When I was eleven years old, I decided to turn my family’s cluttered attic into my first business venture. I spent hours sorting through old items, figuring out what could be sold, and convincing my parents to let me give it a shot. A week later, I had $915 in a manila envelope under my mattress. What started as a simple solution to declutter our home sparked something much bigger in me—a love for turning challenges into opportunities. Now, as a junior at the University of Rhode Island studying Finance and Accounting, that entrepreneurial spirit has only grown stronger. I’m driven by the idea of building something that solves real problems and creates lasting change. One of the biggest challenges I’ve noticed is the lack of access to financial literacy in underserved communities. I want to address this issue by creating a financial consulting firm that helps individuals and small businesses understand budgeting, saving, and investing. This business isn’t just an idea—it’s deeply personal. Growing up with parents who are both economists, I was fortunate to learn about the power of financial knowledge. I remember sitting at the dinner table, listening to them talk about markets and strategies, and feeling a spark of curiosity. That curiosity turned into action when I made my first stock investment as a teenager, carefully choosing a company and experiencing the thrill of seeing my decision pay off. But as I grew older, I realized that not everyone has the same access to guidance and resources that I did. I want to change that. Through this firm, I envision hosting workshops, offering one-on-one coaching, and providing tools to help people take control of their finances. This isn’t just about numbers—it’s about giving people the confidence to dream bigger and create stability for their families and futures. I’ve seen how a lack of financial literacy can hold people back, and I’m passionate about breaking that cycle. My passion for entrepreneurship deepened during the COVID-19 pandemic. With schools closed and uncertainty everywhere, I launched a t-shirt business to promote vaccine awareness. I didn’t have a grand plan—just a desire to do something meaningful. What started as a small idea grew into a way to connect with my community and make a difference. It wasn’t always easy, but it taught me how to adapt, take risks, and turn creativity into impact. Being an entrepreneur isn’t just about starting businesses; it’s about seeing potential where others see problems. I’ve learned that resilience is key—setbacks are inevitable, but they’re also opportunities to learn and grow. I’ve learned that success comes from building relationships and understanding the people you serve. Most importantly, I’ve learned that you don’t need to have all the answers to get started. You just need to take the first step. This scholarship would allow me to focus on turning my vision into reality, easing financial stress so I can dedicate more time and energy to refining my skills and learning from industry leaders. I want to create a business that’s not only successful but also meaningful—a place where people find the tools and support they need to thrive. Entrepreneurship has always been about more than making money for me. It’s about solving problems, creating opportunities, and building a legacy of empowerment. With this scholarship, I’m one step closer to turning that dream into reality.

I began by sorting through the attic and selling everything my family no longer needed. A week later, $915 was tucked safely in a manila envelope under my mattress and I was one small step closer to my goal. When asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, I answered, “A doctor so I can open my practice”. Later, I answered, “A lawyer to open my law firm”. As I got older, I understood that to achieve either required many years of expensive schooling; I made it my mission to start saving. My very first attempt at business, which started in that attic, gave me such a feeling of accomplishment, I was compelled to continue. The COVID-19 pandemic, which began when I was just a sophomore, was not the easiest time for a budding entrepreneur. However, as the pandemic raged and school was no longer conducted in-person, asynchronous learning gave me the flexibility to work hours I was unable to when I was required to be in class. I saved every penny I earned as a cashier at a local supermarket and, together with the contents of the manila envelope, invested in equipment to make and sell my t-shirts. As the months rolled on, COVID dominated our lives and the news, and the world awaited the vaccines that would help us resume some sort of normalcy. When they were introduced, I realized that not only was there a general hesitance to get vaccinated but also there was much debate around which one was most effective. I noted the opportunity and printed “Vaccinated, team Moderna” and “Vaccinated, team Pfizer” t-shirts and sold them to friends, and family, at fairs, and online. The goal had become, not only to put more money in my college savings account but to also spread awareness; they were a huge hit. I had more seed money to support my next business adventure. Contrary to what was happening to so many small businesses that found it hard to keep their doors open, the pandemic seemed to have the opposite effect on the stock market. The first few weeks of the pandemic aside, the market was booming and I wanted in. With the support and guidance of my parents, I carefully chose Micron Technology as my first stock investment. The excitement when its price soared, the disappointment when it dropped and the triumph of selling at the optimal moment! So hard to express those feelings in words. I have bought and sold shares of many companies since that first day but it was that first one that made me realize that I never really wanted to be a doctor or a lawyer. The one common aspect of both was having something that was my own. “My law firm, my practice” was just my desire to have my own business. I realized then that I only ever wanted to be a businesswoman. Since that very first stock, my investments have become more calculated and I am more patient as a result of many hours of reading books written by, or written about, some of the great investors of our timesBenjamin Graham, Warren Buffet, Cathie Wood and others. I continue to invest in and learn about, the stock market and it truly fascinates me. In fact, for my senior project, I contacted a financial advisor who mentors me to help me build my professional stock portfolio. No matter how many times my career focus changed, one thing remained constant; my desire to invest in ME, my creativity, my ever-increasing knowledge, my hard work, my intuition, and my decisions.

As a business major at the University of Rhode Island, a book that had a huge impact on me and will forever remain one of my favorite books is a memoir by Phil Knight, the founder of Nike, called "Shoe Dog". If everyone in the world could just read one book, this is the book I would recommend. It teaches many important life lessons that anyone would benefit from learning. One of the most important of these is the importance of persistence. It's a story about someone who pursued their passion and did not let any obstacle get in their way. Through years of ups and downs, he stuck through it all and that is truly inspirational. This is a skill and a lesson that could help someone in many facets of their lives, not only professionally. It also shows how important it is to surround yourself with people who will help you grow as an individual and thrive in a world of uncertainty. Without the team Phil Knight put together, Nike would never be the empire it is today. If Phil Knight had not surrounded himself with people who supported him and his passion Nike would not be the success story we all know today. I have read this book at least four times and it still manages to surprise me by inspiring and motivating me every time. I will continue to re-read it as long as I live. I have made everyone in my family read this book and everyone has been moved by Phil Knight's ability to depict his life and the struggles and triumphs he has endured. I began by sorting through the attic and selling everything my family no longer needed. After reading this book my journey began. A week later, $915 was tucked safely in a manila envelope under my mattress and I was one small step closer to my goal. When asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, I answered, “A doctor so I can open my practice”. Later, I answered, “A lawyer to open my own law firm”. After reading this book, I understood that my mission in life was to combine my passion for finance and business; I made it my mission to start saving.