Wharton

During my sophomore year, I wanted to start a small community fundraiser to support a local charity, but I had very limited resources. I had no budget, little experience organizing events, and only a short amount of time before the school term ended. Instead of seeing these limits as obstacles, I focused on what I did have: initiative, creativity, and a strong sense of purpose. I reached out to classmates directly, explained the cause, and used free digital tools to spread the word. I designed simple promotional materials myself and coordinated volunteers by breaking tasks into small, manageable roles. When challenges came uplow initial interest or scheduling conflictsI adjusted quickly, changing strategies rather than giving up. The fundraiser was modest, but it succeeded in raising both awareness and meaningful contributions. More importantly, the experience taught me that creativity often grows out of constraint. I learned that persistence is not about pushing harder in one direction, but about adapting, staying flexible, and continuing to move forward even when progress feels slow. This mindset has stayed with me and continues to shape how I approach challenges today.