When I was 2, I was diagnosed with a fine-motor skills delay. That meant it was hard for me to make small movements with my hands. As I got older, I had trouble tying my shoes and writing with a pencil. It was frustrating at times.

    I have always looked up to my big sister, Dazhai. When I was in elementary school, she loved to sew. I begged to help, but my fine-motor skills delay made it tricky. My mom and sister were worried. They thought I might hurt myself with the sewing machine’s fast needle.

    But there was one thing I could do to help my sister: cut fabric with scissors. Pretty soon, my fine-motor skills improved. Using the scissors was great practice!

    When I was 2 years old, I was diagnosed with a fine-motor skills delay. That meant I had difficulty making small movements with my fingers and hands. As I got older, I struggled with tasks like tying my shoes and writing with a pencil. It was frustrating at times.

    I’ve always looked up to my older sister, Dazhai. When I was in elementary school, she loved to sew. I begged to help—but because of my fine-motor skills delay, my mother and sister were afraid I might hurt myself with the sewing machine’s superfast needle.

    Still, there was one thing I could do to help my sister: cutting fabric with scissors. Pretty soon, thanks to the excellent practice of using the scissors, my fine-motor skills improved. 

    I didn’t want to stop with scissors, though. I still wanted to use the sewing machine. When I was 9, I was ready. I sewed a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles bow tie. I felt so proud! With practice and determination, I had conquered a big challenge.

    I made more bow ties, and I wore them. I got so many compliments. “You look so sharp, man!” “Where can I get one of those?” People were surprised when I told them I made the bow ties myself.

    By the time I was 10, I had my own little business. People in my neighborhood would pay me to make them bow ties.

    I didn’t want to stop with scissors, though. I still had my eye on that sewing machine—and when I was 9, I was finally ready. The first thing I sewed, a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles bow tie, made me feel incredibly proud! With practice and determination, I had conquered a major challenge.

    I made a few more bow ties, and I got plenty of compliments when I wore them in public. “You look so sharp, man!” “Where can I get one of those?” People were surprised when I told them I made the bow ties myself.

    By the time I was 10, I had my own little business making bow ties for people in my neighborhood. I couldn’t have imagined how my business would soon change.

    In 2017, hurricanes hit Florida and Texas. Watching the news made me sad. People were working to help those who had lost their homes. But what about all the pets that had been left behind?

    I love animals, especially dogs. I kept thinking about the pets that had been displaced. Where would they go? I soon learned the answer. Many of the animals were being sent to shelters in New York City. That was close to where I live in New Jersey!

    I had a thought: What if I made bow ties for the shelter animals? Then they could look extra cute and hopefully find new homes!

    In 2017, hurricanes hit Florida and Texas. Watching the news made me sad. I knew that people from all over were coming together to support those who had lost their homes—but who was helping all the pets that had been left behind?

    I had always loved animals, especially dogs, and I couldn’t stop thinking about the pets that had been displaced. Where would they go? I soon learned that many of the animals caught in the storm were being sent to shelters in New York City, not far from where I live in New Jersey!

    That’s when my two passions—animals and bow ties—came together. I had an exciting idea: If I made bow ties for the shelter animals, the pets could look extra cute and hopefully find new homes!

    I quickly made my business all about pets. I traveled to shelters across the country to donate my bow ties, and I sold them online too. My mission started to get a lot of attention. I was interviewed on TV. People donated fabric. I was so happy to get so much support.

    Then, in 2018, I got a letter in the mail. When I opened it, I couldn’t believe my eyes. President Barack Obama had written to me! He told me my work would inspire many people. To this day, that is my proudest moment.

    Since then, my business has grown. I’ve donated thousands of bow ties and raised more than $300,000 for animal shelters. It makes me feel good to know that I’ve helped so many pets like Amber find their forever homes.

    It’s hard to believe that this all started with a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles bow tie. I guess you never know where you’ll find your passion. 

    I made my business all about pets. I went to shelters to donate my bow ties, and I sold them online too. My mission got noticed. I was interviewed on TV. People donated fabric. I was so happy to get so much support.

    Then, in 2018, I got a letter in the mail. When I opened it, I couldn’t believe my eyes. President Barack Obama had written to me! He told me my work would inspire many people. To this day, that is my proudest moment.

    Since then, my business has grown. I’ve donated thousands of bow ties. I’ve raised more than $300,000 for animal shelters. It feels good to know that I’ve helped so many pets like Amber.

    It’s hard to believe this all started with a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles bow tie. I guess you never know where you’ll find your passion. 

    I quickly transformed my business into a pet-focused one. I traveled to shelters across the country to donate my bow ties, and I also sold them online. My mission started getting a lot of attention. I was interviewed on television, and people donated fabric. I was overjoyed to get so much support.

    Then, in 2018, I received a letter in the mail. When I opened it, I couldn’t believe my eyes. President Barack Obama had written to me, telling me that my work would inspire many people. To this day, that is my proudest moment.

    Since then, my business has expanded. I’ve donated thousands of bow ties and raised more than $300,000 for animal shelters. Knowing that I’ve helped countless pets like Amber find their forever homes brings me a lot of satisfaction.

    It’s hard to believe that this all started with a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles bow tie. I guess you never know where you’ll find your passion.