Meet Andra Campos

We recently connected with Andra Campos and have shared our conversation below.

Andra, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.

I never expected my life to change during a simple car ride, but it did. It’s funny how life works—the best ideas are often a combination of seemingly random events that lead to profound discoveries. For me, it was about being open to taking chances, even on ideas that might have seemed far-fetched or even foolish at the time. This willingness to explore new paths allowed me to uncover a deep-seated passion: helping other students make meaningful changes in their own lives.

As I took these chances, I realized that my purpose was rooted in empowering others. I wanted to help students discover their potential and provide them with the resources to create the change they wanted to see. That car ride became a symbol of transformation for me, and I strive to create similar moments for others.

I’m deeply passionate about making the world a better place by ensuring that students have access to the resources they need. I believe it shouldn’t be about luck or stumbling upon the right opportunity—it should be about fostering passion and providing the tools to turn dreams into reality. My goal is to make these resources easily accessible, so every student has the chance to ignite their passion and make a difference, just like I did.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I run the website Project Connect Forum, which I developed during my junior year of high school. The idea actually came to me during the summer after my sophomore year. You can see that there was a gap between when I came up with the idea vs. when I executed it because I was scared (which I’ll go into later in the article about how I’m working to combat other students’ issues with this). What makes it so special to me is that through this journey, I discovered a passion I hadn’t realized was there. It felt like I unlocked a new version of myself—one that had always been inside me but needed this opportunity to emerge.

Project Connect Forum is important not only because it allows me to make a positive impact on students and the world around me but also because it has profoundly shaped who I am. Through founding this platform, I’ve grown immensely in areas like leadership, technology development, entrepreneurship, and strategic thinking.

While I’m still in the early stages, I’m proud of how far I’ve come. Everyone has to start somewhere, and I’m grateful that my journey began with this project. It’s been incredibly rewarding to help students find opportunities and make meaningful changes, and I’m excited about what the future holds for both the platform and myself.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Looking back, the three qualities that were most impactful in my journey were creativity, persistence, and resilience.
Creativity played a crucial role because it allowed me to think outside the box and come up with innovative solutions to problems. Schools often don’t encourage creativity as much as they should, but it’s essential in the real world. I hope that through Project Connect Forum, I’m fostering more creativity among students. The world needs people who are willing to take risks on seemingly crazy ideas, as those are often the ones that lead to meaningful change.

Persistence has been vital in navigating the challenges I’ve faced with my website. Every obstacle I encountered was an opportunity to learn and grow. Instead of seeing setbacks as failures, I viewed them as stepping stones. Persistence means pushing back against problems and using them as moments of growth.

Resilience was key because there were many times I felt like giving up, especially when things weren’t going as planned. But resilience taught me to keep going, to see the potential in what I was building, and to realize that I was offering something unique and valuable.

For those early in their journey, my advice is:

Embrace Your Creativity: Don’t be afraid of your ideas, no matter how unconventional they might seem. Often, what feels risky or unusual is exactly what the world needs. Trust in your creative instincts and understand that you’re more than just book smarts—you’re a problem solver with a unique perspective.

Cultivate Persistence: Learn to see challenges as opportunities rather than roadblocks. Persistence is about continuing to move forward, even when things are tough. Every problem you face is a chance to learn and improve.

Build Resilience: Understand that setbacks are part of the journey. Resilience is about pushing through those tough times, believing in your vision, and staying the course. Take risks, even when they feel scary. Once you get started, each risk becomes less daunting, and soon you’ll be looking forward to the next challenge.

Remember, the key is to take that first step. It might feel intimidating, but once you get the ball rolling, you’ll gain confidence and momentum, making it easier to tackle the next challenge.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

I’m looking to collaborate with students who are eager to make a difference but might feel hesitant or unsure about where to start. These are the individuals I want to mentor and guide—those who have the passion but just need a little encouragement to take that first step.

You don’t need to have a fully formed idea or know exactly what you want to do. What matters is your desire to create change and make an impact. I believe in the power of having someone to support and guide you through the fear and uncertainty that can come with pursuing big ideas. That’s exactly what helped me when I started, and I want to provide that same support for others.

Whether you have a project in mind or are simply looking for direction, I’d love to collaborate. Together, we can build a community of passionate changemakers, ready to tackle the challenges of the future. If you’re interested in partnering or need guidance, feel free to connect with me through @projectconnectforum or @andrwah_ on Instagram or email me at [email protected]]. Let’s make a difference together!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://andracampos.com
• Instagram: @projectconnectforum and @andrwah_
• Linkedin: Andra Campos, https://www.linkedin.com/in/andra-campos-861149258/