My name is Simone Johnson and I was part of the Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA) class of 2011. After graduating from YEA and Highlands High school, I went on to purse a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science with a minor in Religious studies at Humboldt State University. Currently, I am a full time student while also holding a part time job as a child care assistant five times a week. Additionally I have an apartment by the college and independently paying for all my finances including my school expenses. I love college life and my job is amazing so hopefully soon I’ll have enough money saved for a down payment on a car! However, I do miss my YEA members & staff greatly and I am so glad I got to have that experience. Anybody in or trying to be in government knows all too well how stressful, unpredictable, and complicated our jobs can be, but nevertheless we continue to do it every day because what we do is bigger than us. The things we have the power to accomplish means more to other people than we will ever know. There will always be something to fight for and you can never put a price on making a difference. So just as all the people connected to the YEA will continue to help change the world so will I. First by becoming the person that I knew deep down I had the potential to be and next by helping others discover that same potential in them that the YEA helped me find in myself.