How this teen entrepreneur helps others with their mental health and well being.
In the heart of Omaha, Nebraska, where cornfields meet the bustling life of a vibrant city, a young entrepreneur is making waves in more ways than one. Meet Alejandra Wells, a 16-year-old with a mission far beyond her years.
Alejandra, a Burke High freshman, is not your average teenager. In February 2023, amidst the strife of a post-pandemic world, she launched Hiya, a unique jewelry line designed to promote self-care and mental health awareness among teenagers. Her inspiration? Her own personal journey.
“I started Hiya to help teenagers who suffer from anxiety, depression, and mental health illness,” she tells us, her voice imbued with passion and resolve. “I saw a need for positive encouragement in the face of daily stress factors, especially post-pandemic. I've been there, and I wanted to create something that could help.”
Alejandra is on a journey of self-discovery. In this heartfelt You Go Girl! Magazine conversation, she opened up about her personal journey “in helping others as I navigated my own anxiety and depression with the help of counseling, mentorship, faith, and loved ones.”
Her story is one of resilience and compassion, as she turned her struggles into a powerful mission. Hiya is a lifeline for those in need of encouragement. For every bracelet sold from her beaded collection, one is gifted to a teen in need of a reminder that they are not alone.
“It’s about creating a community,” Alejandra explains. “These bracelets aren't just beads; they’re messages of hope and strength. They say, ‘I see you, and you are not alone.’”
Her commitment to mental health awareness, coupled with her innovative spirit, is making a palpable difference in the lives of her peers and her wider community.
As for Alejandra, her journey is just beginning, but her heart is set: “I want Hiya to be a household name, not for fame, but so that anyone who needs support knows they can find a friend in us.”
In a world often centered around individualism, Alejandra Wells and her brand, Hiya, shine brightly, reminding us all that compassion and business can, and should, go hand in hand.