It was freezing cold in the middle of a New York winter. I was pedaling hard on the shoulder of the highway, racing to get to the candy aisle in our local supermarket named Edwards. I was only 12 years-old, but determined to purchase as many bulk bags of candy as possible to sell in school the next day. 

This was my first company as an entrepreneur and I couldn’t have been prouder with myself. Only a few weeks earlier, while trailing my father in Costco, I noticed the bulk bags of snacks and said to myself “if I buy this whole bag, I wonder if I could sell it to my schoolmates for a profit?” I could make a few dollars while providing a service for all students. 

After a few months of providing hundreds of students with snacks-on-demand, Mr Palmore, the Principal, called my mom and shut down the bustling operation. I was heartbroken, but not defeated. I knew I’d be back one day…