Empowered to do what she loves, Lisset is living her dream.

If success is defined as doing what you love, Lisset is already living her dream.

Lisset runs her own floral business in Guayaquil, Ecuador, while using her HOPE scholarship to take sales management and accounting courses that will help her develop her company.

“I always thought the idea of receiving flowers was wonderful,” she says, “and it occurred to me that I could create that as my business.”

And so Chapados a la Antigua (“old-fashioned”) was born. Lisset’s already using what she’s learned to promote her business. She uses social media to spread the word, and she offers installment payments to make her flowers easier to afford in her low-income community. She’s also expanding her product offerings, adding chocolate-covered strawberries, snack food bouquets and breakfast items.

Her eyes show strength and determination as she talks about her future.

Despite her hectic schedule, Lisset still made time to volunteer as a tutor at her local Children International community center — where she encouraged other children to reach for their goals, too. “There are always things we can’t control, but we must persevere.”

Lisset is a shining example of how dedicated youth can take the opportunities they receive through sponsorship and forge their own path out of poverty. We can’t wait to see what Lisset does next.

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