From Adversity to Innovation: My Story
My name is Walter Cruce Saunders IV, but I go by Cruce. At 16, I've already navigated challenges that have shaped my perspective on what matters in life.
The Journey
My childhood was a study in contrasts. I grew up with material comfort, but my world shattered when my parents divorced when I was 12. What followed was a period of instability – moving between schools nearly ten times, facing threats from students and even abuse from teachers. The financial security I once knew disappeared overnight.
Through it all, my mother has been my anchor. Despite her severe heart condition requiring multiple surgeries, she's demonstrated unwavering resilience. I inherited her heart condition (a bicuspid aortic valve), but I also inherited her determination.
From fourth grade until finding Alpha School, I had no real friends. Those years of isolation taught me to be comfortable with myself – to observe, to analyze, and to build systems that work.
The Turning Point
Running saved me. During my darkest days, I discovered that physical movement could shift my mental state. When everything seemed hopeless, running gave me a sense of control and clarity that nothing else could provide.
This personal experience is why I'm creating a running app that uses haptic feedback to gamify exercise. The statistics show that most people abandon running apps within weeks – but what if we could make running as engaging as a game? What if technology could bridge the gap between knowing exercise is good for you and actually enjoying it enough to continue?
Finding Alpha School marked another critical turning point. After applying for a scholarship, I found myself in an environment that prioritizes self-direction and real-world skills. While the transition wasn't easy, I quickly developed systems to thrive in this new model of education.
The Vision
I believe we're at the beginning of an educational revolution. The traditional schooling model is outdated and will eventually be replaced by approaches that leverage technology and human connection in more meaningful ways.
My vision is twofold:
- To create technology that makes physical wellbeing accessible and enjoyable for everyone, starting with my running app
- To help amplify the message of educational innovation, particularly the Alpha School model
I've already gained valuable experience working in marketing and sales through my work with Early Media, where we helped distribute content through networks of influencers. I plan to use these skills to support causes I believe in, including the transformation of education.
The world doesn't need more passive consumers of content or products. It needs individuals who can envision better systems and then build them. That's the path I've chosen.
When I look at where I've been and where I'm going, I see a through-line of turning adversity into opportunity. Every obstacle has been a lesson. Every challenge has been preparation.
I'm just getting started.