Growing up in Cypress, Texas, I learned that strong communities are built when people choose to care about others beyond themselves. One of the most meaningful ways I made an impact in my school and community was by founding Empty Streets, a youth-led nonprofit organization focused on combating human trafficking through education, awareness, and survivor support. Empty Streets began because my city, Houston, was ranked as one of the top cities for human trafficking in the nation. When I learned how severe the issue was in my own community, I was shocked that so few students around me understood the reality of trafficking or how to recognize the warning signs. I wanted to join an organization that addressed this issue, but I could not find a student-led group in my community actively educating young people or supporting survivors. Instead of waiting for someone else to create change, I decided to take initiative and create one myself. Starting Empty Streets was challenging in the beginning because I was balancing academics, work, family responsibilities, and extracurricular activities while still being a high school student. Many people underestimated what students could accomplish, and it was difficult building awareness around such a serious issue. However, those challenges motivated me to work harder and stay committed to the mission. Through Empty Streets, I organized awareness campaigns, donation drives, and outreach projects throughout my community. One of the projects I am most proud of involved assembling and distributing hygiene kits and meals for vulnerable individuals and trafficking survivors in partnership with local organizations. We also used social media to educate millions of people about trafficking prevention and warning signs, helping spread awareness far beyond our local area. This experience taught me that leadership is not about titles or recognition. Leadership means being willing to step forward and serve others even when the work is difficult or uncomfortable. I also learned that small actions can create meaningful change when people work together with compassion and consistency. Beyond the direct impact, this project changed how I view service and responsibility. I realized that communities become stronger when individuals take initiative to solve problems instead of assuming someone else will handle them. That mindset continues motivating me in school, work, and leadership opportunities. As I prepare to attend Texas A&M University as a Biomedical Sciences major, I plan to continue serving others through healthcare, mentorship, and community outreach. My goal is to continue creating positive change by combining leadership, compassion, and service to support people who feel overlooked or underserved.

Service has always been personal to me because I grew up believing that helping others is one of the most meaningful things a person can do. My faith, family values, and life experiences taught me that leadership is not about recognition or power. It is about being willing to step forward when people need help, even when it is difficult. One of the most meaningful impacts I have made through service was founding Empty Streets, a youth-led nonprofit organization dedicated to combating human trafficking through awareness, education, and survivor support. I was inspired to take action after learning that Houston is considered one of the largest human trafficking hubs in the nation. I remember feeling shocked that such a serious issue was happening in my own community while so few students around me understood the reality of it. I wanted to join an organization focused on this issue, but I could not find a student-led group actively educating young people or supporting survivors in my area. Instead of waiting for someone else to create change, I decided to take initiative and build something myself. At first, the process was extremely challenging. I was still a high school student balancing academics, work, family responsibilities, and extracurricular activities while trying to lead a nonprofit organization. Many people underestimated me because of my age, and it was difficult convincing others that students could make a real difference against such a serious issue. Building awareness also came with emotional challenges because learning about trafficking survivors and their experiences was heartbreaking. There were moments where I questioned whether I was capable of making a meaningful impact. Despite those obstacles, I continued because I realized service is not about convenience. It is about commitment. Through Empty Streets, I organized awareness campaigns, donation drives, and community outreach projects. One of the most impactful initiatives involved partnering with organizations and community leaders to provide hygiene kits, meals, and support for trafficking survivors and vulnerable individuals. Seeing people come together to help others reminded me that compassion can create real change when communities work together. Over time, Empty Streets expanded beyond what I originally imagined. We built chapters across schools and communities while educating millions of people online about trafficking prevention and awareness. However, the most meaningful moments were never about numbers or recognition. They were the personal conversations with survivors, volunteers, and students who told me that our work helped them feel seen, informed, or inspired to take action themselves. This experience completely changed my understanding of service, leadership, and faith. I learned that leadership requires humility, patience, and sacrifice. True leaders are willing to serve others quietly and consistently without expecting rewards in return. I also learned that faith is not only something you believe internally. Faith is demonstrated through action, compassion, and how you treat people who are hurting or overlooked. My Christian faith motivated me to continue serving even during difficult moments because I believe every person deserves dignity, care, and hope. Most importantly, I learned that one person can create meaningful change by simply deciding to care. Founding Empty Streets showed me that age does not limit impact and that service can inspire entire communities when it is rooted in love and genuine compassion. In the future, I plan to continue serving others through healthcare, mentorship, and community outreach as I pursue my goal of becoming a dentist. Social Media Handles: Instagram: @official_emptystreets linkedin: Seohyun Lee

Growing up, I was always curious about how the human body worked and how science could directly improve people’s lives. That curiosity eventually became a passion for STEM because I realized science is not only about discovering new information. It is about using knowledge to solve real problems and help real people. For me, STEM represents innovation, opportunity, and the ability to make a lasting impact on others. As a Korean immigrant and first-generation college student from a low-income background, I understand how valuable education truly is. My family worked hard to provide opportunities for me and my siblings, even when finances were difficult. Watching my parents sacrifice so much motivated me to take my education seriously and pursue a future where I could create stability not only for myself, but also for my family and community. STEM became the path that connected my interests, my goals, and my desire to serve others. I plan to attend Texas A&M University as a Biomedical Sciences major while preparing for dental school. My passion for STEM comes largely from healthcare because I have always been fascinated by the connection between science and patient care. Dentistry especially stood out to me because it combines biology, problem-solving, precision, and compassion. I want to become a dentist who helps people regain confidence, improve their health, and feel cared for during vulnerable moments in their lives. What excites me most about STEM is its ability to create change. Scientific advancements improve quality of life every single day, whether through medicine, research, technology, or healthcare innovation. I want to be part of that progress. I enjoy learning about biology and the human body because every new concept feels connected to something meaningful and practical. STEM challenges me to think critically, stay disciplined, and continuously improve myself. Beyond academics, I have also used leadership and service to make an impact through STEM-related goals. I founded Empty Streets, a youth-led nonprofit organization combating human trafficking. Through this work, I learned that healthcare and science are deeply connected to social issues. Many trafficking survivors suffer from untreated medical and dental conditions due to lack of access to care. This inspired me even more to pursue healthcare because I want my future career to help underserved and vulnerable communities. Financial hardship has also strengthened my motivation to succeed in STEM. I have balanced multiple jobs throughout high school while maintaining strong academics and leadership responsibilities. Working taught me discipline, resilience, and the importance of perseverance even during stressful circumstances. Although pursuing higher education in STEM can be financially challenging, I believe those challenges have made me more determined rather than discouraged. To me, STEM is more than a career path. It is a way to create opportunities, improve lives, and give back to others. I am passionate about STEM because it allows me to combine my love for science with my desire to serve people through healthcare and community impact. I hope to continue honoring the sacrifices my family made by using my education to build a future centered around compassion, innovation, and meaningful service.

Growing up in a low-income household, I learned about finances through experience rather than formal education. Financial literacy was never something heavily discussed in my home because my family was focused on making ends meet and supporting four children. As the oldest sibling, I quickly understood how important financial stability was and how much stress money could place on families when there is little guidance or preparation. Because of this, I began working while still in high school. I balanced multiple jobs while maintaining strong grades, leadership positions, and community involvement. I currently work at The Teahouse Tapioca & Tea, where I work long hours in a fast-paced environment while helping support my personal savings goals and family needs. I also work as an assistant tutor at Best In Class, helping younger students strengthen their academic skills. In addition, I have experience as a content creator and social media manager, which taught me how digital platforms can create financial opportunities when used strategically. Working at a young age completely changed my perspective on money. I learned how quickly expenses add up and how important budgeting and discipline are. There were moments when I wanted to spend impulsively like many teenagers, but I realized that financial security requires sacrifice and long-term thinking. Since then, I have focused on building responsible habits through saving, budgeting, and learning about personal finance on my own. One of the biggest lessons I learned is that financial literacy creates freedom and opportunities. Many young people are never taught how credit works, how to save effectively, or how to prepare for major expenses such as college. Without that knowledge, it becomes easy to fall into debt or make decisions that hurt future stability. Seeing this motivated me to educate myself early so I could avoid those same financial traps. I will be attending Texas A&M University as a Biomedical Sciences major while preparing for dental school. Since higher education and dental school are expensive, financial literacy will be essential in helping me achieve my goals responsibly. I plan to continue working, applying for scholarships, minimizing unnecessary debt, and learning more about investing and credit management. I have already started researching retirement accounts, high-yield savings accounts, and long-term financial planning because I understand how important it is to start early. Beyond improving my own future, I also hope to use financial education to help others. As the founder of Empty Streets, a youth-led nonprofit organization combating human trafficking, I have seen how poverty and financial instability can make people more vulnerable to exploitation. In the future, I want to mentor younger students not only academically, but also financially. I believe teaching young people how to budget, save, build credit, and think long-term can completely change the direction of their lives. Financial literacy is more than understanding money. It is about creating stability, independence, and opportunities for yourself and your community. My experiences working throughout high school taught me the value of discipline, sacrifice, and preparation. Those lessons will continue guiding me as I pursue higher education, build my future career in dentistry, and work toward creating a more secure future for both myself and the people around me.

Growing up as a Korean immigrant in Cypress, Texas, I learned early that love is not just something you say. Love is shown through sacrifice, service, and consistency. As the oldest of four children, I often helped care for my younger siblings while balancing school, work, leadership, and community service. Those experiences taught me responsibility, patience, and the importance of putting others before myself. My faith has been the foundation that guided me through every challenge and every opportunity. I will be attending Texas A&M University as a first-generation college student, majoring in Biomedical Sciences, while completing the requirements for dental school. My long-term goal is to become a dentist and serve communities that lack access to healthcare. I believe dentistry is more than treating teeth. It is about restoring confidence, relieving pain, and showing compassion to people during vulnerable moments in their lives. Through my future career, I hope to combine professional care with a genuine human connection rooted in faith and service. One of the most meaningful ways I have lived out these values is through founding Empty Streets, now one of the world’s largest youth-led nonprofits focused on combating human trafficking. I started the organization after learning that Houston is one of the largest trafficking hubs in the nation. At the time, I wanted to help but could not find a student-led organization dedicated to raising awareness and supporting survivors, so I decided to create one myself. What began as a small idea grew into an international movement with chapters across multiple countries and schools. Through Empty Streets, I have helped organize awareness campaigns, donation drives, and survivor support initiatives. Our organization has raised thousands of dollars to support survivors, including helping fund dental care for trafficking survivors through partnerships with community organizations. We have also distributed hygiene kits and meals to vulnerable individuals while educating millions of people online about prevention and awareness. Every event, every fundraiser, and every conversation reminded me that service becomes powerful when it is driven by love rather than recognition. My Christian faith is what motivates me to continue serving others even when life becomes difficult or overwhelming. The church has taught me that leadership is not about status. It is about humility, compassion, and being willing to help people who may never be able to repay you. I try to live by treating every person with dignity and kindness because I believe every individual carries value in God’s eyes. In college and beyond, I plan to continue growing Empty Streets while also serving through healthcare and mentorship. I want to volunteer in underserved communities, provide affordable dental care, and encourage young people to believe they can create change regardless of their age or background. I hope my life reflects the same principles Rev. Ethel K. Grinkley stood for: love, faith, and devotion to community. Even small acts of kindness can change someone’s life, and I want my future to be centered around making those impacts every day.