The coming of age story can lead to a beautiful destination. Datreese Thomas dived into a journey of self-discovery after experiencing growing pains during her freshman year at the University of Houston. Datreese Thomas’ season of becoming led to her first business venture, The Melanie Dolls. The student turned entrepreneur wanted to empower Black girls in their journey of becoming. “I wanted to help Black girls feel beautiful, gain courage, and just develop self-love. I do that by providing a product that helps young Black girls individually see themselves better. I truly believe the company I created is a clear reflection of the journey that I had to go through with myself,” Datreese Thomas told AfroTech. Thank you so much @its_Datreese ! Representation is everything!!! She loves it!!! @themelaniedolls pic.twitter.com/Zz0BccMuQw — Da’Yon Dunlap (@DayonDunlap) January 10, 2022

Salenah Cartier, 17, just became the University of Houston’s youngest graduate for Fall 2020, according to the University of Houston. Raised by a single mother, she now has not one, but two degrees under her belt. Because of Them We Can reports Cartier began homeschooling full-time after the sixth grade while in between public education during elementary and middle school, often being bullied by peers for being the top of her class and having high-level academic successes. Not your average preteen at the time, Cartier wanted to be anything but mediocre and enrolled in a self-paced homeschooling program that allowed her to sail through her studies with ease. At age 14, she graduated from high school and set her sights on college. “I needed a new challenge, and attending college presented the perfect academic and social growth opportunity for me,” said Salenah. A strong pillar in her life, Salenah’s mother often found it hard to make ends meet having to feed four children on her own....