You don’t have to be an economic whiz to see the flashing red lights. The U.S. is $36 TRILLION in debt. That’s 36 followed by twelve zeroes. And no, this isn’t Monopoly money—we’re talking about real dollars, the kind that determine your future job prospects, cost of living, and ability to afford a house (you know, the one you might not ever be able to buy at this rate). Here’s the deal: The government is borrowing money at a pace that makes a shopaholic’s credit card bill look responsible....
7 days ago • 2 min read
Listen—too many of you are out here posting about your projects, hoping people will care. But they don’t. You know why? But FIRST If you are new, welcome to OCE’s weekly newsletter curated for the ambitious youth…here are some articles you missed from previous weeks: 📈 Forget Goal-Setting, Here’s What Actually Works Read More → 🎨 Best tools for building your passion project Read More → 📘 Ready for some real talk? Read More → Because your content is too safe. Too plain. Too forgettable. People...
14 days ago • 1 min read
Silicon Valley has a problem. For the past decade, Silicon Valley has been obsessed with hype cycles over actual innovation. Billions have been burned chasing the next flashy “revolution”—Big Data, Web3, Metaverse that never took off—while fundamental problems like housing, education, and infrastructure rot in the background. The formula? Pile cash into a startup, scale fast, dominate headlines, then make a quick exit before the house of cards collapses. Meanwhile, in emerging markets,...
21 days ago • 2 min read
A lot of OCE members ask me the same question: “Do I need a co-founder to start a business?” My answer? No. I know that goes against everything you’ve probably heard. They say startups are a team sport. They say no one builds alone. But let me tell you something—if you think a co-founder is going to make or break your business, you’re already betting on the wrong thing. But FIRST If you are new, welcome to OCE’s weekly newsletter curated for the ambitious youth…here are some articles you...
28 days ago • 3 min read
What I learned as a sole founder (after bootstrapping to profitability) But FIRST If you are new, welcome to OCE’s weekly newsletter curated for the ambitious youth…here are some articles you missed from previous weeks: 📈 Forget Goal-Setting, Here’s What Actually Works Read More → 🎨 Best tools for building your passion project Read More → 📘 Ready for some real talk? Read More → Get comfortable SELLING. Everything is SALES. You don’t need a cofounder, but you do need conviction. Start with as...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
The Lunar New Year is a time to celebrate heritage, honor traditions, and share joy across communities. For many Asian Americans, however, this season can also serve as a stark reminder of the struggles we face due to enduring stereotypes and racism. As the founder of Open Classroom Experience (OCE), a program dedicated to bridging cultures and fostering understanding of Asian emerging markets for American youth, this issue is deeply personal to me. But FIRST If you are new, welcome to OCE’s...
about 1 month ago • 3 min read
I talk to so many teens who are eager to build… But here’s the common problem: most of them are stuck because they’re spinning their wheels without a clear plan. They have big ideas but no structure. Tons of energy but no direction. They’re trying hard but not strategically—wasting time on things that don’t move the needle. Here’s the good news: we’re hosting a FREE live ideation session on February 1st to help ambitious teens take that first critical step toward turning their passions into...
about 2 months ago • 3 min read
Here’s the cold hard truth: The college admissions game? Overcrowded. Internships? Hypercomeptitive. Your passion? Not enough- unless you know how to turn it into impact. How to stand out? WE INNOVATE FOR GOOD. But FIRST If you are new, welcome to OCE’s weekly newsletter curated for the ambitious youth…here are some articles you missed from previous weeks: 📈 Forget Goal-Setting, Here’s What Actually Works Read More → 🎨 Best tools for building your passion project Read More → 📘 Ready for some...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
Hey Changemakers, When was the last time you were hit with an idea so big it made you rethink what’s possible? After hearing today’s story, you’ll realize how one bold vision can spark real change—even in places you’d never expect. Meet Saanika Parkhi, an alumna of OCE 2021, who’s on a mission to transform healthcare in India’s arranged marriage market. Armed with degrees in Biotechnology Business, she’s blending science and cultural insight to make genetic testing accessible for family...
2 months ago • 3 min read