In One Year: Changing The World

Today is the FDOC (First Day Of Class) for many college students, including myself. A time I choose to reflect on the milestone a year ago I made starting fall semester as a freshman - mostly what's happened since.

Today I woke up with so much excitement for my only class of the day I got up at 8am. For an 11:45am class. And I am NOT a morning person. People ask me how I do so much. I'm taking classes, founding a startup, founding a student organization, consulting pro-bono locally in the community, interning doing social media strategy and insights analytics, being involved in the entrepreneurs village, and consulting at local startups through the e-clinic. It's because when you wake up before your alarm with EXCITEMENT and PASSION for what you're doing that day it's quite easy to keep pushing and moving forward.

In the last year I solidified my position as valedictorian. I dug into leadership in Poole through Poole Council. Secured an internship that was one of the best experiences after my freshman year. I was President of my village last year and now I'm heavily involved in my new entrepreneurs village. I am part of an amazing organization doing pro-bono consulting for small businesses in the Raleigh community and am now heading their social media strategy. And more of the stuff I had mentioned previously. Specifically launching a company.

I am not a genius. I am probably not brilliant. I work hard and I study. I put in 10x the amount of effort that is considered average and so I shine. But I never thought that would lead to launching a company. It's weird when I pitch to people and they ask things like "so what are you 19? 20?" and I laugh and confirm that yes I am in fact a 19 year old sophomore in college. But that's the thing: anyone can change the world. Anyone brave enough to challenge the status quo and work to make their own solution can. If you're not happy with what you're doing you can change careers. If you're not happy with the way something in the world works, you can change it.

I think thats what amazes me every morning. I'm supported by wonderful people in the NC State Entrepreneurship community (quick plug, they are AWESOME) and am taken seriously and I'm building a company that will revolutionize how things are done.

A lot has happened in the past year, and I can't wait to see all that happens this year.