High school is a time when many teens begin to seek employment opportunities to gain work experience and save up for college. While many students apply to stores and facilities in the surrounding area, a few individuals choose to forge their own paths. Maya Richa, 12, is a teen entrepreneur who started her own business called Maya Richa Music.

After about a year of working in the food industry, Richa decided it was time to shift her attention and pursue her passions. The purpose of Maya Richa Music is to provide voice lessons to children aged five to 16. Richa has been musically involved from a very young age, and seeks to put her experience to use in order to improve both confidence and vocals in each of her clients.

“[Music is] something I’ve always been passionate about,” Richa said. “I love helping other people [and seeing] people improve through music because I know music has the ability to change lives.”

Growing up in a very musical family has had a great impact on Richa’s love for singing today. Her father plays multiple instruments, and her older brother is currently studying music at Texas Christian University through the college’s choir as well as his role in the band as a trombone player.

“My grandpa passed down a God-given talent to my dad … and fortunately, my brother and I were blessed with that as well,” Richa said.

With inspiration from those in her family, Richa has been involved in the school choir and intent on constantly expanding her singing skills for years now.

“I was going to middle school and I had to decide on an elective and … I’ll never forget the conversation I had with my parents and my brother, especially because he joined band,” Richa said. “It was like, are you going to choose between band or choir, but my heart is just with singing; that’s my instrument.”

Her singing journey, however, began way before middle school. Though there have been many landmark musical moments throughout her life, Richa has been singing for as long as she can remember.

“[I sang] ‘Let it Go’ at my aunt’s wedding [when] I was seven years old, and it was the first time I performed in front of … five hundred or more people,” Richa said. “I think in that moment something clicked that was like, this is something I want to do.”

Since her performance at a family wedding, Richa has displayed her talents to many more audiences, whether it be relatives and peers at a school concert, Texas Music Educators Association Judges or the attendees of the Dallas Open.

“More recently, a really big, proud moment was getting to sing the national anthem for the Dallas Open,” Richa said. “It was an incredible experience unlike anything I’ve done.”

The happiness that these musical moments throughout her life have brought her, has motivated Richa to share that feeling through Maya Richa Music.

“I’m at the stage in my life where I don’t want to be competing with anybody,” Richa said. “I think beautiful music is a beautiful thing, and I just want to be able to enjoy it and enjoy it with other people.”

Teaching to children what has brought her so much joy is the perfect way to do this, yet starting any kind of business can be a very intimidating experience. To keep herself from getting overwhelmed by the challenges she faces, Richa constantly reminds herself how much it means to her.

“This is something [I’ve] had in my head, this is a vision [I] want to fulfill,” Richa said. “Getting the opportunity to do that is amazing, and I’m super excited about this business.”

Though few people start a business while still in high school, the combination of her long-standing commitment to singing, serving as the president of Emerson High School’s choir department and the knowledge she has gained from business classes means she is equipped with the necessary skills she needs to succeed.

“It’s the people I’ve met, the mentors and the experiences that I’ve had since I was a little girl that will more than qualify me to help somebody else,” Richa said.

Even after many years of singing, the magic that music brings into her everyday has never faded. To Richa, music is more than just passion; it is a way of life and self-expression.

“No matter how divided somebody is, whether that be politically, socially, or culturally, music has the ability to … bring people together at the end of the day, and I think that’s so beautiful,” Richa said.

Each new, big step Richa has taken throughout her musical journey has been daunting, but dedication and a lot of hard work has gotten her to where she is today. Richa will continue to pursue her dreams in college by majoring in business management, joining university choir and possibly even producing her own music.

“I just want everybody to know that you have the capability to do anything you put your mind to, and that’s music-related and non-music related,” Richa said. “I think that’s a very important thing to remember, and I want people to know that if they join me in this, I really hope that I can help change their lives.”