During my time in my high school business incubator class I had the privilege of serving as the chief marketing executive for my teams start up, an experience that allowed me to fully embody the entrepreneurial spirit while fueling my passion for marketing. As the CMO I was responsible for shaping our brand identity, crafting our message, and developing strategies to connect our product to its intended audience. I approached this role with creativity, dedication, and willingness to take risk, the qualities that are at heart of entrepreneurship. The process challenged me to think, strategically conduct thorough market research and adapt our campaigns based on feedback and results. Every challenge we faced, whether it was figuring out how to stand out from competitors or rethinking our promotional approach, it strengthened my understanding of marketing as both an art, and a science. My passion for marketing was not something I discovered by chance it is deeply rooted in the influence of my aunt a role model, whose excellence in the marketing field left a lasting impression on me from a young age. I admire her ability to bring ideas to life and to see the success she had within her career. Watching her succeed in such a dynamic competitive field show me that marketing is not just about selling a product, it’s about connection, storytelling, and creating meaningful relationships between a company and its audience. Her example sparked my interest in marketing and stepping into the CMO role during the business incubator program brought that interest to life in a tangible way. I felt my passion for the field grow stronger, solidifying my desire to pursue marketing at a higher level. Beyond personal inspiration, my drive to excel in this role was also shaped by my identity as a first generation Mexican-American, aspiring college graduate I carry with me the sacrifices and hard work of my family who created a life of stability and opportunity for me my position in the business incubator program was not just a school assignment, it was a chance to honor their efforts by applying myself fully proving that their dedication and sacrifices have meaning every skill I developed. Every late night spent refining a campaign, and every challenge I overcame was fueled by the knowledge that I am building a path not only for myself, but for the extent of my family and future generations. The business incubator experience allowed me to merge my entrepreneurial spirit, my deep passion for marketing, and my motivation to honor my family’s legacy confirmed that marketing is more than a career interest for me, it’s where I see my future taking shape.

As a first generation Mexican-American college student, my passion for higher education is deeply rooted in the sacrifices, resilience, and unshakable determination of my family. My journey is not solely my own, it is a continuation of the dreams and labor of my immigrant ancestors and my father that rooted from Michoacán, Mexico. My family tree of who worked tirelessly to create a life of stability, safety and opportunity for me growing up, I will surrounded by stories of perseverance. Relatives who cross borders in search of a better future, who endured hardships with quiet strength, and who believe that, even if they themselves could not reap the rewards of education, their children and grandchildren could. My father built a life in which I never had to question whether I would have food on the table or a roof over my head, a privilege I know, came at the cost of long hours, physical labor, and countless personal sacrifices Because of this foundation, I have lived my life in conditions my family could only dream of, healthy, safe and stable. I am determined to maximize the opportunities they have worked so hard to provide me. Going to college is more than an individual achievement, it is a responsibility. I see my education as a way to honor their sacrifices to show their labor and hardships were not in vain. My passion for becoming a college graduate, comes from knowing that my success is part of a much larger legacy, one that began long before I was born. Caring on my family work ethic is central to who I am. I have been taught that no task is too small to be done well, that effort matters as much as outcome, and that challenges are opportunities in disguise. In academics, I apply this mindset by pushing myself to excel and not simply to earn grades, but to gain the skills, knowledge and discipline that will allow me to make a meaningful contribution in the future I want my life to reflect the values my family instilled in me, persistence, humbleness, and a belief in the power of hard work to achieve dreams. Earning a college degree, will not only be a personal milestone. It will be a testament to generations of sacrifice and hope it will symbolize the fulfillment of dreams that began in small towns, labor fields, and in countless quiet act’s of determination. I want to use my education to open doors, not only for myself but for other young Hispanic first generation girls around me and doing so I will honor my family’s past carry their work ethic forward, and that the opportunities they fought for continue to grow for generations to come.

During my senior year, my involvement in my high schools Business Incubator class became a defining experience that allowed me to embody the entrepreneurial spirit, passion for innovation, deep scholarly engagement, fundamental curiosity, and academic excellence. The course was designed to replicate a real-world start-up environment, challenging students to identify market needs, develop viable solutions, and present their ventures to industry professionals. Within my team, we created a company called KeePUP. KeePUP is a business addressing the issues that Dogs cannot talk, and explain their wants and needs. KeePUP is the solution to dogs not being able to communicate, KeePUP is a technological device my team created that tracks location, health, and the activity of individuals dogs. The information collected can be viewed in the KeePUP mobile app that my team was in the process of developing. From the very beginning, I approached this project with an entrepreneurial mindset, willing to take calculated risks, think charitably, and constantly iterate on our ideas based on research, feedback, and evolving knowledge. I embraced innovation not as a single breakthrough moment, but as a continuous process of refining, testing, and adapting our prosecutions and business model. My role in the development of KeePUP, was becoming the Chief Marketing Executive, which required both creative and analytical rigor. I focused on market research efforts, conducting surveys and interviews to deeply understand our target audience to validate our concept. Those concepts demanded scholarly engagement, as I applied skills from economics, statistics, and communications to synthesize data into actionable insights. My curiosity drove me to go beyond surface level answers. I wanted to understand why certain trends existed, how competitions operated, and what unmet needs remained in the marketplace. My powerful drive for developing this business allowed our team to identify unique seeking points that differentiated KeePUP from other competitors. Throughout the process, I consistently applied principles of academic excellence by holding myself and my teammates to high standards of organization, clarity, and professionalism. Whether drafting out business model, developing our financials, or preparing our elevator pitch, I paid close attention to detail to ensure our work was polished and persuasive. I also took initiative in team coordination, setting deadlines, and fostering an environment where everyone felt valued and motivated to contribute their best work. This leadership role required adaptability, as we frequently encountered challenges from prototype setbacks to shifts in our marketing strategy that demanded quick thinking and collaborative problem solving. All of these efforts helped in getting KeePUP to becoming a finalist on MVP Pitch Night, where we presented to a panel of entrepreneurs, investors and community leaders. The experience of the Business Incubator class proved to me that entrepreneurial success is built on passion.

My name is Grace Cordova, a recent graduate from Mundelein High School in Mundelein Illinois. I plan to attend The University of Missouri-Columbia, to complete my bachelor’s degree in Business with an emphasis on Marketing. My passion is to pursue a career in the Business field, and take my leadership skills onto a marketing team one day. High school is a time period of growth and vulnerability for many young teens. Being highly vulnerable and easily influenced during these ago years, can take a major toll on mental health. I learned that mental health isn’t just about the absence of illness but about overall well-being. Things like stress, social pressures, and academic expections can take a major toll on young minds that are in constant states of vulnerability. One of my biggest takeaways for me was the importance of self-care and balance. It is so easy at these vulnerable ages in high school to get caught up in social expectations, but I realized that taking time to focus on myself, and self morals is crucial for individual mental wellbeing. As individuals can get caught up in social expections and worrying about fitting in for other people rather than oneself, it can put a burden on one’s mental being. Going through tough periods is when individuals forget that they are not alone, and help is always at hand. I learned that it’s okay to ask for help even when things feel helpless. There is no shame in admitting that you’re struggling and finding the courage to reach out for help is stronger than burying the burden you have in yourself alone. I’ve learned that during a time of low mental being, that the feeling of loneliness is emphasized. Moving forward, I plan to prioritize my mental health by maintaining self reflection and worrying about my goals and aspirations. I’ll continue to be open and honest about my feelings and remind myself that its okay to not be okay and I am strong enough to realize when I need to ask fro help, while also being a person of open arms that anyone can talk to if they need support. I’ve taken away that when the emotion of loneliness takes over, there is always friends, family or professionals to reach out to. These are lessons I hope to carry with me throughout my life, helping me stay focused on my individuality to thrive in whatever I do.