Tell me about yourself.

“I’m from Mexico, I’ve learned three languages (Spanish, English, and Arabic), I’m perseverant, and I’ve been living in The Woodlands for 15 years; I’m the leader for Encuentro, a community group of over 150 kids; I’m part of National Honor Society; I do SAT tutoring; and I’ve had several business-related internships, from real-estate agencies to business corporations.”

What are your plans for college and the future?

“I have been admitted to…Northeastern University, Villanova University, Penn State, CU Boulder, Texas A&M, and University of San Diego; I want to major in finance with a concentration in AI and Business. I love seeing the intertwinedness between AI and society, and I feel that it can help businesses. I’m really passionate about helping others; I think I’ve really helped my community here, and I feel like it’s time to step up the level–that’s why I’m doing college out-of-state.”

What do you do outside of school hours?

“I wrote a children’s book. The book is for any young kids that have experienced the loss of a grandparent, dog, cat, whatever. I go and read them at elementary schools and orphanages; I’m training to run my first marathon, and I’m a yoga substitute teacher; I’ve donated thousands of dollars for education to kids with special needs. I have a business named INKspired, where I turn the drawings from kids with special needs into sweaters. I ask the kids what they want everyone to know, and that’s what the name of the sweater is. For example, one person drew a pineapple, [and] wanted people to know that there are no boundaries, so that is what the sleeve of the sweater says.”

What motivates you?

“I just want to make the world a better place. And this also goes back to my major; how I love seeing how, in society, the rich and the poor interact. Which is why I want to help low income, special-needs students. I believe every culture should be seen, recognized, and valued; I just want to help everyone, just help everyone in general. No matter who they are. I care a lot about wellness and yoga. I really believe that the way to help others is to connect with your inner self…I see and recognize the light within every single person. Because in order to help others, you need to be fulfilled yourself. “

What’s something you want everyone to know?

“The greatest learning is not done within the classroom, but within nature. I moved from Mexico, I’ve had to learn 3 languages, but I persevered through it all. I do not stop until I get what I truly desire: to truly leave a footprint here in our community–especially [with] my club, my business, everything I do in NHS, like anything I can do to truly help everyone around me. But it’s truly time I can finally open my wings and fly.”

https://inkspired-theproject.printify.me/ for this interview, Samy is providing a limited-time discount