by ALEXIS MARTIN and LORELEI BURKE
Storey Kuo was distraught.
After battling COVID-19 during the pandemic, it was official—she had lost hearing in her left ear. Yet Kuo, now a Chadwick sophomore, wasn’t phased by this challenge … instead, she was empowered.
With pen in hand, Kuo brought her narrative to life through her first published and illustrated children’s book, The Magical Arguing Cookies, released last April.
“I want students to recognize how they can be special in their own way,” Kuo said.
The journey to publication was not easy, but for Kuo, every moment of hard work was worth it.
“It took me six months to a year to go through the process of publishing,” she said. “I wrote the manuscripts and did the illustrations.”
The Magical Arguing Cookies (Archway Publishing) is available on major platforms such as Amazon and Walmart. But Kuo’s story doesn’t end with publication. She took her love of storytelling and shared it with children from local schools, including Chadwick’s own Villagers.
Kuo’s efforts garnered media attention in the South Bay’s Daily Breeze and from Torrance-based Local Anchor. This was just the start. By 16, Kuo spearheaded three more business ventures. Her business creating masks has generated $15,000 in sales. “It was my first business on Etsy. It was fun to learn, ship the orders and manage time.”
Another of Kuo’s businesses was launched through the Young Entrepreneurs Academy, sponsored by the Palos Verdes Peninsula Chamber of Commerce and holds evening sessions at Chadwick. Kuo worked with YEA! during the second semester of her freshman year. The organization helps motivated middle and high school students start businesses.
“Everyone picked an idea, created an invention, then created a business plan. By the end, we pitch to fake investors,” Kuo said. Kuo’s business was the KayPouch: a pouch you put on the back of your phone. “It was really interesting to learn about the fundamentals of business plans,” she said.
After being elected president of her sophomore class, Kuo knew she wanted to enact meaningful change within her grade. Kuo and sophomore vice president Tiffany Li started with a cafeteria initiative, in hopes of lowering prices of select items and bringing in new snacks. “Once we were elected, we had open, honest communication with our grade. Many people came reflected issues about the cafeteria prices,” Li said.
So far, the two have dropped food prices by 25%.
“Premium fruit cups were $6.75, now they’re around $3,” Li said. “Sushi has been reduced by $3.75, now it’s around $10.”
Kuo and Li weren’t the first students to attempt price reductions.
“Dr. Sallo actually told us people have tried to lower prices, and it was difficult,” Li said. Turns out Sallo was right.
“If we wanted to change something, there’s so much work put into it, more than people think,” Kuo said. “You can’t just snap your fingers and bring something in. There’s communication between multiple people, so it’s a collaborative effort.”
Added Li: “There are restrictions because it’s through Sage Dining, another party. If we want certain snacks, they need to be from an approved vendor. We can’t have sugary snacks.”
Kuo and Li hope to make changes to the cafeteria menu both students and faculty will embrace. They recently met with Chadwick CFO and COO Robert Horne and General Ledger Accountant Jennifer Butler.
Kuo’s entrepreneurial experiences and savvy approach made a deep impression.
“For both Jennifer and myself, it’s been a pleasure to work with Storey in crafting a better dining experience,” Horne said. “Storey’s work highlights her strength in communication, how well she can research and analyze data, and her ability to collaborate to implement changes successfully.”
Kuo and Li are now applying their collective knowledge to Chadwick’s chapter of Business Professionals of America. “We want our club members to attain some business experience through their individual competitions, where they can learn through firsthand experience,” Kuo said.
Added Horne: “We’re always excited when students want to create change. It’s important students look to change things around them.”
The Mainsheet 