Entrepreneur brings ‘can do’ approach to Carolina
A bad haircut led Andres Valdiri of Wilmington to design an app to help others avoid his fate.
他自己把头发修剪得很难看, Andres Valdiri came up with the concept for an app to ensure a good haircut. The app would use artificial intelligence to measure facial proportions and head shape to suggest the best haircut and how to scout barbers by specialty.
“我只是后悔给了那个家伙钱,” the first-year student from Wilmington remembered, 笑.
In the end, Valdiri made money from the ordeal. When he was a senior at Isaac Bear Early College High School at UNC Wilmington, 他的主意赢得了那1美元,500 first-place prize in a regional youth entrepreneurship competition.
Now Valdiri is excited about studying business and computer science at Carolina, 已经表示有兴趣了 舒福德创业项目.
“这所学校整体排名第一. 5 public school in the nation,瓦尔迪里说 of Carolina. “It was basically a no-brainer to go to UNC. It’s just a phenomenal school — not to mention the student life.”
帮助他人的动力
在高中时, Valdiri excelled at Science Olympiad and interned at UNC Wilmington as a re博彩平台 assistant. He used 3D printing to help predict ocean wave behavior during hurricanes to limit the damage from storm surge.
As president of the Science Fair Academy club, he led efforts to guide and mentor younger students in New Hanover County, creating a video series explaining the scientific method. The club also sponsored a school supply donation drive and a STEM night at UNC Wilmington.
Another school was supposed to host the STEM event but “they didn’t have enough funding, 工作人员及义工,瓦尔迪里说. “所以，我想，‘他们做不到. 我来做.所以我们在UNCW举办了. 这是惊人的.”
Valdiri’s “我来做” attitude has served him well. “My dad always told me that if you want to be a part of the top 1%, you got to do what 99% aren’t willing to do,他说.
He’s paying forward the help he got from others who aided him through his difficult early years in school. As a first-generation American born to Colombian parents, he didn’t always feel welcome.
“When I was younger, Spanish was my native language,” Valdiri recalled. “I’d totally struggle through math and science because there was no one really bilingual to help me except for my friend, 他只能做这么多. 然后我就一直被取笑.”
Nobody should have to go through that, Valdiri said. He wants to make sure there are no limitations placed on others’ ability to succeed.
今年夏天, Valdiri interned with the Bank of America Student Leader program at the Harrelson Center, 一个解决社区需求的非营利中心. 他也是金融科技焦点研究员, sharpening his computer science skills in a two-week program run by software development company Giant Machines.
在卡罗莱纳, Valdiri would like to expand his business consulting company for student-led startups to the Triangle. He also wants to join the Carolina Male Empowerment Network and clubs for pickleball or sailing.
航行, 比如计算机科学, has shown Valdiri the importance of attention to detail and being willing to dive headfirst into unfamiliarity.
“There’s no margin for self-doubt,他说.
