Growing up, I was fascinated with the idea of being your own boss. My father immigrated to the United States from Ireland in 1994  and started his construction company in 1998. My father worked hard to get to where he is now, owning two construction companies (Dutchess Cabinets of New York & 802 Design and Build). He has taught me everything I know about being an entrepreneur.  From building your network, being comfortable with the unknown, and most importantly learning from your mistakes  Having two supportive parents passionate about the entrepreneurial lifestyle has been very impactful on my upbringing. 

Back in 2020, while my family was quarantining in West Dover, Vermont due to COVID-19, I decided I wanted to get in touch with my creative side. Something you should know about my family is that my Uncle Charlie has Down syndrome. He is very high risk, and we had to take extreme precautions to keep him safe! My mom heard about a group of women making face masks and distributing them for free at our local town hall. When we went to pick up face masks for our family, I realized this was how I could help prevent the spread of COVID-19. My mom reached out to the group of women, and they gifted us a sewing machine. From there, my mom taught me how to sew, and I donated +200 masks to our community and even as far as Ireland. I noticed many of my friends weren't wearing masks and decided to start my own company.  By allowing people to pick out fabrics, and adding on company logos I was able to help help small businesses like my self remain open during the pandemic. I started an Instagram account and promoted my product. Through Instagram, other small businesses heard about my company and wanted to learn more about how they could get their hands on a custom face mask. 

From making masks to creating fully customizable sweatshirts, I have been able to support myself financially throughout college. I have met so many fascinating people throughout this journey through social media. I understand the positive impact Instagram can have on women's small-owned businesses.