Fredericksburg Parent

www.FredericksburgParent.NET 23 When Dr. Diana Almy graduated from dental school in 2005, she knew exactly where she was headed. "I wanted to return to my hometown and serve the community here," she says. Almy is the owner and one of the doc- tors at her all-female practice, Fredericksburg Orthodontics. For 16 years, they have provided braces and other services to align teeth and occlusions in chil- dren and adults. "I love the marriage of art and science, and also being able to work with my hands," she says. But it's her patients and making a difference that matter most. "The best part is meeting new people and helping transform their smiles." She feels especially rewarded when she can help boost her teenage patients' self-esteem or give her adult patients the smile they always wanted, while also improving their oral health. In addition to taking care of her patients and team, Almy is the mother of four children, ages 10-18, and she firmly believes having a career has helped her kids become more independent and grounded. "I hope in the future they admire the way I have been able to find a balance between motherhood and career," she says. "While it might not always be easy or perfect, it has been done with love and dedication." Almy's words to live by: "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not on thy own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6) Generation Z, aka Zoomers, are rapidly dethron- ing Millennials as the "entrepreneurial generation." According to a Gallup poll, 40 percent of students grades 5-12 want to run their own business. And 24 percent of those have already started! Not only on track to be better educated than previ- ous generations, Gen Z is also rapidly proving that they've got what it takes to convert their hobbies into businesses. If anyone embodies an entrepreneurial spirit, it is the 12-year-old, homeschooled founder of RedPandaArt, Hera Sims. Like many entrepreneurs, Sims' vision started from something she was pas- sion about – art. "I felt excited when I thought about printing my art onto sticker paper or cardstock," she says. "I also wanted to do something to help animals." Sims is donating proceeds from her sales to the ASPCA. Hera is learning what it takes to run a small busi- ness, the "niches and kinks," as she calls it. "It has taken months to figure out all the details," including advertising, with which her best friend Loreli has helped. One of the biggest challenges she faces is trying to find platforms where youths can sell their products. Most of the more-recognizable e-commerce web- sites are geared for ages 18 and up. Hera hopes to work around this obstacle and inspire other young people to forge their own paths in business. But for anyone who thinks it's going to be easy, Hera has some first-hand wisdom to share: "To start a successful business, you must have a quality product that people actually want to buy." Hera's words to live by: "There's a million things I haven't done, but you just wait." – from the musical, Hamilton DR. DR. DIANA DIANA ALMY Fredericksburg Orthodontics "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not on thy own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6) HERA SIMS RedPandaArt "Thereʼs a million things I havenʼt done, but you just wait." - from the musical, Hamilton continued on page 25

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