OUr backstory

Locked and Stocked started with a simple goal: to make sure students like me had the same opportunities to reach their potential, no matter where they came from. Growing up in the Bronx and Westchester County, New York, I saw how access to education could completely change someone’s future, but I also saw how uneven that access was. When I was accepted to The Hotchkiss School, it opened my eyes to what was possible, but it also showed me how many talented, deserving students never get that same chance.

That realization is what inspired me to create Locked and Stocked. I wanted to build something that would help students from underrepresented backgrounds see themselves in spaces they might have once thought were out of reach. What began with me helping a few younger students with schoolwork and boarding school applications slowly turned into something much bigger, a community of mentors and learners who believe in lifting each other up.

Locked and Stocked is more than a tutoring program; it’s a bridge. It’s about connection, pairing students with mentors who share their stories, their language, their culture, and their dreams. It’s about helping students not just get into great schools, but also believe they belong there. Every day, I’m reminded of why I started this: to show that with the right support, representation, and encouragement, every student has the power to unlock their full potential.