September 4th, 2020 / Source: The Bizz USA By Haarika Kalahasti; Edited by Adya Kumar Although COVID-19 has negatively impacted many small businesses, individuals have begun to step up to promote change. Another organization that emerged during this pandemic is Heads Up Buttercup. Heads Up Buttercup is a student-led non-profit that aims to educate students about civic engagement, college readiness, adulthood, career awareness, and basic life skills that are as valuable as academics. They do this by hosting biweekly webinars with specialized professionals who talk about a specific topic. The non-profit was founded by Eunice Lee, a teenager from Irvine, California, who is passionate about writing and journaling. Eunice says that as a child, she "didn't know basic things, including pump gas". She added, "During all the long car rides to and from volleyball tournaments, my mom would talk about how high school is nothing compared to college and being an adult, and soon, I realized that the things she said were true and not just lectures. I found out the hard way I knew nothing about the real world, including how to open up a bank account, lease a car, and prepare for an interview." With all the information and inspiration from her mom, Eunice formed Heads Up Buttercup in March 2020 with her co-workers, to help high school students prepare for the future by educating them on essential life skills that schools don't teach kids. In just a few months, the incredible team has managed to gain over 200 members and has even branched out to many schools in the country! The organization has three core values connected to its primary mission to prepare students for adulthood: educate, experience, and empower. The education aspect includes webinars and workshops on topics, such as entrepreneurship, civic engagement, criminal defense, and housing and leasing. Every week, HUB hosts webinars with professionals who talk about specific topics and have also started to host workshops to provide interactive experiences for its attendees. The experience value is targeted at its community-oriented members. The volunteers can participate in monthly projects, giving back to their community and raising awareness about global issues. Some past projects include Project 100 (providing meal packages to UCI international students) and CHOC It Up (giving care packages to healthcare workers to brighten up their day). These community projects show Heads Up Buttercup's dedication to helping their community with affection. The empower aspect includes leadership and empowerment of one another to successfully take charge of the community and learn skills to thrive in life. HUB offers its members the opportunity to create a club at their high school, be part of a project committee, and be a part of the board of directors! As of now, they have branched out to over 12 schools across the country! Although the majority of its branches are based in the California region, they are open to branching out across the country, as long as members are willing to participate. Check out the leadership positions page, in which the links for the application for board members, committee, and school reps are linked! When asked how it was to start her own business, Eunice said, "it was definitely a lot of paperwork. We're also in the process of vamping a new website, and it's a lot of work. But, it did help with time management and helped us learn other important life skills." Priyanshi Singh, the HUB secretary, added on, "It was kind of scary because we weren't sure if HUB was going to be successful and effective." Her advice to young entrepreneurs and business owners is to “take the risk; you don't know how your organization or business will turn out, but just try!". Along the same lines, Priyanshi said, "Just do it. You can always make improvements and gain skills." These words of wisdom are ones that all successful entrepreneurs swear by. Starting a business may be rough at first, but it's worth it in the long run. The Heads Up Buttercup has made plans to continue the legacy that has already been established. Eunice gracefully said, "we're passing on HUB to a new board so that it can continue to be available for other high school students". The Bizz USA recommends checking it out, signing up for workshops, volunteering, and becoming a leader for Heads Up Buttercup. Although they started very recently during March of this year, they've managed to spread their influence and positivity throughout the country, and there's no doubt that they will continue to do so. Check out Heads Up Buttercup here: their instagram!
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