Haileyrain Valaya
Small Town Girl in a Big City World
🔎About Me
I'm a fourth-year student at the University of Chicago, double majoring in Business Economics and Gender & Sexuality Studies, with a minor in Inequality, Social Problems & Change.
Through the Trott Business Program (preceeded by the Trott Emerging Business Leaders), I’m gaining hands-on experience in finance, consulting, and strategy. As an Odyssey Scholar and president of the Rural Student Alliance, I advocate for students from underrepresented and rural backgrounds navigating the challenges of higher education; especially within competitive academic environments.
🪄My Interests
Gardening
Environmental Activism
Rodeo
Psychology & Sociology
Creation
Reading & Writing
Entrepreneurship
Personal Finance and Wealth Management
Learning
Making the World a Better Place
🌅Background
I’m a first-generation college student from Coulee City, an impoverished rural town of about 600 people in eastern Washington. I graduated from Almira Coulee Hartline High School while simultaneously earning my Associate’s Degree of Arts and Sciences from Big Bend Community College in Moses Lake.
Growing up in an agricultural-based community, I didn’t have much exposure to career paths beyond the local workforce. For a long time, I assumed I’d stay close to home and settle into whatever job I could find—until I realized I wanted more. I wanted to challenge myself, explore the world beyond the wheat fields and backroads, and create a life that aligned with my values and ambitions.
The shift came around my sophomore year of high school, when a guidance counselor encouraged me to dream bigger. I began joining clubs, stepping into leadership roles, and chasing new opportunities—eventually landing a summer course at the University of Chicago. That experience changed everything. It not only expanded my perspective but made UChicago my top choice. After a whirlwind of a senior year and months of anxious waiting, I got the acceptance letter I’d been dreaming of.
Now a third-year student at UChicago, I bring with me a deep sense of grit, curiosity, and empathy—traits shaped by my upbringing and sharpened by the challenges of navigating elite academic spaces. I’m passionate about social justice, environmental sustainability, and building a more equitable future through business. I believe my lived experience is not just something I’ve overcome, but something that gives me a unique edge and purpose.
🏆Highlighted Accomplishments
A few notable things about me:
Co-founded a college preparatory program with my high school guidance counselor to support rural, first-generation students exploring post-graduation pathways.
Selected to participate in the University of Chicago’s Emerging Rural Leaders pre-college program, where I studied Collegiate Writing: Awakening Into Consciousness.
Completed both the Trott Emerging Business Leaders (TEBL) program and the Trott Business Program (TBP), UChicago’s selective business development pipeline.
Interned at 5+ companies contributing to research, business development, content strategy, and consulting-focused projects.
Testified at a congressional briefing with BDT & MSD’s RootEd Alliance in support of the Success for Rural Students and Communities Act.
Twice elected President of the Rural Student Alliance at UChicago, leading campus-wide initiatives and advocacy for rural and underrepresented students.
Awarded “Best Storytelling” in the 2025 Driving Forward program for a sustainability-focused consulting project reducing Chicago’s carbon emissions.
đź’Career Goals & Dream Job
Ideally, I’d love to get paid just to live—travel, write, explore, connect. Unfortunately, that job doesn’t exist (yet), so let’s start here:
As a kid, I dreamed of being a singer (unfortunately tone-deaf) or an actress (still holding out hope). These days, my goals are a little more grounded. I plan to pursue a career in business and economics, with a focus on entrepreneurship, real estate, and long-term impact. I'm especially interested in how real estate can be used as a tool for environmental sustainability and social equity, and I hope to one day launch a few mission-driven ventures of my own.
Outside of work, I want to see as much of the world as possible, stay involved in philanthropy and advocacy, and eventually write a few books—some creative, some practical. My dream life balances ambition with meaning, creativity with strategy, and a good deal of curiosity in between.
đź’ĽQuasi-Portfolio
Here is a collection of some of the more substantive projects I have completed throughout my school years. I did my best to go back and collect the prompts, feedback, and final grades (if applicable) for each, unless otherwise noted. Not every class I have ever taken is represented, as many did not have project-based components. The drive is organized in specific chronological order, except for the high school section.