From Dump to Destiny: The Story of Quinn Everhart 🚀♻️

Trigger Warning: This story includes references to poverty, struggles, and mental health issues. But don't worry, it has a happy ending. 💪

All I ever wanted was to play with my friends. I grew up in a trailer park in rural Ohio. My mom worked three jobs to keep the lights on, my dad left when I was 5 and left the family with a mountain of debt and no support. 🏚️💔

Since we couldn't afford real toys, I played with what I had on hand; plastic bottles, old containers, whatever I could find. I didn't realize at the time, but those "toys" helped shape my future. At the age of about 12, I started collecting recyclables and selling them for money. I found a documentary about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and that's when it came to me that I wanted to fix this. 🌊🗑️

But life had other plans for me. At age 16, I was diagnosed with severe anxiety and depression. Some days I couldn't even get out of bed. My grades plummeted. My so-called friends disappeared. I felt like I had turned to garbage—literally. Luckily, I found the gym. Lifting weights became my therapy. The muscle pains drowned out my mind's pain. 🏋️‍♀️💊

Fast forward to college: I studied day and night to become a bioplastics engineer. I ran on ramen noodles and slept at the library. My professors told me I would never graduate. Look who proved them wrong?! Now I design biodegradable plastics that will save the planet. 🌎✨

My journey was not pretty. But every scar, every tear, every restless night has led me to today. And if I can do this, you can too. We can make the future brighter for ourselves... together. 🔥

P.S. Still scared to fail? So am I, but I use that fear as fuel. 😉