Why They Love Being a Student

School is way better when it’s built for how kids actually learn. I like doing things like geography in Minecraft, weird science (like animal farts), and building stuff with my hands. Sitting still all day isn’t really my thing. When learning is personalized, I get to explore things I’m curious about and even make friends in other zip codes. School should feel more like discovering things than just being stuck at a desk.

Favorite Subject & Why

My favorite subjects are the ones where I get to build, explore, or test weird ideas. I like learning geography through Minecraft, doing strange science experiments (yes, including animal farts), and figuring out how things work. It’s more fun when learning feels like discovering something new instead of just reading about it.

How $20,000 Would Support Their Goals

$20,000 would help Sam bring the kind of learning that inspires him to more students. One of his favorite experiences was exploring the solar system through a Bill Nye VR kit, and he’d love to place tools like that into more personalized pathways. As the first student behind The Talent School—which has grown to 250 students statewide in three years—he wants to keep helping families discover learning that actually fits their kids.