If your face swells up when you eat peanuts, you tend to be vigilant and avoid it at all costs. But, I cannot escape my trigger because I am allergic to myself. After six months of irritability, hair and weight loss, and fatigue, I thought it couldn’t get any worse. And then it did. A Thyroid Storm, a life-threatening condition where the thyroid creates an abnormal amount of hormones, had my heart racing at over 160 BPM. The endocrinologist described the symptoms as 8 cups of coffee simultaneously whirling through my 60-pound body. Blood tests revealed that I had Graves’ disease. Endless pills, weekly blood work, and daily blood pressure checks became my routine. Chronic spontaneous urticaria came next. The condition causes hives that coat your body from head to toe. Your face, arms, and feet swell to the point where you can hardly move. Medications had zero effect, and eventually, I had no choice but to remove my thyroid. While my hair began growing back and my strength returned post-surgery, I was told the hives were likely a condition I’d have to live with. To get back to my life, I needed to adapt and distract from the constant itch. As I learned to tune out my condition, I started mentally itching for something else. Like a sudden outbreak of hives, my desire to help others exploded. To endure the symptoms, I discovered a kind of healing salve: developing fundraisers. Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Thyroid Center seemed like the perfect place to start. The staff helped me heal, and I wanted to support the children at that hospital whose suffering I understood so intimately. In the sixth grade, I formed my own travel agency and created custom travel itineraries in exchange for donations. Despite my young age, I made a website, acquired clients, and ultimately donated the proceeds. Forgive me for leaning too hard into the medical metaphor, but the experience of executing that fundraiser sparked a kind of infection that I have not been able to shake. By ninth grade, I enlisted friends to organize a 5k to provide tuition for campers at my local recreation camp. Focusing on fundraisers was helping me create new ways to make a difference, but the experience was also scratching that ever-present itch! Pretty soon, I married my business and philanthropic interests. I treated each fundraiser as an entrepreneurial venture, strategizing to increase revenues and cut costs, marketing on social media, and developing pitches for local companies. So far, I’ve created over twenty-one fundraising events, raising over $18,000 for twelve nonprofits. Each new project led to the next, and as I moved along, I was bringing people with me. My little team went door to door collecting art materials for the local hospital. By the time I started an initiative to work in a restaurant where all proceeds went to the local ASPCA, that group had grown to over twenty! Influencing others inspired me to create my own TEDx event. I enlisted a team of teen leaders, spearheaded a marketing campaign, and collaborated with TEDx officials to spread the surge of community action. The experience demonstrated that philanthropy isn’t just about fundraising. It’s about creating an infectious wave in your community so that others join the push for change. So, what’s the cure when you’re allergic to yourself? Through restless nights, weekly doctors’ appointments, and painful red hives, I have never seen my condition as a limitation. Rather, my unusual circumstances led to an obsession with philanthropy, and against doctor’s orders, this is one itch I plan to keep on scratching!

If your face swells up when you eat peanuts, you tend to be vigilant and avoid it at all costs. But, I cannot escape my trigger because I am allergic to myself. After six months of irritability, hair and weight loss, and fatigue, I thought it couldn’t get any worse. And then it did. A Thyroid Storm, a life-threatening condition where the thyroid creates an abnormal amount of hormones, had my heart racing at over 160 BPM. The endocrinologist described the symptoms as 8 cups of coffee simultaneously whirling through my 60-pound body. Blood tests revealed that I had Graves’ disease. Endless pills, weekly blood work, and daily blood pressure checks became my routine. Chronic spontaneous urticaria came next. The condition causes hives that coat your body from head to toe. Your face, arms, and feet swell to the point where you can hardly move. Medications had zero effect, and eventually, I had no choice but to remove my thyroid. While my hair began growing back and my strength returned post-surgery, I was told the hives were likely a condition I’d have to live with. To get back to my life, I needed to adapt and distract from the constant itch. As I learned to tune out my condition, I started mentally itching for something else. Like a sudden outbreak of hives, my desire to help others exploded. To endure the symptoms, I discovered a kind of healing salve: developing fundraisers. Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Thyroid Center seemed like the perfect place to start. The staff helped me heal, and I wanted to support the children at that hospital whose suffering I understood so intimately. In the sixth grade, I formed my own travel agency and created custom travel itineraries in exchange for donations. Despite my young age, I made a website, acquired clients, and ultimately donated the proceeds. Forgive me for leaning too hard into the medical metaphor, but the experience of executing that fundraiser sparked a kind of infection that I have not been able to shake. By ninth grade, I enlisted friends to organize a 5k to provide tuition for campers at my local recreation camp. Focusing on fundraisers was helping me create new ways to make a difference, but the experience was also scratching that ever-present itch! Pretty soon, I married my business and philanthropic interests. I treated each fundraiser as an entrepreneurial venture, strategizing to increase revenues and cut costs, marketing on social media, and developing pitches for local companies. So far, I’ve created over twenty-one fundraising events, raising over $18,000 for twelve nonprofits. Each new project led to the next, and as I moved along, I was bringing people with me. My little team went door to door collecting art materials for the local hospital. By the time I started an initiative to work in a restaurant where all proceeds went to the local ASPCA, that group had grown to over twenty! Influencing others inspired me to create my own TEDx event. I enlisted a team of teen leaders, spearheaded a marketing campaign, and collaborated with TEDx officials to spread the surge of community action. The experience demonstrated that philanthropy isn’t just about fundraising. It’s about creating an infectious wave in your community so that others join the push for change. So, what’s the cure when you’re allergic to yourself? Through restless nights, weekly doctors’ appointments, and painful red hives, I have never seen my condition as a limitation. Rather, my unusual circumstances led to an obsession with philanthropy, and against doctor’s orders, this is one itch I plan to keep on scratching!

Feminism is a term that is frequently used in society today, but its true definition and meaning is often misunderstood. At its core, feminism is about standing up for equality and fighting for what is right, regardless of gender. It is not simply about women seeking equal rights, but rather a movement that seeks to create a more equitable future for everyone. For me, feminism is incredibly important because I believe that everyone deserves to be treated fairly and have access to the same opportunities in life. My grandmother, Ita Warshavsky, is someone who has always inspired me to fight for what I believe in. Ita was a survivor of the Holocaust, having been forced into Bergen-Belsen and then Auschwitz as a teenager. Despite losing her entire family and enduring unimaginable horrors at the hands of the Nazis, Ima remained positive, encouraging, and full of life. She moved to Israel, had two children, and finally settled in Brooklyn. Despite facing numerous challenges, she never lost her faith in the goodness of humanity and remained unbroken. Ima's strength and resilience continue to inspire me to this day, and her legacy serves as a reminder of the importance of fighting for what is right. Because of Ita's inspiring story, I was motivated to take action and create a TEDx event advocating for what I am passionate about - women's rights. TEDxManalapan was a platform dedicated to amplifying successful female voices whose lives challenge the status quo. The event featured influential women like Jane Fonda and Mary Robinson, who spoke on various topics to promote gender equality. TEDx events are a highly effective way to spread innovative ideas, and TEDxManalapan had a profound impact on viewers. Since 2019, I have created three TEDx events, each with over 1,000 attendees and 6,000 views. I led a team of 30+ speakers and board members and oversaw all aspects of the events, from planning and coordinating to marketing and operations. Attending University, I hope to continue to create a tangible impact in my community by organizing or speaking at a TEDx event. Looking ahead, I am committed to continuing my advocacy for feminism in my future career. Venture capital is a field that I am passionate about, but it is also an industry that has a serious gender disparity. Only 11% of venture capital decision-makers are women and only 16.6% of investments are directed toward women-run businesses. My goal is to combine business and social impact to make positive and sustainable investments in the venture capital industry. Eventually, I hope to start an all-female venture capital firm that invests in female-led startups that are committed to making the world a better place. By promoting feminism in the workplace, I believe that we can create a more equitable future for all individuals, and a future where all people can thrive. In conclusion, Ita's story has inspired me to take action and fight for gender equality. As a result, I have already begun my journey by organizing TEDx events that inspire female leadership and promote gender equality. However, I know that this is just the beginning, and I am committed to expanding my efforts to close the gender gap in all aspects of life. It is my hope that more people will be inspired by Ita's story and take action to create a more just and equitable world.

If your face swells up when you eat peanuts, you tend to be vigilant and avoid it at all costs. But, I cannot escape my trigger because I am allergic to myself. After six months of irritability, hair and weight loss, and fatigue, I thought it couldn’t get any worse. And then it did. A Thyroid Storm, a life-threatening condition where the thyroid creates an abnormal amount of hormones, had my heart racing at over 160 BPM. The endocrinologist described the symptoms as 8 cups of coffee simultaneously whirling through my 60-pound body. Blood tests revealed that I had Graves’ disease. Endless pills, weekly blood work, and daily blood pressure checks became my routine. Chronic spontaneous urticaria came next. The condition causes hives that coat your body from head to toe. Your face, arms, and feet swell to the point where you can hardly move. Medications had zero effect, and eventually, I had no choice but to remove my thyroid. While my hair began growing back and my strength returned post-surgery, I was told the hives were likely a condition I’d have to live with. To get back to my life, I needed to adapt and distract from the constant itch. As I learned to tune out my condition, I started mentally itching for something else. Like a sudden outbreak of hives, my desire to help others exploded. To endure the symptoms, I discovered a kind of healing salve: developing fundraisers. Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Thyroid Center seemed like the perfect place to start. The staff helped me heal, and I wanted to support the children at that hospital whose suffering I understood so intimately. In the sixth grade, I formed my own travel agency and created custom travel itineraries in exchange for donations. Despite my young age, I made a website, acquired clients, and ultimately donated the proceeds. Forgive me for leaning too hard into the medical metaphor, but the experience of executing that fundraiser sparked a kind of infection that I have not been able to shake. By ninth grade, I enlisted friends to organize a 5k to provide tuition for campers at my local recreation camp. Focusing on fundraisers was helping me create new ways to make a difference, but the experience was also scratching that ever-present itch! Pretty soon, I married my business and philanthropic interests. I treated each fundraiser as an entrepreneurial venture, strategizing to increase revenues and cut costs, marketing on social media, and developing pitches for local companies. So far, I’ve created over twenty-one fundraising events, raising over $18,000 for twelve nonprofits. Each new project led to the next, and as I moved along, I was bringing people with me. My little team went door to door collecting art materials for the local hospital. By the time I started an initiative to work in a restaurant where all proceeds went to the local ASPCA, that group had grown to over twenty! Influencing others inspired me to create my own TEDx event. I enlisted a team of teen leaders, spearheaded a marketing campaign, and collaborated with TEDx officials to spread the surge of community action. The experience demonstrated that philanthropy isn’t just about fundraising. It’s about creating an infectious wave in your community so that others join the push for change. So, what’s the cure when you’re allergic to yourself? Through restless nights, weekly doctors’ appointments, and painful red hives, I have never seen my condition as a limitation. Rather, my unusual circumstances led to an obsession with philanthropy, and against doctor’s orders, this is one itch I plan to keep on scratching!

As someone who understands the importance of emotional well-being for all children, I started advocating for this cause through financial literacy. In the US, only 17% of students are required to take financial literacy curriculum and 24% of millennials possess basic financial literacy knowledge. Financial literacy is a large factor in determining one's emotional well-being, as individuals who lack financial knowledge and skills may experience stress, anxiety, and feelings of helplessness. I attempted to combat these frightening statistics by developing a children's book, "Save, Don't Spend." The curriculum aimed to provide young readers with the tools they need to make sound financial decisions and manage their money effectively, while also incorporating lessons on emotional intelligence and mental health. By incorporating topics like stress management, coping mechanisms, and the impact of financial stress on mental health, my curriculum aimed to provide a holistic approach to financial literacy that prioritized emotional well-being. The impact of this curriculum has been significant, with over 500 students benefiting from it so far. The feedback from students and educators has been overwhelmingly positive, and I am committed to continuing to raise awareness about the importance of emotional well-being in financial education. As a gifted child myself, I understand firsthand how challenging it can be to navigate a highly pressurized academic environment. I was sent to a different elementary school and high school, where I was constantly surrounded by students who were academically gifted and highly competitive. Although I was able to thrive in this environment, I recognize that not all gifted children have the same experience. In fact, many gifted children struggle with feelings of isolation, anxiety, and depression, and may not receive the support they need to thrive. It's for this reason that I am passionate about promoting emotional well-being and creating a more supportive environment for all gifted children. In addition to my advocacy work, I am also deeply passionate about fundraising. Fundraising has been a part of my life since a young age, and I have always believed that small actions can lead to big impacts. I have organized a variety of fundraising events over the years, including a travel agency that donated a portion of its proceeds to charity, a 5k run, and five county-wide scavenger hunts. In total, I have raised over $18,000 for 12 different non-profit organizations, and I'm incredibly proud of the impact that my efforts have made. Moving forward, I hope to continue fundraising and using my platform to bring attention to the needs of gifted children. I believe that with the right support and resources, gifted children can thrive and make meaningful contributions to society. I hope to use my fundraising efforts to create more opportunities for gifted children to receive the support and resources they need to succeed. In the future, I want to pursue a career in social impact and business, with a focus on creating a positive impact on the needs of gifted children through my job. My ultimate goal is to use my skills and education to create a more equitable education system that supports the academic and emotional needs of all children, including gifted children. I am confident that my background in fundraising, financial literacy, and my personal experiences as a gifted child will enable me to create innovative solutions that address the unique challenges faced by this population. By working with mission-based startup organizations and using business as a tool for social change, I hope to create a more supportive and equitable world for all children, including gifted children.

Receiving this scholarship would be instrumental in helping me achieve my future career goals. As someone who is passionate about the intersection of business and social impact, I want to create positive change in society through business. However, pursuing a career in this field requires significant resources, both in terms of time and money. This scholarship would provide the financial support I need to further my education and pursue opportunities that will enable me to achieve my goals of promoting fundraising and financial literacy. As someone who has been passionate about fundraising since the age of 5, I have always believed that small actions can lead to big impacts. When I was younger, I started small by creating bookmarks and selling them to friends and family. However, once I was diagnosed with Graves disease, fundraising took on a new purpose for me. I became motivated to use my skills to make a positive impact in the world and raise awareness for causes that mattered to me. Since then, I have organized a variety of fundraising events, including a travel agency that donated a portion of its proceeds to charity, a 5k run, and five county-wide scavenger hunts. In total, I have raised over $18,000 for 12 different non-profit organizations, and I'm incredibly proud of the impact that my efforts have made. In addition to my fundraising efforts, I also wrote a children's book, Save, Don't Spend, advocating for financial literacy. The book aimed to help young adults learn the basics of managing money and making sound financial decisions. I also created a financial literacy curriculum accompanying the book, which I have presented to over 500 students. I hope to continue presenting this curriculum when I am at college, especially since only 17% of US students are required to learn financial literacy. With the scholarship, I can make this a reality and help more people become financially empowered. In college, I am eager to continue pursuing my passion for fundraising and combining it with my academic interests in business and social impact. Through coursework such as social entrepreneurship and financial management, as well as business clubs such as 180 Degrees Consulting, I aim to deepen my knowledge and skills in these areas, while also gaining practical experience and building my network. I intend to facilitate change by discussing the financial literacy gap through my university TEDx event and creating more opportunities for underprivileged youth to learn about personal finance. The scholarship will be instrumental in helping me achieve these goals by allowing me to focus on my studies and dedicate more time and resources to my passions. In my career, I hope to work with mission-based startup organizations to create sustainable change through innovative solutions. I believe that these organizations have the potential to drive significant positive impact, and I am excited about the possibility of contributing to their efforts. With this scholarship, I will have the opportunity to continue creating a positive, tangible impact without financial concerns. I am committed to utilizing my education and skills to make a meaningful contribution to society, and I am grateful for the support that this scholarship will provide as I pursue my goals.

The best piece of advice I received is: Save, Don't Spend. This simple advice has served as the foundation of my financial journey and has taught me the importance of budgeting and planning finances to achieve financial independence. By learning this simple tactic early, I developed a strong relationship with money and have a better understanding of what my money should go towards. In my personal experience, saving and not spending has allowed me to build a strong emergency fund and invest in my future. It's important to understand that saving does not mean never spending money, but rather living within ones means. This advice has allowed me to make conscious decisions about my financial future and work towards achieving me goals. Although the advice to save and not spend seems seemingly straightfoward, a large percentage of US citizens fail to receive proper financial literacy education. In fact, according to the National Financial Educators Council, only 17% of US students are required to take financial literacy cirriculum. For students in low-income areas, the number drops to 3.9%. That lack of financial education leads to wealth inequality and decreased socioeconomic mobility. If financial literacy is the key to equality, why is it not a compulsory component of our school’s curriculum? In 2020, I tried to combat these frightening statistics by writing and publishing a children’s book. Save, Don’t Spend, a picture book for young learners, gently guides kids into the process of budgeting and saving. In addition to being available at my local library, the book is also listed on Amazon if you want to check it out! New Jersey (my home state) is one of the few states to require financial literacy for students in grades 6-12. While a great start, the subject should be introduced earlier. That’s why I created an interactive curriculum as a companion to my book to introduce concepts like money management and financial health in elementary schools. I’ve now taught that program to over 500 students in 5 elementary schools. To reach a larger audience, I also published my lesson plan on TeachersPayTeachers and Youtube. Quantitatively, I was proud my curriculum was adopted in over ten districts. However, the qualitative feedback I received from TeachersPayTeachers indicated I was on the right track. One reviewer noted, she “loved using [the curriculum] with [her] autistic students.” I found that review especially gratifying because it highlighted the lesson’s tangible impact. Since creating the program, I realized young students often don’t have access to opportunities where they are able to choose when to save and spend their money. Because of this, I built upon my advocacy for financial literacy through a piloted program at a local elementary school. This program guides k-5 students as they develop a company, product, and marketing plan. The students must work to allocate the costs of the product and set prices. All groups had the opportunity to sell their products at a fair at the conclusion of the program, where they collectively raised approximately $4,000! One group sold over $800 for their new potpourri company! All proceeds will be donated to a mutually agreed upon charity. Gathering feedback from parents, school staff, and students, I hope to incorporate the program into more elementary schools in the future. It is my goal that the financial literacy curriculum will continue to create a positive, tangible impact by expanding throughout the United States and internationally. With proper additional resources, I intend to develop financial literacy chapters at the University level. These programs will implement my current lessons and new financial literacy education tactics in a broader demographic. Simultaneously, I hope to partner with the United States Financial Literacy Initiative’s Money Matters to create literacy programs in historically low-income areas. Overall, the advice to save and not spend may seem simple, but it is a critical component to achieving financial successes. The idea of saving and budgeting may seem daunting, especially to the 76% of millennials who do not possess basic financial literacy skills. However, learning this simple piece of advice early allows one to create strong financial habits. By raising my voice, it is my goal to change the way our culture views money utilizing the simple phrase, "Save, Don't Spend."

If your face swells up when you eat peanuts, you tend to be vigilant and avoid it at all costs. But, I cannot escape my trigger because I am allergic to myself. After six months of irritability, hair and weight loss, and fatigue, I thought it couldn’t get any worse. And then it did. A Thyroid Storm, a life-threatening condition where the thyroid creates an abnormal amount of hormones, had my heart racing at over 160 BPM. The endocrinologist described the symptoms as 8 cups of coffee simultaneously whirling through my 60-pound body. Blood tests revealed that I had Graves’ disease. Endless pills, weekly blood work, and daily blood pressure checks became my routine. Chronic spontaneous urticaria came next. The condition causes hives that coat your body from head to toe. Your face, arms, and feet swell to the point where you can hardly move. Medications had zero effect, and eventually, I had no choice but to remove my thyroid. While my hair began growing back and my strength returned post-surgery, I was told the hives were likely a condition I’d have to live with. To get back to my life, I needed to adapt and distract from the constant itch. As I learned to tune out my condition, I started mentally itching for something else. Like a sudden outbreak of hives, my desire to help others exploded. To endure the symptoms, I discovered a kind of healing salve: developing fundraisers. Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Thyroid Center seemed like the perfect place to start. The staff helped me heal, and I wanted to support the children at that hospital whose suffering I understood so intimately. In the sixth grade, I formed my own travel agency and created custom travel itineraries in exchange for donations. Despite my young age, I made a website, acquired clients, and ultimately donated the proceeds. Forgive me for leaning too hard into the medical metaphor, but the experience of executing that fundraiser sparked a kind of infection that I have not been able to shake. By ninth grade, I enlisted friends to organize a 5k to provide tuition for campers at my local recreation camp. Focusing on fundraisers was helping me create new ways to make a difference, but the experience was also scratching that ever-present itch! Pretty soon, I married my business and philanthropic interests. I treated each fundraiser as an entrepreneurial venture, strategizing to increase revenues and cut costs, marketing on social media, and developing pitches for local companies. So far, I’ve created over twenty-one fundraising events, raising over $18,000 for twelve nonprofits. Each new project led to the next, and as I moved along, I was bringing people with me. My little team went door to door collecting art materials for the local hospital. By the time I started an initiative to work in a restaurant where all proceeds went to the local ASPCA, that group had grown to over twenty! Influencing others inspired me to create my own TEDx event. I enlisted a team of teen leaders, spearheaded a marketing campaign, and collaborated with TEDx officials to spread the surge of community action. The experience demonstrated that philanthropy isn’t just about fundraising. It’s about creating an infectious wave in your community so that others join the push for change. So, what’s the cure when you’re allergic to yourself? Through restless nights, weekly doctors’ appointments, and painful red hives, I have never seen my condition as a limitation. Rather, my unusual circumstances led to an obsession with philanthropy, and against doctor’s orders, this is one itch I plan to keep on scratching!

Why does our educational system de-emphasize financial literacy? Only 17% of US students are required to take a financial literacy course prior to college. For students in low-income areas, the number drops to 3.9%. That lack of financial education leads to wealth inequality and decreased socioeconomic mobility. If financial literacy is the key to equality, why is it not a compulsory component of our school’s curriculum? In 2020, I tried to combat these frightening statistics by writing and publishing a children’s book. Save, Don’t Spend, a picture book for young learners, gently guides kids into the process of budgeting and saving. In addition to being available at my local library, the book is also listed on Amazon. New Jersey (my home state) is one of the few states to require financial literacy for students in grades 6-12. While a great start, the subject should be introduced earlier. That’s why I created an interactive curriculum as a companion to my book to introduce concepts like money management and financial health in elementary schools. I’ve now taught that program to over 500 students in 5 elementary schools. To reach a larger audience, I also published my lesson plan on TeachersPayTeachers and Youtube. Quantitatively, I was proud my curriculum was adopted in over ten districts. However, the qualitative feedback I received from TeachersPayTeachers indicated I was on the right track. One reviewer noted, she “loved using [the curriculum] with [her] autistic students.” I found that review especially gratifying because it highlighted the lesson’s tangible impact. Since creating the program, I realized young students often don’t have access to opportunities where they are able to choose when to save and spend their money. Because of this, I built upon my advocacy for financial literacy through a piloted program at a local elementary school. This program guides k-5 students as they develop a company, product, and marketing plan. The students must work to allocate the costs of the product and set prices. All groups had the opportunity to sell their products at a fair at the conclusion of the program, where they collectively raised approximately $4,000! One group sold over $800 for their new potpourri company! All proceeds will be donated to a mutually agreed upon charity. Gathering feedback from parents, school staff, and students, I hope to incorporate the program into more elementary schools. It is my goal that the financial literacy curriculum will continue to create a positive, tangible impact by expanding throughout the United States and internationally. With proper additional resources, I intend to develop financial literacy chapters at the University level. These programs will implement my current lessons and new financial literacy education tactics in a broader demographic. Simultaneously, I hope to partner with the United States Financial Literacy Initiative’s Money Matters to create literacy programs in historically low-income areas. By raising my voice, it is my goal to change the way our culture views money.

If your face swells up when you eat peanuts, you tend to be vigilant and avoid it at all costs. But, I cannot escape my trigger because I am allergic to myself. After six months of irritability, hair and weight loss, and fatigue, I thought it couldn’t get any worse. And then it did. A Thyroid Storm, a life-threatening condition where the thyroid creates an abnormal amount of hormones, had my heart racing at over 160 BPM. The endocrinologist described the symptoms as 8 cups of coffee simultaneously whirling through my 60-pound body. Blood tests revealed that I had Graves’ disease. Endless pills and weekly blood work became my routine. Chronic urticaria came next. The condition causes hives that coat your body. Your face, arms, and feet swell to the point where you can hardly move. Medications had zero effect, and, I had no choice but to remove my thyroid. While my hair began growing back and my strength returned post-surgery, I was told the hives were likely a condition I’d have to live with. To get back to my life, I needed to distract from the constant itch. As I learned to tune out my condition, I started mentally itching for something else. Like a sudden outbreak of hives, my desire to help others exploded. To endure the symptoms, I discovered a kind of healing salve: developing fundraisers. Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Thyroid Center seemed like the perfect place to start. The staff helped me heal, and I wanted to support the children at that hospital whose suffering I understood so intimately. In the sixth grade, I formed my own travel agency and created travel itineraries in exchange for donations. Despite my young age, I made a website, acquired clients, and donated the proceeds. Forgive me for leaning too hard into the medical metaphor, but the experience of executing that fundraiser sparked a kind of infection that I have not been able to shake. I enlisted friends to organize a 5k to provide tuition for campers at my local recreation camp. Focusing on fundraisers was helping me create new ways to make a difference, but the experience was also scratching that itch! Pretty soon, I married my business and philanthropic interests. I treated each fundraiser as an entrepreneurial venture, strategizing to increase revenues and cut costs, marketing on social media, and developing pitches for local companies. So far, I’ve created over twenty-one fundraising events, raising over $18,000 for twelve nonprofits. Each new project led to the next, and as I moved along, I was bringing people with me. My little team went door to door collecting art materials for the local hospital. By the time I started an initiative to work in a restaurant where all proceeds went to the local ASPCA, that group had grown to over twenty! So, what’s the cure when you’re allergic to yourself? Through restless nights, weekly doctors’ appointments, and painful red hives, I have never seen my condition as a limitation. Rather, my unusual circumstances led to an obsession with philanthropy, and against doctor’s orders, this is one itch I plan to keep on scratching!

Why does our educational system de-emphasize financial literacy? Only 17% of US students are required to take a financial literacy course prior to college. For students in low-income areas, the number drops to 3.9%. That lack of financial education leads to wealth inequality and decreased socioeconomic mobility. If financial literacy is the key to equality, why is it not a compulsory component of our school’s curriculum? In 2020, I tried to combat these frightening statistics by writing and publishing a children’s book. Save, Don’t Spend, a picture book for young learners, gently guides kids into the process of budgeting and saving. In addition to being available at my local library, the book is also listed on Amazon. New Jersey (my home state) is one of the few states to require financial literacy for students in grades 6-12. While a great start, the subject should be introduced earlier. That’s why I created an interactive curriculum as a companion to my book to introduce concepts like money management and financial health in elementary schools. I’ve now taught that program to over 500 students in 5 elementary schools. To reach a larger audience, I also published my lesson plan on TeachersPayTeachers and Youtube. Quantitatively, I was proud my curriculum was adopted in over ten districts. However, the qualitative feedback I received from TeachersPayTeachers indicated I was on the right track. One reviewer noted, she “loved using [the curriculum] with [her] autistic students.” I found that review especially gratifying because it highlighted the lesson’s tangible impact. Since creating the program, I realized young students often don’t have access to opportunities where they are able to choose when to save and spend their money. Because of this, I built upon my advocacy for financial literacy through a piloted program at a local elementary school. This program guides k-5 students as they develop a company, product, and marketing plan. The students must work to allocate the costs of the product and set prices. All groups had the opportunity to sell their products at a fair at the conclusion of the program, where they collectively raised approximately $4,000! One group sold over $800 for their new potpourri company! All proceeds will be donated to a mutually agreed upon charity. Gathering feedback from parents, school staff, and students, I hope to incorporate the program into more elementary schools. It is my goal that the financial literacy curriculum will continue to create a positive, tangible impact by expanding throughout the United States and internationally. With proper additional resources, I intend to develop financial literacy chapters at the University level. These programs will implement my current lessons and new financial literacy education tactics in a broader demographic. Simultaneously, I hope to partner with the United States Financial Literacy Initiative’s Money Matters to create literacy programs in historically low-income areas. By raising my voice, it is my goal to change the way our culture views money.

If your face swells up when you eat peanuts, you tend to be vigilant and avoid it at all costs. But, I cannot escape my trigger because I am allergic to myself. After six months of irritability, hair and weight loss, and fatigue, I thought it couldn’t get any worse. And then it did. A Thyroid Storm, a life-threatening condition where the thyroid creates an abnormal amount of hormones, had my heart racing at over 160 BPM. The endocrinologist described the symptoms as 8 cups of coffee simultaneously whirling through my 60-pound body. Blood tests revealed that I had Graves’ disease. Endless pills, weekly blood work, and daily blood pressure checks became my routine. Chronic spontaneous urticaria came next. The condition causes hives that coat your body from head to toe. Your face, arms, and feet swell to the point where you can hardly move. Medications had zero effect, and eventually, I had no choice but to remove my thyroid. While my hair began growing back and my strength returned post-surgery, I was told the hives were likely a condition I’d have to live with. To get back to my life, I needed to adapt and distract from the constant itch. As I learned to tune out my condition, I started mentally itching for something else. Like a sudden outbreak of hives, my desire to help others exploded. To endure the symptoms, I discovered a kind of healing salve: developing fundraisers. Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Thyroid Center seemed like the perfect place to start. The staff helped me heal, and I wanted to support the children at that hospital whose suffering I understood so intimately. In the sixth grade, I formed my own travel agency and created custom travel itineraries in exchange for donations. Despite my young age, I made a website, acquired clients, and ultimately donated the proceeds. Forgive me for leaning too hard into the medical metaphor, but the experience of executing that fundraiser sparked a kind of infection that I have not been able to shake. By ninth grade, I enlisted friends to organize a 5k to provide tuition for campers at my local recreation camp. Focusing on fundraisers was helping me create new ways to make a difference, but the experience was also scratching that ever-present itch! Pretty soon, I married my business and philanthropic interests. I treated each fundraiser as an entrepreneurial venture, strategizing to increase revenues and cut costs, marketing on social media, and developing pitches for local companies. So far, I’ve created over twenty-one fundraising events, raising over $18,000 for twelve nonprofits. Each new project led to the next, and as I moved along, I was bringing people with me. My little team went door to door collecting art materials for the local hospital. By the time I started an initiative to work in a restaurant where all proceeds went to the local ASPCA, that group had grown to over twenty! Influencing others inspired me to create my own TEDx event. I enlisted a team of teen leaders, spearheaded a marketing campaign, and collaborated with TEDx officials to spread the surge of community action. The experience demonstrated that philanthropy isn’t just about fundraising. It’s about creating an infectious wave in your community so that others join the push for change. So, what’s the cure when you’re allergic to yourself? Through restless nights, weekly doctors’ appointments, and painful red hives, I have never seen my condition as a limitation. Rather, my unusual circumstances led to an obsession with philanthropy, and against doctor’s orders, this is one itch I plan to keep on scratching!

If your face swells up when you eat peanuts, you tend to be vigilant and avoid it at all costs. But, I cannot escape my trigger because I am allergic to myself. After six months of irritability, hair and weight loss, and fatigue, I thought it couldn’t get any worse. And then it did. A Thyroid Storm, a life-threatening condition where the thyroid creates an abnormal amount of hormones, had my heart racing at over 160 BPM. The endocrinologist described the symptoms as 8 cups of coffee simultaneously whirling through my 60-pound body. Blood tests revealed that I had Graves’ disease. Endless pills, weekly blood work, and daily blood pressure checks became my routine. Chronic spontaneous urticaria came next. The condition causes hives that coat your body from head to toe. Your face, arms, and feet swell to the point where you can hardly move. Medications had zero effect, and eventually, I had no choice but to remove my thyroid. While my hair began growing back and my strength returned post-surgery, I was told the hives were likely a condition I’d have to live with. To get back to my life, I needed to adapt and distract from the constant itch. As I learned to tune out my condition, I started mentally itching for something else. Like a sudden outbreak of hives, my desire to help others exploded. To endure the symptoms, I discovered a kind of healing salve: developing fundraisers. Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Thyroid Center seemed like the perfect place to start. The staff helped me heal, and I wanted to support the children at that hospital whose suffering I understood so intimately. In the sixth grade, I formed my own travel agency and created custom travel itineraries in exchange for donations. Despite my young age, I made a website, acquired clients, and ultimately donated the proceeds. Forgive me for leaning too hard into the medical metaphor, but the experience of executing that fundraiser sparked a kind of infection that I have not been able to shake. By ninth grade, I enlisted friends to organize a 5k to provide tuition for campers at my local recreation camp. Focusing on fundraisers was helping me create new ways to make a difference, but the experience was also scratching that ever-present itch! Pretty soon, I married my business and philanthropic interests. I treated each fundraiser as an entrepreneurial venture, strategizing to increase revenues and cut costs, marketing on social media, and developing pitches for local companies. So far, I’ve created over twenty-one fundraising events, raising over $18,000 for twelve nonprofits. Each new project led to the next, and as I moved along, I was bringing people with me. My little team went door to door collecting art materials for the local hospital. By the time I started an initiative to work in a restaurant where all proceeds went to the local ASPCA, that group had grown to over twenty! Influencing others inspired me to create my own TEDx event. I enlisted a team of teen leaders, spearheaded a marketing campaign, and collaborated with TEDx officials to spread the surge of community action. The experience demonstrated that philanthropy isn’t just about fundraising. It’s about creating an infectious wave in your community so that others join the push for change. So, what’s the cure when you’re allergic to yourself? Through restless nights, weekly doctors’ appointments, and painful red hives, I have never seen my condition as a limitation. Rather, my unusual circumstances led to an obsession with philanthropy, and against doctor’s orders, this is one itch I plan to keep on scratching!

If your face swells up when you eat peanuts, you tend to be vigilant and avoid it at all costs. But, I cannot escape my trigger because I am allergic to myself. After six months of irritability, hair and weight loss, and fatigue, I thought it couldn’t get any worse. And then it did. A Thyroid Storm, a life-threatening condition where the thyroid creates an abnormal amount of hormones, had my heart racing at over 160 BPM. The endocrinologist described the symptoms as 8 cups of coffee simultaneously whirling through my 60-pound body. Blood tests revealed that I had Graves’ disease. Endless pills, weekly blood work, and daily blood pressure checks became my routine. Chronic spontaneous urticaria came next. The condition causes hives that coat your body from head to toe. Your face, arms, and feet swell to the point where you can hardly move. Medications had zero effect, and eventually, I had no choice but to remove my thyroid. While my hair began growing back and my strength returned post-surgery, I was told the hives were likely a condition I’d have to live with. To get back to my life, I needed to adapt and distract from the constant itch. As I learned to tune out my condition, I started mentally itching for something else. Like a sudden outbreak of hives, my desire to help others exploded. To endure the symptoms, I discovered a kind of healing salve: developing fundraisers. Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Thyroid Center seemed like the perfect place to start. The staff helped me heal, and I wanted to support the children at that hospital whose suffering I understood so intimately. In the sixth grade, I formed my own travel agency and created custom travel itineraries in exchange for donations. Despite my young age, I made a website, acquired clients, and ultimately donated the proceeds. Forgive me for leaning too hard into the medical metaphor, but the experience of executing that fundraiser sparked a kind of infection that I have not been able to shake. By ninth grade, I enlisted friends to organize a 5k to provide tuition for campers at my local recreation camp. Focusing on fundraisers was helping me create new ways to make a difference, but the experience was also scratching that ever-present itch! Pretty soon, I married my business and philanthropic interests. I treated each fundraiser as an entrepreneurial venture, strategizing to increase revenues and cut costs, marketing on social media, and developing pitches for local companies. So far, I’ve created over twenty-one fundraising events, raising over $18,000 for twelve nonprofits. Each new project led to the next, and as I moved along, I was bringing people with me. My little team went door to door collecting art materials for the local hospital. By the time I started an initiative to work in a restaurant where all proceeds went to the local ASPCA, that group had grown to over twenty! Influencing others inspired me to create my own TEDx event. I enlisted a team of teen leaders, spearheaded a marketing campaign, and collaborated with TEDx officials to spread the surge of community action. The experience demonstrated that philanthropy isn’t just about fundraising. It’s about creating an infectious wave in your community so that others join the push for change. So, what’s the cure when you’re allergic to yourself? Through restless nights, weekly doctors’ appointments, and painful red hives, I have never seen my condition as a limitation. Rather, my unusual circumstances led to an obsession with philanthropy, and against doctor’s orders, this is one itch I plan to keep on scratching!

Why does our educational system de-emphasize financial literacy? Only 17% of US students are required to take a financial literacy course prior to college. For students in low-income areas, the number drops to 3.9%. That lack of financial education leads to wealth inequality and decreased socioeconomic mobility. If financial literacy is the key to equality, why is it not a compulsory component of our school’s curriculum? In 2020, I tried to combat these frightening statistics by writing and publishing a children’s book. Save, Don’t Spend, a picture book for young learners, gently guides kids into the process of budgeting and saving. In addition to being available at my local library, the book is also listed on Amazon. New Jersey (my home state) is one of the few states to require financial literacy for students in grades 6-12. While a great start, the subject should be introduced earlier. That’s why I created an interactive curriculum as a companion to my book to introduce concepts like money management and financial health in elementary schools. I’ve now taught that program to over 500 students in 5 elementary schools. To reach a larger audience, I also published my lesson plan on TeachersPayTeachers and Youtube. Quantitatively, I was proud my curriculum was adopted in over ten districts. However, the qualitative feedback I received from TeachersPayTeachers indicated I was on the right track. One reviewer noted, she “loved using [the curriculum] with [her] autistic students.” I found that review especially gratifying because it highlighted the lesson’s tangible impact. Since creating the program, I realized young students often don’t have access to opportunities where they are able to choose when to save and spend their money. Because of this, I built upon my advocacy for financial literacy through a piloted program at a local elementary school. This program guides k-5 students as they develop a company, product, and marketing plan. The students must work to allocate the costs of the product and set prices. All groups had the opportunity to sell their products at a fair at the conclusion of the program, where they collectively raised approximately $4,000! One group sold over $800 for their new potpourri company! All proceeds will be donated to a mutually agreed upon charity. Gathering feedback from parents, school staff, and students, I hope to incorporate the program into more elementary schools. It is my goal that the financial literacy curriculum will continue to create a positive, tangible impact by expanding throughout the United States and internationally. With proper additional resources, I intend to develop financial literacy chapters at the University level. These programs will implement my current lessons and new financial literacy education tactics in a broader demographic. Simultaneously, I hope to partner with the United States Financial Literacy Initiative’s Money Matters to create literacy programs in historically low-income areas. By raising my voice, it is my goal to change the way our culture views money.

Why does our educational system de-emphasize financial literacy? Only 17% of US students are required to take a financial literacy course prior to college. For students in low-income areas, the number drops to 3.9%. That lack of financial education leads to wealth inequality and decreased socioeconomic mobility. If financial literacy is the key to equality, why is it not a compulsory component of our school’s curriculum? In 2020, I tried to combat these frightening statistics by writing and publishing a children’s book. Save, Don’t Spend, a picture book for young learners, gently guides kids into the process of budgeting and saving. In addition to being available at my local library, the book is also listed on Amazon. New Jersey (my home state) is one of the few states to require financial literacy for students in grades 6-12. While a great start, the subject should be introduced earlier. That’s why I created an interactive curriculum as a companion to my book to introduce concepts like money management and financial health in elementary schools. I’ve now taught that program to over 500 students in 5 elementary schools. To reach a larger audience, I also published my lesson plan on TeachersPayTeachers and Youtube. Quantitatively, I was proud my curriculum was adopted in over ten districts. However, the qualitative feedback I received from TeachersPayTeachers indicated I was on the right track. One reviewer noted, she “loved using [the curriculum] with [her] autistic students.” I found that review especially gratifying because it highlighted the lesson’s tangible impact. Since creating the program, I realized young students often don’t have access to opportunities where they are able to choose when to save and spend their money. Because of this, I built upon my advocacy for financial literacy through a piloted program at a local elementary school. This program guides k-5 students as they develop a company, product, and marketing plan. The students must work to allocate the costs of the product and set prices. All groups had the opportunity to sell their products at a fair at the conclusion of the program, where they collectively raised approximately $4,000! One group sold over $800 for their new potpourri company! All proceeds will be donated to a mutually agreed upon charity. Gathering feedback from parents, school staff, and students, I hope to incorporate the program into more elementary schools. It is my goal that the financial literacy curriculum will continue to create a positive, tangible impact by expanding throughout the United States and internationally. With proper additional resources, I intend to develop financial literacy chapters at the University level. These programs will implement my current lessons and new financial literacy education tactics in a broader demographic. Simultaneously, I hope to partner with the United States Financial Literacy Initiative’s Money Matters to create literacy programs in historically low-income areas. By raising my voice, I hope to change the way our culture views money.

If your face swells up when you eat peanuts, you tend to be vigilant and avoid it at all costs. But, I cannot escape my trigger because I am allergic to myself. After six months of irritability, hair and weight loss, and fatigue, I thought it couldn’t get any worse. And then it did. A Thyroid Storm, a life-threatening condition where the thyroid creates an abnormal amount of hormones, had my heart racing at over 160 BPM. The endocrinologist described the symptoms as 8 cups of coffee simultaneously whirling through my 60-pound body. Blood tests revealed that I had Graves’ disease. Endless pills, weekly blood work, and daily blood pressure checks became my routine. Chronic spontaneous urticaria came next. The condition causes hives that coat your body from head to toe. Your face, arms, and feet swell to the point where you can hardly move. Medications had zero effect, and eventually, I had no choice but to remove my thyroid. While my hair began growing back and my strength returned post-surgery, I was told the hives were likely a condition I’d have to live with. To get back to my life, I needed to adapt and distract from the constant itch. As I learned to tune out my condition, I started mentally itching for something else. Like a sudden outbreak of hives, my desire to help others exploded. To endure the symptoms, I discovered a kind of healing salve: developing fundraisers. Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Thyroid Center seemed like the perfect place to start. The staff helped me heal, and I wanted to support the children at that hospital whose suffering I understood so intimately. In the sixth grade, I formed my own travel agency and created custom travel itineraries in exchange for donations. Despite my young age, I made a website, acquired clients, and ultimately donated the proceeds. Forgive me for leaning too hard into the medical metaphor, but the experience of executing that fundraiser sparked a kind of infection that I have not been able to shake. By ninth grade, I enlisted friends to organize a 5k to provide tuition for campers at my local recreation camp. Focusing on fundraisers was helping me create new ways to make a difference, but the experience was also scratching that ever-present itch! Pretty soon, I married my business and philanthropic interests. I treated each fundraiser as an entrepreneurial venture, strategizing to increase revenues and cut costs, marketing on social media, and developing pitches for local companies. So far, I’ve created over twenty-one fundraising events, raising over $18,000 for twelve nonprofits. Each new project led to the next, and as I moved along, I was bringing people with me. My little team went door to door collecting art materials for the local hospital. By the time I started an initiative to work in a restaurant where all proceeds went to the local ASPCA, that group had grown to over twenty! Influencing others inspired me to create my own TEDx event. I enlisted a team of teen leaders, spearheaded a marketing campaign, and collaborated with TEDx officials to spread the surge of community action. The experience demonstrated that philanthropy isn’t just about fundraising. It’s about creating an infectious wave in your community so that others join the push for change. So, what’s the cure when you’re allergic to yourself? Through restless nights, weekly doctors’ appointments, and painful red hives, I have never seen my condition as a limitation. Rather, my unusual circumstances led to an obsession with philanthropy, and against doctor’s orders, this is one itch I plan to keep on scratching!

If your face swells up when you eat peanuts, you tend to be vigilant and avoid it at all costs. But, I cannot escape my trigger because I am allergic to myself. After six months of irritability, hair and weight loss, and fatigue, I thought it couldn’t get any worse. And then it did. A Thyroid Storm, a life-threatening condition where the thyroid creates an abnormal amount of hormones, had my heart racing at over 160 BPM. The endocrinologist described the symptoms as 8 cups of coffee simultaneously whirling through my 60-pound body. Blood tests revealed that I had Graves’ disease. Endless pills, weekly blood work, and daily blood pressure checks became my routine. Chronic spontaneous urticaria came next. The condition causes hives that coat your body from head to toe. Your face, arms, and feet swell to the point where you can hardly move. Medications had zero effect, and eventually, I had no choice but to remove my thyroid. While my hair began growing back and my strength returned post-surgery, I was told the hives were likely a condition I’d have to live with. To get back to my life, I needed to adapt and distract from the constant itch. As I learned to tune out my condition, I started mentally itching for something else. Like a sudden outbreak of hives, my desire to help others exploded. To endure the symptoms, I discovered a kind of healing salve: developing fundraisers. Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Thyroid Center seemed like the perfect place to start. The staff helped me heal, and I wanted to support the children at that hospital whose suffering I understood so intimately. In the sixth grade, I formed my own travel agency and created custom travel itineraries in exchange for donations. Despite my young age, I made a website, acquired clients, and ultimately donated the proceeds. Forgive me for leaning too hard into the medical metaphor, but the experience of executing that fundraiser sparked a kind of infection that I have not been able to shake. By ninth grade, I enlisted friends to organize a 5k to provide tuition for campers at my local recreation camp. Focusing on fundraisers was helping me create new ways to make a difference, but the experience was also scratching that ever-present itch! Pretty soon, I married my business and philanthropic interests. I treated each fundraiser as an entrepreneurial venture, strategizing to increase revenues and cut costs, marketing on social media, and developing pitches for local companies. So far, I’ve created over twenty-one fundraising events, raising over $18,000 for twelve nonprofits. Each new project led to the next, and as I moved along, I was bringing people with me. My little team went door to door collecting art materials for the local hospital. By the time I started an initiative to work in a restaurant where all proceeds went to the local ASPCA, that group had grown to over twenty! Influencing others inspired me to create my own TEDx event. I enlisted a team of teen leaders, spearheaded a marketing campaign, and collaborated with TEDx officials to spread the surge of community action. The experience demonstrated that philanthropy isn’t just about fundraising. It’s about creating an infectious wave in your community so that others join the push for change. So, what’s the cure when you’re allergic to yourself? Through restless nights, weekly doctors’ appointments, and painful red hives, I have never seen my condition as a limitation. Rather, my unusual circumstances led to an obsession with philanthropy, and against doctor’s orders, this is one itch I plan to keep on scratching!

If your face swells up when you eat peanuts, you tend to be vigilant and avoid it at all costs. But, I cannot escape my trigger because I am allergic to myself. After six months of irritability, hair and weight loss, and fatigue, I thought it couldn’t get any worse. And then it did. A Thyroid Storm, a life-threatening condition where the thyroid creates an abnormal amount of hormones, had my heart racing at over 160 BPM. The endocrinologist described the symptoms as 8 cups of coffee simultaneously whirling through my 60-pound body. Blood tests revealed that I had Graves’ disease. Endless pills, weekly blood work, and daily blood pressure checks became my routine. Chronic spontaneous urticaria came next. The condition causes hives that coat your body from head to toe. Your face, arms, and feet swell to the point where you can hardly move. Medications had zero effect, and eventually, I had no choice but to remove my thyroid. While my hair began growing back and my strength returned post-surgery, I was told the hives were likely a condition I’d have to live with. To get back to my life, I needed to adapt and distract from the constant itch. As I learned to tune out my condition, I started mentally itching for something else. Like a sudden outbreak of hives, my desire to help others exploded. To endure the symptoms, I discovered a kind of healing salve: developing fundraisers. Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Thyroid Center seemed like the perfect place to start. The staff helped me heal, and I wanted to support the children at that hospital whose suffering I understood so intimately. In the sixth grade, I formed my own travel agency and created custom travel itineraries in exchange for donations. Despite my young age, I made a website, acquired clients, and ultimately donated the proceeds. Forgive me for leaning too hard into the medical metaphor, but the experience of executing that fundraiser sparked a kind of infection that I have not been able to shake. By ninth grade, I enlisted friends to organize a 5k to provide tuition for campers at my local recreation camp. Focusing on fundraisers was helping me create new ways to make a difference, but the experience was also scratching that ever-present itch! Pretty soon, I married my business and philanthropic interests. I treated each fundraiser as an entrepreneurial venture, strategizing to increase revenues and cut costs, marketing on social media, and developing pitches for local companies. So far, I’ve created over twenty-one fundraising events, raising over $18,000 for twelve nonprofits. Each new project led to the next, and as I moved along, I was bringing people with me. My little team went door to door collecting art materials for the local hospital. By the time I started an initiative to work in a restaurant where all proceeds went to the local ASPCA, that group had grown to over twenty! Influencing others inspired me to create my own TEDx event. I enlisted a team of teen leaders, spearheaded a marketing campaign, and collaborated with TEDx officials to spread the surge of community action. The experience demonstrated that philanthropy isn’t just about fundraising. It’s about creating an infectious wave in your community so that others join the push for change. So, what’s the cure when you’re allergic to yourself? Through restless nights, weekly doctors’ appointments, and painful red hives, I have never seen my condition as a limitation. Rather, my unusual circumstances led to an obsession with philanthropy, and against doctor’s orders, this is one itch I plan to keep on scratching!