The Launch of Bright Future Teens

The idea for Bright Future Teens emerged from a simple observation: my younger sister was struggling to adjust to middle school after three long years of remote learning during the pandemic. 

The years of pandemic life not only means taking classes online, it also cut the tires of interpersonal connections between me and my middle schoolmates. Even the most important part of school traditions were brutally removed. My year of students did not have the week-long trip to Yosemite National Park, which would otherwise be a life-time memory of wonderful camping with friends and teachers experience. We didn’t have the graduation ceremony.

Gone as well are some tribe knowledge passed along from older classes to the younger ones.

The challenges to my sister and her friends were overwhelming. They faced uncertainty in navigating the maze of class selections, choosing extracurricular clubs, and figuring out their teachers’ personalities—all made worse by the abrupt transition from online education back to in-person learning. 

Recognizing their struggle, I knew something had to be done.

The First Step: A Helping Hand through Zoom

To help my sister and her peers, I gathered four close friends, Jianyu, Edward, Michelle, and Amy,  who had recently experienced similar transitions. Together, we organized three Zoom sessions with one straightforward goal: share tips and lessons learned for succeeding in middle school. We covered practical advice like how to balance academic and social life, how to approach teachers, and how to make the most of extracurricular opportunities.

To our surprise, the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Our sharing of the Science Olympiad experience, how to prepare for the selection test and how to study these subjects, were well received. Parents and students alike were grateful for the advice, with many expressing that it helped ease their anxieties about the upcoming school year. Encouraged by this response, we realized that the need for support extended far beyond just my sister’s small circle of friends.

An Unexpected Expansion: Growing Demand

As word spread, parents from other cities reached out, asking if we could host sessions for their children. What started as a small, local initiative quickly grew into something much larger. We began hosting Zoom sessions for students across multiple cities, discussing not only middle school survival tips but also academic subjects like chemistry, programming, and creative writing. We soon developed a summer camp program, offering workshops that allowed students to dive deep into subjects they were passionate about. We even extended our reach out to Virginia. 

As the demand grew, so did the complexity of our operation. Our Zoom calls now hosted dozens of students at a time, and we had to keep up with materials, schedules, and growing administrative tasks. To cover our rising costs—Zoom subscriptions, course materials, and compensation for guest lecturers—we started charging a modest tuition fee.

Formalizing Our Efforts: The Birth of Bright Future Teens

By this point, we had more than 200 students attending our sessions, and the success of our program made it clear that this wasn’t just a temporary endeavor. We needed to formalize our work to ensure that we could continue to grow and reach even more students. That's when we officially registered Bright Future Teens as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Our mission was simple yet powerful: to empower middle and high school students by providing them with the academic support, life skills, and resources they need to succeed. What started as a grassroots effort to help a handful of students had now blossomed into a fully-fledged educational program.

Broadening Our Impact: New Programs and Partnerships

With our nonprofit status secured, we expanded our offerings even further. We partnered with local educators and professionals to introduce new courses on leadership, financial literacy, and college preparation. Bright Future Teens became a platform not only for academic learning but also for personal growth, helping students navigate the challenges of adolescence with confidence and resilience.

We even launched a mentorship program, where high school seniors and college students volunteer to guide younger students through their academic journeys. These mentors provide personalized advice and emotional support, creating a community where students can feel empowered to pursue their passions.

Looking Ahead: Continuing Our Mission

Today, Bright Future Teens is thriving, with more than 200 students benefiting from our programs each year. We continue to offer workshops, summer camps, and mentorship programs, all while maintaining the same spirit of community and support that inspired our first Zoom sessions.

What started as a simple idea to help my sister transition into middle school has now grown into a movement, one that aims to uplift students from all backgrounds and help them realize their potential. And while we have already achieved so much, the journey is far from over. With plans to expand our programs and reach even more students, the future looks brighter than ever for Bright Future Teens.