In the corner of the playground in a secret huddle, my friends and I brainstormed a way to become rich. We invented and were the first to bring to market “stinky perfume.” I took charge and convinced classmates that this perfume would get rid of annoying siblings, teachers, and parents. Looking back now, the idea was preposterous. Yet we actually made a few sales. However, teachers shut down our operation and officially ended my first start-up. As a third-grader, I began my lifelong curiosity about economics and the business world.Warding off siblings wasn’t my only youthful look into business; I had a dozen more money-making ventures. Before the age of 16, I edited marketing videos, conducted LinkedIn marketing campaigns, and even performed Quickbooks bank reconciliations. Then at 16, I earned my first official job as an Assistant Coach at Jiu Jitsu Foundation.In high school, I adapted a service and leadership curriculum to implement in my ASB class. When school began, the ASB teacher had too much on her plate and asked me to lead these classes. Every other week, I led fellow students through the curriculum. I taught the creative leadership process, trust-building, communication, and identifying community needs. I facilitated peers to host a food drive and plan an environmental community project. It turns out; other ASB teachers also wanted a leadership curriculum. I offered my curriculum to HandsOn San Diego (a volunteer organization) so they could share it with ASB teachers across San Diego, like a franchise. HandsOn took my idea further; as a member of a global community of service organizations, they could share the curriculum with other members beyond San Diego. What started at my school was going global!When my school shut down for COVID, I combined my love of giving back with my desire for more real-life business experiences. I took on a role in a teen-led grassroots COVID-19 relief group. I managed the budget we had for making masks and face shields and soon worked my way up to become the business team leader. I led 15 peers as we worked on the budget and logistics of the entire project.My leadership experiences, entrepreneurial spirit, and fascination with the way businesses work, drive my desire and inspiration to learn all aspects of business economics in college.