The best compliment I ever received from someone was them explaining to me that they didn’t see me as a student. “Maria,” my friend started, “I know you’re not an idiot. I know you have a dozen thoughts going through your mind right now..” All my life, I have been considered “school smart.” Not only do the rigor of my classes impress a majority of my peers, the dedication and commitment I put into my academic career always catches the attention of my friends, and more than often their criticism. I often hear about my lack of “street smarts” and how I fail to adhere to the general basis of common sense. This has ultimately led to my insecurity not only about my weaknesses but also about my strengths.. When I hear anyone say this, I feel like there is a certain way I should be acting. For someone so “clever”- why am I acting so stupid? Intelligence is not a single thing you either lack or possess. As my friend pointed out, I do have a multitude of thoughts racing through my head at any given moment. Simplicity is subjective, and I think the world is more complicated than what people think. Growing up, I hated the term “common sense.” My father always came to the abrupt conclusion that I simply lacked it. But what was common sense? Googling it simply led me to a number of pointless results that not only expanded my confusion, but contributed to a suspicion that I was what everyone continuously told me- I was stupid. But maybe I wasn’t stupid. Maybe my problem was deeper than that. Maybe it was a fear of failure and being judged that left me doing mindless behaviors. Because I was deemed “smart” from an early age, asking a stupid question or confusion left me vulnerable and it wasn’t until this small but life-changing compliment uprooted my entire point of view regarding my personal intelligence. People most likely perceive me as having no common sense simply because they exceed my skill level at other things. Simply because I am unable to act in the most ideal way all of the time does not define me as “stupid”- it just reflects on the very core notion of being a human who makes ignorant mistakes. In fact, my mistakes made me more human than being perfect ever could. I am capable of so many tiring and mentally-straining feats that come my way. I believe I can use my intelligence to create my own path in this world. I can use what I know to do life-changing things in this world and make a difference wherever I see a need for change. Although this insecurity will always persist in my academic career, one thing I would like to tell any critics of my personal brainpower is that you wouldn’t judge a fish on its ability to climb a tree. The cognitive powers and memory of a fish exceed non-human primates. Fish not only keep track of complex social relationships, they are emotionally intelligent and feel according to the environment and surroundings. However, a fish out of water will live their life forever thinking they are stupid. Everyone is smart in their own way; they learn differently and have different strengths. My measure of “street smart” or “common sense” does not define my personal intelligence level and I’m finally happy to come to terms with that difficult notion as of late.

The moment I walked into my Introduction to Business Class as a timid ninth grader I knew business would be my forever passion. As I approached the end of the first semester of my freshmen year, my class was presented with a final project that undoubtedly sparked my love of entrepreneurship. The task was simple: my classmates and I had to create an original business idea that could only be described as revolutionary. As I pondered this simple yet perplexing task, my ideas for a product that was not only practical for everyday needs but demonstrated convenience in a busy world left me with a business I called Unfold. My idea was a washing machine bound with a dryer. When clothes were finished in the washing machine, they could automatically be transferred to the dryer in an easier process. I wanted my washing machine to not only save time and money but produce the utmost quality for consumers. With my newfound business, I was able to use my brand to excel in my high school business electives. Future initiatives and innovation programs will allow me to continue workshopping with other students to create inventive solutions to societal problems. As I created a product that curated the needs and expectations of customers, I gained experience in marketing, customer service, community outreach investment, and other essential skills in the business world. Unfold has helped to evolve the washing machine industry by improving the quality of daily life for others; making laundry more timely, efficient, and convenient. Unfold focuses on developing an electronic product that will make living easier for everyone. The home appliance industry is constantly growing and expanding. The home appliance industry is a significant and critical segment of the United States economy. Unfold will primarily target university students and busy families. University students have a prominent and continuously growing presence in the Pittsburgh area, making them the ideal clientele to target. Busy families, who may not have the time to do everyday tasks, are also target clientele. Unfold has an abundance of resources and courses of action to appeal to the convenience of our product/ brand to our target market. The programs I am currently researching at universities across the country help expand on these skills, which are fundamental ideas that can be used in any career domain. For my entire life, I’ve always needed a distinct answer to the questions that were presented around me. I am excited to explore projects entrepreneurial community and answer inquiries about a forever-changing business environment. Through the opportunity of university programs, I want to launch my high school business venture and lead a student start-up that takes my services of efficient laundry to a completely new level.

The moment I walked into my Introduction to Business Class as a timid ninth grader I knew business would be my forever passion. My business classes have continuously been an incredible and career-essential opportunity for me throughout my high school years. Being a woman in business has tremendously enhanced my leadership skills in a multitude of ways- most definitively in academics, making me a well-rounded leader for other students. Business has taught me the core values of how to be a visionary leader including the merits of honesty, responsibility, and performing at my highest standard. Thus, I have been an ethical leader to many students by being the utmost responsible and honest student I can be in all of my schoolwork, and by setting a robust leadership example in the classroom. An instance in which I was a leader under an Future Business Leaders of America opportunity was in the representation of my school and city, as I went to states to introduce my company. I continue to display the ethics of a business leader and in doing so, represent my school to inspire other students to do the same. The number of business opportunities which have been granted to me have inspired me to become a community-minded business leader of my own company, who cares about the consumer. Business opportunities, such as stated in my school’s business chapter in Future Business Leaders of America, have truly enhanced my knowledge of how I can be a better leader to improve my local community- and increase community outreach. With my recent endeavor of creating a business to make a product more accessible to future consumers, I have thought about how my product can be improved to help people of all ages through the device’s convenience and efficiency. Business has taught me to take on a challenge and has effectively inspired me to continue improving my business for the betterment of the public. Recently, Future Business Leaders of America have inspired me to volunteer at more community events- the last one being a neighborhood clean-up; as I believe helping out your local community and advocating for various causes sets an excellent leader example. Utilizing all possible business based-opportunities, including clubs and electives offered to me at my school, resonates with me as the next step to improve my leadership qualities- benefiting both my business and community. With superior leadership, I believe change can be made. Business has allowed me to strive to be a like minded leader, as well as pursue my dreams to obtain a career in International Business and Culture and a goal to achieve a minor in Entrepreneurship and Innovation.