AI Council at Cooper

“Excellence is never an accident. It is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, and intelligent execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives.” — Aristotle

When Ms. Holloway asked me to share my story, I wondered where to begin. At The John Cooper School, my sophomore year has been anything but conventional – from sprinting up Italian staircases modeling wedding dresses at 2 AM to presenting AI strategies to faculty, all while maintaining my grades and getting at least eight hours of sleep.

My journey with AI began in 8th grade when my history teacher mentioned ChatGPT. While others saw a chatbot, I became curious and saw a revolution. What started as experimenting with study tools evolved into Cooper's AI Council, where I now support teachers in saving time and providing options to further customize the way they teach to students in their classrooms. Need personalized Spanish mnemonics in seconds? Done. Want 30 different versions of that calculus problem? Easy. During my recent faculty presentation, I demonstrated how AI can generate customized practice problems and provide instant feedback – all while maintaining academic integrity. Our council has already helped over 15 teachers save precious hours on lesson planning, giving them more time to do what they do best: teach. Of course none of this would have been possible without the John Cooper community support that taught me how to go “from curiosity to wisdom”.

Additionally, the curiosity I gained from Cooper led me to trying out a few of my own entrepreneurial interests. However, success didn't come without setbacks. My first AI venture based on creating unique AI images– a phone case business– flopped spectacularly. That failure led me to my current passion called Breakthrough Bea, where I'm now using AI to help a growing community of  Gen Z's enhance their well-being with their unique struggles and opportunities. 

This October tested my own limits as a Gen Z’er, when I walked two runway shows in Italy. Missing 17 days of school meant carefully coordinating with Cooper's faculty, especially Ms. Glenn, to stay academically on track. Between jet lag and algebra homework, I learned more about resilience than I thought was possible. And when I fractured my rib during a go-kart birthday accident before the LIFE show? My ability to perform in that show seemed over until my instructor, Ms. Betz, transformed me into Barbie, whose role was mainly based on walking rather than performing the aerial silks drops previously planned for me. At Cooper, setbacks aren't stop signs – they're opportunities to become critical and creative thinkers. 

Between performing aerial silks for Habitat for Humanity now that my rib is healed (80+ volunteer hours and counting!) and helping new students as a Cooper Buddy, I've discovered that positive impact comes in many forms. Having switched schools five times myself, I understand the power of a friendly face and welcoming gesture in a new environment. I am so grateful for having a group of friends that share the same values and humor, and I love helping new students find their own groups.

My secret to balancing it all? Laser-focused study sessions, a detailed to-do list that keeps my overthinking brain in check, good sleep habits, short planned breaks in between for anything fun, and being part of the Cooper Community. While others sacrifice sleep for grades, I've learned that success isn't about doing everything – it's about choosing well being to be able to do what truly matters in creating the future you want, and then giving it your full attention.

Looking ahead, I'm expanding Breakthrough Bea while exploring new ways to serve our community. Through failures and successes, Cooper has taught me that growth and opportunities come from embracing intellectual, emotional, social, physical, and ethical challenges, and applying critical and creative thinking, by being a responsible and lifelong learner, communicating effectively, and being true to my values. Because here, we don't just dream big – we make it happen.