One of the greatest challenges I have faced was learning how to succeed within an environment and under conditions that were not built for the way my mind naturally works. Though some people try to convince you it’s a superpower, growing up with ADHD and dyscalculia in a low-income household felt like I was fighting two battles at once. On one hand, I had to manage the constant mental restlessness, difficulty focusing, and pressure of learning differently from other students. On the other, I had to grow up in a family struggling just to stay afloat financially. When my father left, the instability in our home only deepened. Suddenly, everything in my life felt uncertain, and I quickly realized that if I wanted a different future, I would have to build it myself. All my life, ADHD made me feel like I was always one step behind. I knew I was capable, but like an injured athlete, capability becomes meaningless if basic actions are hindered. I could not rely on talent alone, and had to learn discipline. Being financially instability and merely surviving, I’ve rarely had insurance, let alone a doctor. I can't remember the last time I had a doctor's appointment. So medication quickly became obsolete. Instead, over time I built systems to manage my life in ways that worked for me: strict alarms, detailed planning, consistent sleep schedules, fitness, an absurdly healthy diet, and routines that provide stability when life becomes chaotic. What once felt like a limitation slowly became something that strengthened me. ADHD forced me to become intentional. It taught me that success is not about doing things the easiest way, but about finding a way forward regardless of circumstances and refusing to stop. At the same time, financial hardship pushed me to mature faster than many people my age. My family survives on very limited income, and I have had to work near full-time while pursuing my education in order to pay for gas, insurance, tuition, bills, and other expenses. Balancing work and school has not been easy, but it has greatly sharpened my sense of responsibility and taught me how to manage time, think strategically, and value every opportunity I am given. More importantly, it has shown me that hardship can either make a person bitter or make them stronger. I chose to let it strengthen me. That growth shaped my goals in a major way. Currently, I am saving to attend a four-year university, with NYU as my dream school, because I want to build a career in business analysis and finance within the entertainment industry. I hope to one day contribute to companies such as Nintendo, Disney, or other media-driven organizations where strong strategy and financial leadership bring joy to people’s lives amidst their hardships. I am determined to succeed because I understand what it feels like to need hope within hardship. I want to be part of building organizations that provide this joy, even if only for a brief moment. Most of all, my challenges have made me want to help others who feel limited by their circumstances. I know what it feels like to struggle silently while pushing beyond exhaustion. Because of that, I want my education and future career to create opportunities not just for myself, but for people who need something to believe in. ADHD, dyscalculia, and extreme financial hardship tested me. However, they also shaped me into a disciplined, ambitious, and resilient person. What once felt like my greatest obstacles have now become the foundation of my growth.

Wealth management is more than numbers on a balance sheet. At its center, it is about trust, responsibility, and the opportunity to improve people’s lives. As a future business and finance student at the University of South Florida, I have learned that wealth advisors help families build stability and confidence. My passion for finance grew from watching this impact firsthand through a mentor who stepped into my life when my family faced serious hardship. As a teenager, my dad left our family while carrying significant debt and a long history of financial instability. His departure forced my mom to raise three kids solely on a teacher’s salary while struggling to rebuild our financial footing. Though unstable before, our stability disappeared completely. To support myself and prepare for college, I’ve begun working multiple jobs while attending school full-time. Today, I work 52+ hours a week while balancing my education. Furthermore, I’ve been given the responsibility of paying for my own gas, insurance, full tuition, some food, and other daily costs. However, this gave me drive and taught me that financial security is not just about money, but rather discipline, planning, and responsible decision-making. Since then, another figure stepped into my life. My best friend Noah’s father, Gregory Stahl, is a family-oriented wealth advisor at BT Wealth Advisors. Shortly after my dad left, he created a weekend tradition called “man day” for me and Noah. We start with a biblical talk at a café or restaurant, learn about being a good man in our modern society, then go out and enjoy the day at an event such as Topgolf or paintball. Out of everything we’ve done, one conversation has stuck with me. During a car ride, I asked what motivated him to get up at 5 AM every morning. He explained that his success didn’t come from chasing money, but from building strong character. He said, “Your character matters more than anything. People trust me with their money because of the responsibility and integrity I consistently show. Little things like waking up early, or being there 10 minutes before your scheduled meeting, builds discipline and trust. Being a man means having strong, stable morals others can depend on.” This reshaped how I saw finance, and I began waking up at 5 AM each morning too. Additionally, Gregory invests in our community, particularly through Grace Family Church in Lutz, Florida. The church hosts community events and financial literacy classes to help families make responsible decisions. Seeing this firsthand showed me how big of an impact financial professionals can make on their community. In the future, I will support similar initiatives by investing in financial education programs, local organizations, and mentoring the youth. Watching Gregory live out those values inspires my academic achievements and professional goals. I plan to pursue a career in finance and wealth advisory, helping families build the financial stability I never had that many take for granted but others desperately need. My education will give me the technical knowledge to guide precise investment decisions, develop long-term financial strategies, and help people understand the complex financial systems that shape their futures. But more importantly, I hope to mirror the same principles Gregory modeled for me: reliability, discipline, and humility. The challenges my family have been difficult, but they gave me direction. They taught me the value of financial responsibility and how deeply a trustworthy advisor can impact someone’s life. Through my education and future career in finance, I want to invest in the future of others the same way Gregory Stahl invested in mine.

As a business student studying finance and analysis with a passion for camping, I approach environmental issues from both a strategic and economic perspective. I see the future going hand in hand with the environment, not against it. My interest in business developed through studying how companies grow, allocate resources, and influence our world as a whole. Because businesses operate on a large scale, they consume vast amounts of precious resources. However, few companies understand that building environmentally friendly systems not only help the environment but increase long-term financial gains. For this reason, sustainable business practices aren't a suggestion but a necessity to achieve a healthier planet and long-term economic stability. One way businesses can implement sustainability is cutting out fossil fuels and improving day to day operational costs through energy management. Companies could utilize energy-efficient lighting, automated timers on indoor climate controls, improved insulation, nature-oriented building designs, and most importantly solar power. These changes look simple on paper, but they significantly decrease operational costs and damage done to our ozone layer. Today, most electricity in the United States still comes from fossil fuels. Fossil fuels, like coal, oil, and gas, are detrimental because its combustion releases massive amounts of greenhouse gases like CO2. This is the core driver of climate change, smog, extreme weather, and rising sea levels. Therefore, decreasing general energy consumption with various proven methods and replacing a company’s energy with solar greatly lowers a business’s environmental impact. Likewise, it’s a financial investment. Solar is proven to provide significant long-term savings compared to fossil fuels up to 50%-90% (IRENA). Second, companies can expand remote, hybrid, and virtual work structures. The rapid transition to remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic showed that many roles do not require a physical office to remain productive. By reducing the need for large office spaces, companies decrease energy consumption and expenses from lighting, air conditioning, and building maintenance. In addition, remote work erases the need for daily commuting, lowering daily transportation emissions by 65%-85% (Greenly). Furthermore, flexible work environments can improve employee productivity while contributing to broader sustainability goals. Lastly, companies should improve waste management and resource efficiency. Businesses generate large amounts of waste through packaging, materials, and outdated documentation systems. By redesigning products and processes to use fewer and recyclable materials, companies would drastically reduce unnecessary waste at its source. Digital documentation systems should replace outdated paper usage, and packaging can be redesigned with reusable materials. Many companies have already begun implementing these strategies, recognizing that responsible waste management strengthens both environmental outcomes and operational efficiency. Overall, these solutions aid not just the environment but the economy as a whole. As I continue my business education, I plan to apply these principles in my future career and inspire other companies to do the same. As a business analyst, part of my job is helping organizations identify opportunities where sustainable practices and strong financial strategy align. By combining my duties with environmental decision-making, companies can protect natural resources while creating economic value. I believe the next generation of business leaders must view sustainability not as a limitation, but as an opportunity to protect our environment.