goal of building my own ventures and using them to inspire and uplift others. I want a future where I am not only successful, but also able to create opportunities and positive change for people who feel stuck, unheard, or unsupported. If I could start my own charity, its mission would be to make mental health education and support accessible to people who do not have the resources to receive it. The charity would focus on providing mental health awareness, emotional support, and practical coping tools to individuals in underserved communities, especially youth and young adults. Many people struggle silently due to lack of access, stigma, or financial barriers, and my goal would be to create a safe space where mental health is openly discussed and supported. The charity would serve individuals who may not have access to therapy, counseling, or mental health education, including students, low income families, and people in high stress environments. Volunteers would play a major role in the organization by helping facilitate workshops, mentoring programs, and community discussions focused on emotional well being. They would also assist with outreach, peer support programs, and organizing events that promote mental health awareness and self care. Some volunteers could help connect individuals with professional resources when needed. Overall, my goal is to build a future rooted in purpose, growth, and service. Whether through education, business, or community involvement, I want to make a meaningful difference by helping people feel supported, understood, and empowered to improve their lives.

My personal experiences with finances and financial education have mostly come from observation, trial and error, and self motivation rather than formal teaching. Growing up, money was always present as a necessity, but rarely discussed as a skill. I noticed that many people around me worked hard but still struggled financially, which made me realize that earning money alone is not enough to build stability or success. Financial topics such as budgeting, saving, investing, credit, and long term planning were not consistently explained, which created gaps in understanding and confidence. Seeing the stress that poor financial decisions can cause pushed me to become more curious and intentional about learning how money truly works. As I grew older, I began educating myself through online resources, social media, books, and real world examples. I paid attention to people who were financially successful and noticed patterns in how they thought about money. They planned ahead, took calculated risks, and treated money as a tool rather than something to fear or avoid. At the same time, I also learned from watching financial mistakes. I saw how lack of knowledge can lead to debt, missed opportunities, and limited freedom. These experiences taught me that financial education is not optional if you want control over your future. It is a life skill that affects every major decision, from where you live to the opportunities you can take. I plan on using what I learn about finances to build a future rooted in independence, security, and purpose. One of my main goals is to develop strong money habits early, such as budgeting consistently, saving with intention, and understanding how to manage expenses responsibly. I also want to learn how to invest wisely so my money can grow over time instead of just sitting still. Learning about credit, assets, and long term wealth strategies will allow me to make smarter decisions and avoid mistakes that could set me back. Beyond personal stability, I plan to use financial education to create opportunities for myself and others. I want to build multiple income streams, including business ventures and creative projects, so I am not dependent on a single source of income. Financial knowledge will allow me to take risks with confidence and turn ideas into reality. In the future, I hope to share what I learn with others who may not have access to strong financial guidance. Being financially educated gives you options, and I believe everyone deserves the chance to understand how to build a better life. Overall, my experiences have shown me that financial education is not just about money, but about freedom, confidence, and long term growth. By continuing to learn and apply financial knowledge, I am investing in a future where I am prepared, empowered, and able to create lasting success.

Growing up, my mom was always sick. When I was about five, she had thyroid cancer and had to have her thyroid and part of her gland removed. On top of that, she had other health problems over the years, like leukemia and, more recently in 2023, a non-cancer brain tumor that needed surgery. Watching her go through all of that was scary, especially because it was mostly just me and my mom. Sure, my grandma and my mom’s sister helped sometimes, but they lived in different states, so they couldn’t always be there. A lot of the time, it felt like it was just the two of us facing everything together. Seeing my mom fight through so many serious health problems taught me a lot about perseverance and strength. I watched her deal with pain, recovery, and uncertainty, and even when things were hard, she never gave up. Being with her through all of this made me grow up faster than other kids my age and gave me a real understanding of how important determination is. I also learned how much it matters to support someone and work together. Even though it was just me and her a lot of the time, we leaned on each other and found ways to get through every challenge. These experiences have shaped who I am and what I want to do with my life. I want a career where I can have control over my future and help others overcome challenges, just like I have seen my mom do. Watching her fight inspired me to pursue business and entrepreneurship. I want to build a company that not only gives me financial freedom but also provides opportunities and support for people who face obstacles in their lives. I want to show people that even when life is hard, they can still reach their goals if they stay focused and work hard. Living through my mom’s health struggles also taught me to be responsible, resourceful, and proactive. I had to step up in ways most kids don’t, whether it was helping around the house, making sure she had what she needed, or just being there for her emotionally. These experiences taught me perseverance, compassion, and leadership, which I know will help me in college and beyond. My mom’s journey has made me resilient, driven, and determined to make a difference. It showed me the power of strength and love, and it drives me to work hard every day to build a future that matters for myself and for others.

One of the biggest ways I’ve shown helpfulness in my life was when I was elected CEO at PFEW, Pennsylvania Free Enterprise Week. From the start, I made it my mission to make sure everyone on my team felt heard, included, and important. I didn’t want anyone to feel left out or like their ideas didn’t matter. As CEO, I knew my job wasn’t just to lead but to lift everyone up so we could win together. Some kids on my team were shy or scared to speak up. I could see how much potential they had, and I wanted to help them bring it out. I encouraged them to share their ideas, gave them roles that fit their strengths, and made sure they knew their voices mattered just as much as anyone else’s. I wanted everyone to feel like they had a purpose on our team, not just a place to sit. Being CEO wasn’t always easy. Leading a group of different personalities came with challenges. We had tight deadlines, disagreements, and moments when things didn’t go as planned. But I stayed persistent. I motivated my team, kept everyone involved, and reminded them of our goal. I never gave up on keeping us together because I knew if we stayed united, we could succeed. All that hard work paid off. Our team won first place out of all 360 students at PFEW, and we even made program history by ranking 9th place out of thousands of teams that have ever competed. That moment was unforgettable, but the real win for me wasn’t the award. It was seeing my teammates grow. Watching people who were once afraid to speak now confidently lead parts of our presentation was the most rewarding part. It showed me that the environment I created as CEO made a difference. That experience taught me a lot about leadership, persistence, and perseverance. I learned that leadership isn’t about being the loudest or most important person in the room. It’s about making sure every person in the room has a chance to be heard and valued. Being CEO also showed me how much I love seeing people succeed and how much that drives me as a leader. Looking back, I realize that being CEO gave me more than just a title. It gave me the confidence to believe in myself, the skills to work with others, and the understanding that helping people shine is one of the most powerful things you can do.

My name is Azaria, I’m 16 years old, and I’m a senior in high school. To be honest, I never really thought about higher education until recently. Growing up, I was always ahead in school, sometimes one or two years younger than everyone else in my class. At first, I thought that was a good thing, but it actually made things hard. A lot of people only wanted to be around me for my smarts. It felt like I was being used for my education, not appreciated for who I was. I didn’t know how to make real friends, so I grew up feeling insecure. I started wanting to just be “normal,” to fit in. And while I was trying to fit in, I lost sight of what I wanted for my future and who I wanted to be. Things changed for me this summer when I went to a program called PFEW, Pennsylvania Free Enterprise Week. It was truly life-changing. I was chosen to be the CEO of my team, which shocked me because I had never had any leadership role before. I didn’t think I had it in me to lead. But when I stepped into that role, I felt something click. I was leading a group of amazing people who actually respected me and didn’t just want me for my brains. They valued my ideas. Together, we worked hard, pushed through challenges, and supported each other. We ended up winning first place out of all 360 students there. Even more, we made PFEW history by ranking 9th place out of thousands of teams that have ever been in the program. That moment showed me that I am capable of more than I ever thought. It gave me my confidence back and showed me exactly what I want to do with my life. Now I know I want to go to college to study business, entrepreneurship, or marketing. My goal is to one day run a successful six-figure business, not just for myself, but so I can help and inspire others. I want to build something that changes lives, whether that’s creating opportunities for people, selling products that make a difference, or teaching others how to reach their goals. I’m committed to higher education because I know it’s the next step to getting where I want to be. I want to keep learning, keep growing, and keep challenging myself. My degree will not just be for me. It will be my foundation for building a future where I can stand in rooms I once thought I didn’t belong in, lead with confidence, and use my story to remind people that even if you lose yourself for a while, you can always find your way back.