Don't Wait. Experience the Real World, Right Now.

Elise Malterre is a second year student at One Stone and the Managing Director of Two Birds, a student-powered creative studio that leads Design Thinking workshops for organizations and produces professional branding for local, regional, and international clientele.

By Elise Malterre

I see so many people waiting to get out of high school to get into the ‘real’ world. I don't want to waste three years of my life, just waiting to graduate. Why can't I be in the ‘real’ world right now?

I came to One Stone and Two Birds to be in that real world. At 16, I am the managing director of Two Birds, responsible for running the leadership team and overseeing all aspects of the business. I lead meetings about internal business struggles like the retention of our student staff, dealing with client relations, writing proposals, drafting invoices, and sending the incredibly awkward emails when clients don't pay us on time.

Those things, especially the awkward emails, those are real world.

Despite my uncertainty at times, Two Birds has trusted me with the responsibility to run a business and has given me the support to do so. When there are deadlines and I am spending late nights working on a design or website while juggling school full time, I am reminded of the opportunity that I have as a student at One Stone, and as a member of Two Birds. When I step back, I see the gift of this experience to gain skill and confidence that is so valuable for my future.

Eleven months ago, I walked into Two Birds for the first time without ever doing design or business before. Within the week, I had designed and presented four logos and had sat in on a client meeting, and that was just the first week! The opportunity that I got, and that Two Birds gives every student, is real.