You Got This! Read online

  4. It’s clear that you have a very special relationship with your parents! How do you think their interests and passions helped to shape your own?

  My parents are both entrepreneurs and artists, and this has definitely been passed down to me. They’ve especially influenced me when it comes to philanthropy and giving back.

  5. You’ve met so many inspiring role models in your journey, many of whom have gone on to become mentors and friends. Is there anyone you haven’t met yet that you’d like still like to meet?

  It’s so hard to pick just one person! It would be absolutely a dream come true to meet Oprah, George Lucas, and Steven Spielberg!

  6. Being a known public figure at such a young age can be tricky! Do you have any advice for staying grounded and true to yourself?

  It’s always important to remember the reasons you started your journey. At eight years old, my only goal was to use my creativity to give back and positively impact the world. That still remains my goal today and I’m always grounded in that goal.

  7. You mention the importance of stepping outside your comfort zone to try things, even if you end up failing. Can you think of a time when you tried something new and failed? What did you learn?

  Not everything I do goes 100 percent the way I want it to. Starting my own company caused me to step out of my comfort zone and I’ve failed plenty of times throughout the journey of starting and running Maya’s Ideas. But I learned from all my experiences and mistakes and that helped me improve as my company grew.

  8. What are some tips for becoming more environmentally responsible in your home or classroom? Are there any everyday changes that kids can make to start making a difference?

  There are easy steps everyone can take to make a difference. Things like turning off the light before you leave a room, turning off the water while you brush your teeth, and recycling make a huge impact whether you know it or not.

  9. As a fan of animation, do you have a favorite animated movie or television show? Why is it your favorite?

  Movie-wise, I love pretty much every Pixar film in existence. Watching Pixar films taught me a lot about storytelling and developing characters and worlds for animation. Currently my favorite animated television shows are Gravity Falls and Steven Universe!

  10. What are the benefits of homeschooling? How has being homeschooled allowed you to pursue your passions?

  Being homeschooled definitely allows me to have a more flexible schedule to focus on my education as well as my passions. I’ll do four hours of school work (with lunch) and then I’ll take an hour or two to focus on my company, nonprofit, animation, etc. Then for the rest of the day I’ll hang out with friends or family, read, draw, play games, and just have time to be a kid.

  11. How do you find the time be a philanthropist, activist, entrepreneur, inspirational speaker, eco-designer, illustrator, and writer, while also being a teenager? Do you have any advice for other kids who want to “do it all?”

  My parents and I always make sure I’m able to focus on my education as well as my various projects and that we don’t get overwhelmed. I think that getting a good schedule and still taking time to be grounded, have family time, and be with friends is important.

  12. What’s next for you?

  I’m currently working on my animated series The Pollinators! I’m so super excited to release this series. I’m also continuing to work hard on my nonprofit and start some new projects with it!

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Courtesy of Maya Penn

  Maya Penn is an award-winning artist, animator, writer, illustrator, philanthropist, environmental activist, filmmaker, eco-designer, entrepreneur, coder, and keynote speaker. She is the CEO of Maya’s Ideas, a company she started in 2008 when she was just eight years old. She creates eco-friendly clothing and accessories.

  She loves to use her creativity to give back. Ten to twenty percent of her profits go to local and global charities and environmental organizations. She started her own nonprofit called Maya’s Ideas 4 The Planet, where she is working on an ongoing project to give back to girls in developing countries. She also helps girls pursue their passions in technology and STEM fields.

  She has been featured in Forbes, Time, NPR, CNN, O Magazine, Essence, The View, The Steve Harvey Show, Huffington Post, The NRDC, Entrepreneur Magazine, Wired, Black Enterprise, Cosmopolitan, Ebony, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and many other publications. She’s done three TED talks. Maya’s TEDWomen talk has gone viral, with more than a million views worldwide. Maya is the youngest female to do two back-to-back official TED talks.

  MEET THE AUTHORS, WATCH VIDEOS AND MORE AT

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  authors.simonandschuster.com/Maya-S-Penn

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  North Star Way

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  Copyright © 2016 by Maya S. Penn

  All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information address the North Star Way Subsidiary Rights Department, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020.

  First North Star Way hardcover edition April 2016

  NORTH STAR WAY and colophon are trademarks of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

  All line art courtesy of Maya S. Penn

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  Interior design by Jaime Putorti

  Jacket photograph by Ernest Washington

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Names: Penn, Maya, author.

  Title: You got this! : unleash your awesomeness, find your path, and change your world / Maya Penn.

  Description: First North Star Way hardcover edition. | New York : North Star Way, [2016]

  Identifiers: LCCN 2015037980| ISBN 9781501123719 (hardcover) | ISBN 9781501117664 (ebook)

  Subjects: LCSH: Vocational guidance--Juvenile literature. | Self-realization--Juvenile literature. | Social action--Juvenile literature. | BISAC: JUVENILE NONFICTION / General. | SELF-HELP / Creativity. | BODY, MIND & SPIRIT / Inspiration & Personal Growth.

  Classification: LCC HF5381.2 .P4195 2016 | DDC 650.1--dc23

  LC record available at http://lccn.loc.gov/2015037980

  ISBN 978-1-5011-2371-9 (HC)

  ISBN 978-1-5011-1766-4 (ebook)