During the early days of the pandemic, while many high school students struggled with remote learning, Olina Fong (Ol-ee-na) discovered something that would shape her future. Scrolling through YouTube, she stumbled upon videos of small business owners transforming their passions into thriving enterprises. What started as casual viewing sparked an ambition that would lead her to accomplish something extraordinary: earning three associate degrees before graduating high school.
"I started seeing small businesses on YouTube, and I got really inspired," Olina recalls. "People were walking viewers through how they turned their passions into actual businesses—the resources they used, platforms they worked with, and how they gained a customer base. I thought that was really cool."
One entrepreneur stood out: Cassey Ho, who began as a Pilates instructor on YouTube with her Blogilates platform. When Ho couldn't find a yoga bag with enough pockets for her needs, she designed her own. That simple solution evolved into a full clothing line, eventually landing her products in Target stores. After fast fashion companies copied her designs, Ho secured patents to protect her work. This philosophy of identifying problems and creating solutions would become central to Olina's own entrepreneurial vision.
Support for Multiple Associate Degrees and Business Pursuits
At Phoenix College Preparatory Academy (PCPA), Olina found the perfect environment to pursue both her education and business aspirations simultaneously. With support from staff members like Mrs. Sophia Graves, who helped coordinate her college course schedule, and History and Economics teacher Mrs. Emily Quezada, Olina crafted a rigorous academic path. She balanced high school requirements with college-level coursework, carefully selecting classes that aligned with her goals.
"I've always created my own schedule for college classes," she explains. "It's really nice having that flexibility and looking for courses I've been interested in. This year, I'm taking a marketing class specifically about branding—how products differentiate themselves on store shelves."
Her dedication has paid off. By mid-May 2026, Olina will have earned three associate degrees—in Arts, Science, and Business—all with highest distinction. Her academic excellence earned her membership in Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honor Society, where she assumed leadership roles that would amplify her impact.
Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society
As Chief Development and Recruitment Regional Officer for PTK and President of Phoenix College’s Rho Pi Chapter, Olina identified a critical need: connecting Arizona's PTK chapters beyond their twice-yearly conferences. Drawing on her self-taught research skills—scouring YouTube and Reddit for tutorials—she created PTK's first Discord server for the Arizona region.
"We're spread out all across Arizona," she notes. "The only time our chapters come together is during regional conferences in the fall and spring. I thought, How can we connect everyone?"
Olina facilitated an invite contest to grow membership toward her goal of reaching most of the region's 1,000-plus members and created two Discord YouTube tutorials for those having trouble verifying themselves on the server. The Discord server now hosts 112 members from across Arizona's PTK community, including the organization's International Vice President, who is from Arizona."I'm always thinking about how I can create a greater impact," she says, which also led to PTK Edge professional development workshops and fellowship-building game nights while connecting over the server’s chat features.
EcoJoy Stationery
With an entrepreneurial mindset, Olina founded EcoJoy Stationery, an eco-friendly, motivational stationery company. The idea emerged from personal need—Olina relies on planners and to-do lists to organize ambitious, long-term goals without becoming overwhelmed. Her research revealed that, post-pandemic, people increasingly sought tangible, physical products as outlets for emotions and for organization.
"Being online made people resort to something more physical, going back to paper products," she explains. "Many people wanted an outlet for their emotions, and that was journaling."
Growing up surrounded by nature—her father works with native plants and can identify species by their scientific names—Olina cares about sustainability. This environmental awareness drives her commitment to using vegetable-based or soybean inks, 100% post-consumer recycled paper, and minimal biodegradable packaging, potentially incorporating seed-based materials.
"Learning about climate change and plastic pollution, seeing how easily products get thrown out," she said, "motivated me to think about how we can make everyday items more sustainable and less harmful to the environment."
Olina presented her idea at several pitch competitions, including Aspiring Youth Academy, where she won the crowd favorite award, and PC's Bear's Den Pitch competition.
Academic Team Honors
Olina's exceptional leadership and academic achievements earned her a spot on the 2025-26 All Arizona Academic Team, which includes a tuition scholarship to one of the Arizona state universities, presented annually by the Arizona Board of Regents. Olina will be attending ASU in the fall to double-major in Business Entrepreneurship and Accountancy.
Olina was honored at the 2026 All-Arizona Team Recognition Ceremony in Mesa on Wednesday, April 22—her family, PTK advisors Amy MacPherson and Genvieve Winters, and Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost of Maricopa Community Colleges Dr. Kimberly Britt, among others, all cheering her on. During the ceremony, she was also recognized as a a 2026 Coca-Cola Academic Team Scholar
With three associate degrees, multiple leadership positions, work at Phoenix Conservatory of Music, and participation in programs like PTK and Aspiring Youth Academy, Olina Fong exemplifies how passion, growth mindset, and community support can transform a student's YouTube discovery into a foundation for entrepreneurial success.
Do you have an entrepreneurial mindset like Olina? Consider surrounding yourself with the entrepreneurs who make up Phoenix College's Business program and explore the certificate and associate degree options. Eager to find solutions to global problems and serve your community? Check out Phi Theta Kappa International Honors Society.