On a nightstand next to 19-year-old Simone Carroll’s bed, you can see an alarm clock that is timed five minutes ahead of the actual time. “I’ve had this clock since I was very young,” said Carroll. The reason behind her setting the time five minutes ahead comes from her tenacious drive to start her day with an early bang. Carroll wants to make sure she has the time to get herself in order. Simone Carroll is what you called an ambitious person; she’s not afraid to challenge herself to try somethi...

29-year-old Sergio Torres-Maciel was born and raised in the bustling Mexican town of Torreón, Coahuila. Torres-Maciel spent eight years in his hometown before crossing over to the United States in 2003, a move that would alter his life for the better.Torres-Maciel earned his high school diploma in 2013, received his undergraduate degree from California State University, Fullerton in 2022, and is currently working towards a master’s in education at the prestigious Stanford University. It hasn’t b...