From a very young age, around one years old, I watched my father lead one of the most recognizable convenience stores on the east coast: Wawa. When our family travels to other parts of the U.S., people love saying its name, but have no idea what the word means or what it really offers. They just love repeating the name and sharing that they have heard about "WAWA!" In Pennsylvania most residents say this word at least once a week. We can find one every five to fifteen miles! As much as I loved seeing my Dad smile when people would offer their opinions and complaints, I never really knew what my dad did...until I was 14, and COVID hit. All of a sudden, while I was taking class online at home, he was leading meetings online from his office. I began to see a side of him that I had never experienced, and would eagerly listen in as topics were discussed. I loved hearing about new products, projects that failed, adjustments in planning, and upcoming food and beverage tasting events. I learned in those months more about my Dad. He was leading all of the behind the scenes work that I never knew went on to grow a company. Something else that I began to notice as my Dad moved from zoom call to zoom call was that there weren't very many women in the rooms. A lot of the lead members were older males. One day, I asked my Dad about that. I said "Dad, where are all of the women?" It seems like you don't have many. My Dad smiled and agreed. "One day soon I can retire and you can earn my job," he said. "We need more women business leaders in the world, and I think your creative ideas would make a difference." From that point on, I made a decision that I wanted to be a future business woman. My mom hoped I would follow in her footsteps and become a teacher, lol, but I already knew that the path of business really excited me! In high school, I challenged myself by taking advanced placement classes starting in grade 10. I joined as many honor societies as I could. I had an awesome time leading the Sun Valley Cheer Field Team, as well as the Sun Valley Spring Theater program. I have always loved performing, and this was the best public speaking practice I could have ever had! My Dad encouraged my leadership and creativity every step of the way. Just this week, I have been accepted into Penn State University's University Park Main Campus as a freshman. I will be attending the Smeal College of Business as a Marketing Major! I am proud of myself and beyond excited to be a young businesswoman there and begin in Summer of 2025. I have watched my parents positively impact the world through their careers in two very different places; in the business world and at school. My hope is to not only help companies grow, but to help people grow like they do...and in particular, like my Dad said, bring more women into the business world!

From a very young age I watched my father lead one of the most recognizable convenience stores on the east coast: Wawa. When our family travels to other parts of the U.S., people love saying its name, but have no idea what the word means or what it really offers. They just love repeating the name and sharing that they have heard about "WAWA!" In Pennsylvania most residents say this word at least once a week. As much as I loved seeing my Dad smile when people would offer their opinions and complaints, I never really knew what my dad did...until I was 14, and COVID hit. For almost two years, I was studying from home. It was the most emotionally isolated I have ever felt in my life. I missed my friends, my teachers, and countless chances to interact with family and friends. I felt lonely and down. All of our school activities were cancelled. Black screens were what we had to look forward to every day, and I felt terrible for my teachers who tried to help us learn. I remember one day when it was time for online gym, and all I could do was lay in my bed and cry. It felt never ending, and every day was like ground hog's day. One day while I was taking class online at home, I overheard my Dad and realized he was leading meetings online from his office. I began to see a side of him that I had never experienced, and would eagerly listen in as topics were discussed. I loved hearing about new products, projects that failed, adjustments in planning, and upcoming food and beverage tasting events. I learned in those months more about my Dad. He was leading all of the behind the scenes work that I never knew went on to grow a company. Watching him at work began to heal me. Something else that I began to notice as my Dad moved from zoom call to zoom call was that there weren't very many women in the rooms. A lot of the lead members were older males. One day, I asked my Dad about that. I said "Dad, where are all of the women?" It seems like you don't have many. My Dad smiled and agreed. "One day soon I can retire and you can earn my job," he said. "We need more women business leaders in the world, and I think your creative ideas would make a difference." From that point on, I made a decision that I wanted to be a future business woman. My mom hoped I would follow in her footsteps and become a teacher, lol, but I already knew that the path of business really excited me! In high school, I challenged myself by taking advanced placement classes starting in grade 10. I joined as many honor societies as I could. I had an awesome time leading the Sun Valley Cheer Field Team, as well as the Sun Valley Spring Theater program. I have always loved performing, and this was the best public speaking practice I could have ever had! I have been accepted into Penn State University's University Park Main Campus as a freshman. I will be attending the Smeal College of Business as a Marketing Major!I have watched my parents positively impact the world through their careers in two very different places; in the business world and at school. My hope is to not only help companies grow, but to help people grow like they do...and in particular, bring more women into the business world!

From a very young age, around one years old, I watched my father lead one of the most recognizable convenience stores on the east coast: Wawa. When our family travels to other parts of the U.S., people love saying its name, but have no idea what the word means or what it really offers. They just love repeating the name and sharing that they have heard about "WAWA!" In Pennsylvania most residents say this word at least once a week. We can find one every five to fifteen miles! As much as I loved seeing my Dad smile when people would offer their opinions and complaints, I never really knew what my dad did...until I was 14, and COVID hit. All of a sudden, while I was taking class online at home, he was leading meetings online from his office. I began to see a side of him that I had never experienced, and would eagerly listen in as topics were discussed. I loved hearing about new products, projects that failed, adjustments in planning, and upcoming food and beverage tasting events. I learned in those months more about my Dad. He was leading all of the behind the scenes work that I never knew went on to grow a company. Something else that I began to notice as my Dad moved from zoom call to zoom call was that there weren't very many women in the rooms. A lot of the lead members were older males. One day, I asked my Dad about that. I said "Dad, where are all of the women?" It seems like you don't have many. My Dad smiled and agreed. "One day soon I can retire and you can earn my job," he said. "We need more women business leaders in the world, and I think your creative ideas would make a difference." From that point on, I made a decision that I wanted to be a future business woman. My mom hoped I would follow in her footsteps and become a teacher, lol, but I already knew that the path of business really excited me! In high school, I challenged myself by taking advanced placement classes starting in grade 10. I joined as many honor societies as I could. I had an awesome time leading the Sun Valley Cheer Field Team, as well as the Sun Valley Spring Theater program. I have always loved performing, and this was the best public speaking practice I could have ever had! Just this week, I have been accepted into Penn State University's University Park Main Campus as a freshman. I will be attending the Smeal College of Business as a Marketing Major! I am proud of myself and beyond excited to be a young businesswoman there and begin in Summer of 2025. I have watched my parents positively impact the world through their careers in two very different places; in the business world and at school. My hope is to not only help companies grow, but to help people grow like they do...and in particular, bring more women into the business world!