AIG Success Story - JA in Action

Author: Lina Bois
Work Readiness
Published: Tuesday, 28 Feb 2017

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Original Story from Junior Achievement of Dallas

Junior Achievement really had an impact on Jose L., a 4th grader at William L. Cabell Elementary School. According to his teacher, Maria Soto, Jose had talked a few times about writing computer programs when he grew up, but after learning about entrepreneurship and what it takes to run a business, Jose decided to become an entrepreneur. Jose was taking a computer coding class and he decided to use what he learned in that class to create an app. The app would help people organize and create playlists of their favorite music and he could sell it to his friends. Ms. Soto, who also taught the coding class, said that from March until the end of the year Jose worked hard designing the app, and writing and refining its code. She saw a new determination in Jose.

However, Jose developed more than an app during those last three months of school. He was developing himself and learning the soft job skills that employers look for such as a strong work ethic and problem solving. He used what JA taught him to think like an entrepreneur and fill a need he saw among his group of friends. He learned that success is a result of hard work. Hours of writing and refining computer code helped Jose develop strong work habits.

The Junior Achievement class was the beginning for Jose. When asked how he can apply what he learned from JA at home, Jose said without hesitation, "I learned I can start my own business." The lessons he learned from JA and his journey creating the app will be with him for a lifetime. From JA Jose learned that it is his education that will allow him to further his ambitions and become the entrepreneur he wants to be. From his coding class and experience building his app, Jose now has the experience and knowledge to take on even greater challenges. Now in the fifth grade, Jose is looking for his next great opportunity.