By Sayellor Taylor

   Junior Achievement is an organization determined to support education and further prepare Arizona’s youth. Junior Achievement wants to prepare “millions of Arizona students to succeed in work and life.”

   The organization offers many programs for involving kids of all ages across the state, one being awarding 18 students who are deemed the “best and brightest Arizona has to offer” prizes and scholarships.

   Tempe Prep senior Tamsin Hurlbut was awarded this massive achievement of being one of only 18 selected to represent Arizona’s driven youth.

   Tamsin was selected largely due to her immense community involvement and volunteering. To future applicants, Tamsin suggests finding organizations available to you as well as to “find your strengths and use them to aid your communities.”

   Advocacy work through her local government, volunteering with groups for the homeless and underprivileged and doing city government work were some of the ways Tamsin showed her capability to earn this achievement.

   After applying online with five essays, Tamsin was selected for an interview in which she felt really connected to her questioner and was able to solidify her place as one of Arizona’s 18 under 18.

   She suggests that all juniors and especially seniors apply next Spring as it is a great opportunity and falls conveniently after all college applications. 

   Tamsin advises that all who are accepted for the interview process should get comfortable with any questions they suspect will be asked. Having done extensive preparation beforehand and perfecting how to showcase her accomplishments made her feel much more confident.

   Once chosen to receive this honor, she went to a public interview and got to meet her peers. She discussed her work in her community and learned about the inspiring things that others had done. 

   She then received her award including gifts from sponsors across the valley as well as an $1,800 scholarship to ensure she could further her education and betterment of herself and the community.

   Tamsin applied in her junior year and was denied. Not letting this shake her and proving she had the entrepreneurial spirit sought by Junior Achievement, she applied again in March of her senior year where she was accepted. Tamsin says it is important to “never give up,” regardless of the results the first time. As she spent the year getting better during the interview process and pitching herself in her essays, she became a clear pick for the organization. This belief, she says, applies to everything as you should never lose hope after a failure.

   With this amazing accomplishment, Tempe Prep’s Tamsin Hurlbut will surely go on to do extraordinary things.