Zack E Thornton '24 Recruiting Profile

I've been "majoring in business”  since childhood. In the summer after eighth grade, I launched a fashion brand—Be Happy, Stay Happy. Fashion has been an avenue for self-expression. What we wear affects how we feel, how we make others feel and how others feel about us. The creation of Be Happy, Stay Happy was entirely self-driven, not a school project. I utilized Fiverr to develop my logo, ordered product samples from various drop-shipping companies to ensure quality, and painted my logo on a homemade skate ramp. I shot promotional pictures and videos at the skatepark, launching a social media campaign to promote my brand.

My first business was “Chores By Zack,” I offered dog walking, pet sitting, landscaping, and household chores.

I focused my education on business courses, including Introduction to Business, Business and Marketing Essentials, and a college course: Social Media for Business. I've taken courses in business tools including Principles of Engineering and Technology, Three-Dimensional Design, Digital Media Arts, and Programming Logic Design. Exploring potential business ideas, I've taken courses in Fashion Design and Merchandising, Catering, Computer Animation, Plant Science, Restoration Ecology, and Global Citizenship.

For my middle school experience, I chose to attend Compass Community Collaborative School, an experiential project-based charter school that emphasizes "Design Thinking" or "Humanity-Centered Design." This innovative approach teaches students to develop creative solutions to complex problems. The school uses “venture projects” as a primary education tool, learning is driven by student curiosity. Global citizenship and emotional intelligence are as important as the STEM projects. As the school is student-led, I played a significant role in crafting a positive community culture and curriculum during its inaugural years, contributing to its current thriving status. 

I’ll be honest, I entered high school with uncertainty about how I would perform academically having no middle school assessment markers—no homework, no set curriculum, no grades, no standardized tests. However, my achievements speak for themselves. I have maintained a 3.5 GPA, taken two AP classes, and completed five college courses in high school. The innovative educational methods taught me valuable skills such as following my curiosity, thinking strategically, problem-solving creatively, and taking responsibility for my own education and life experiences.

I've been a lifelong volunteer, dedicating my time to two non-profits: U Count, an organization devoted to stopping human trafficking, and Serve 6.8, a food bank program assisting at-risk families.

In addition to lettering in Academics, I lettered in Athletics, finishing my senior tennis season as Varsity 2 Doubles. I had football dreams, but my mom, worried about potential concussions, wouldn’t allow it. Determined to prove myself as an athlete, I joined the tennis team in my sophomore year. I was the worst—and hardest working—player on the team. Unable to afford tennis camps or private coaching, I got creative. I participated in UTR and USTA tournaments. By junior year I was hired as a kids’ tennis coach, at the private tennis school I couldn’t afford. I volunteered as manager for the girls’ tennis team and practiced with their Varsity 1 player, improving both our games. I placed in regional tournaments. Tennis, like golf, which I've played since early childhood, is a game I can enjoy for life. The competition is between me and my previous best. 

My coaches describe me as a leader. Using light-hearted humor and active encouragement players, I create a great team environment. This makes everyone on the team play better. And take the losses easier. This has positively impacted the teams I've been on, the teams I've managed and the kids I've coached.

I bring a self-motivated and open-hearted approach to my endeavors and will be a valuable asset to your student body. In a world often clouded by greed and short-sighted goals, I envision a more elevated business leadership. We need business and community leaders who are conscious global citizens, possess vision, create intentionally, and act with genuine compassion. I am committed to being such a leader, motivated not just by profits but by the health and happiness of people and the well-being of the earth.

My mom has been a single mom since I was eight. We have benefited from medicaid and food stamps for most of the last ten years. I will very much need financial assistance to be able to attend college. My grades this year have been impacted by my need to work and participate in family responsibilities and finances. My sister nearly died this summer. I've needed to work more, and be available to help with her recovery, which has negatively impacted my senior year grades, and put a lot of pressure on me during the varsity tennis season. Though I did not miss a single match. I'm committed to being a successful student and My sister is recovering and returning to school. I will not need to be available for these responsibilities next year. I will be able to focus on school and a part-time job. And Tennis.
Be Happy, Stay Happy.