Tell me a little bit about yourself and your passions?
My name is Andrew Rosenstein, i’m a 15-year-old Sophomore in high school at AIM Academy. I am dyslexic and I love entrepreneurship. I think entrepreneurship is very important for us as a society because people like me find problems and use our brains to think of creative solutions that involve money.
What led you to start Opportunity Rise?
In 5th grade I was diagnosed with dyslexia and was pulled out of public school and came to AIM Academy, a school that specializes in teach kids like me. At AIM I got the proper education very quickly, and once I overcame my learning disability I found my passion for entrepreneurship. I saw that this type of education costs $20,000-40,000 annually and there has to be something that can be done. So with the help of my best friend, Sophia Gross who is also dyslexic, dysgraphic, and has dyscalculia, we launched Opportunity Rise. A clothing company that raises awareness and funds for kids with LD.
What is your vision for it with Opportunity Rise?
Opportunity Rise will be “franchising” out to other LD high schools across the country. We will be finding student that will represent us in their school and community and teach them valuable lessons for entrepreneurship.
Why do you think there is such a stigma about learning disabilities?
In America education is such a high priority, as it should be. But what many educators and parents don’t understand is that every child learns differently. With that being said I think people aren’t willing to give students with these disabilities a chance because of the struggle they will have teaching them. Many people think dyslexia is just reading backwards, quite frankly Ive never met anyone who has that problem, and i’m with dyslexic kids everyday for the past 5 years.
If you could solve a world problem what would it be?
There are many world problems. If I had the power to solve one it would by far be all education being free. This is important because every person comes from a different economic background and we shouldn’t not be able to learn if we don’t have the money.
What advice would you give the youth out there looking to blaze their own path?
Never give up. If you think something is going to not work out keep trying until you completely fail. Failure is your best friend. In addition never be afraid to ask for help, how will you ever know if you never ask?
Now at UYD, we are always looking to find out different ways people use their difference to make a difference. How do you use your difference to make a difference?
I use my dyslexia in a competitive way. It helps me work twice as hard as someone who doesn’t have dyslexia. This tools enhances me to take on any mission with the mind set of pushing through it.
Where can we find out more about you and what you’re up to?
Check out Opportunity Rise on Facebook and our TEDx Talk on Youtube.
