Be Creative, Self-Aware, and Successful

You only have right now.

Ambition Crush is a women-led 501(c)(3) organization helping kids and teens develop emotional intelligence, greater confidence, and creative and critical thinking skills through writing, photography, and publishing.

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BECOME A DONOR

Here, we’re turning teens into authors. We’re turning struggling college students into success stories. We’re giving young people a way to harness their creativity and break the cycle of poverty. We’d love for you to be a part of it.

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BECOME A MENTOR

We’re growing our family. If you’re educated or an expert in personal finance, PR, creative writing, photography, branding, or simply an avid reader or lover of the arts and humanities, find out how you can contribute.

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“I learned this, at least, by my experiment: that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.”

― Henry David Thoreau

Our Why

More and more, we find young people abandoning their own sense of self-discovery and creativity and being sucked into anxiety, loneliness and depression. But it’s not their fault. By removing arts, humanities, and critical thinking from education, we’ve abandoned our commitment to them.

Studies show that students who have access to the creative arts perform better on their tests and experience lower levels of stress and anxiety. While art programs are disappearing from many public schools, we’re here to provide young people with a platform to explore their creative potential, gain confidence, and develop entrepreneurial skills.

What We Do

We have a platform where young people can come and share their photos and stories, and even become entrepreneurs. We also host contests. These contests not only allow participants to be creative, but they also foster discipline, confidence, communication and critical thinking skills – all vital to their long-term success. In return, we reward winning participants with certificates, gifts, a published book, author profiles on our website, and even scholarships.

Crush Club

Crush Club is our Leadership program. It’s an exclusive membership designed to help young women gain leadership experience and skills. It is open to all high school-aged girls, including those who identify as LGBTQ+. Learn More

How it works

Photography & Writing Platform

Our platform allows students ages 13-21 (junior high, high school, and college) to become photojournalists. It’s an amazing opportunity for students to consume less and create more, while in a safe environment.

They can upload and share their photos, write short captions, or even tell stories. If they choose to do so, they can share their content with friends and family and attract subscribers to earn money. Many students will even have the opportunity to get published.

Students under the age of 18 require parental assistance to set up their accounts. Visit AmbitionCrush.com to learn more.

Contests

We host 4-12 writing competitions every year for girls in junior high, high school and college. Competitions range from short story fiction to essays, photo journalism, and even poetry. Each contest has its own rules, which can be found on the “contests” page.

Judging

Judging is done by our community of honorary board, editors, and alumni. Our judging rubric for fiction is based on: Originality, Character Development, Theme, Writing Quality, and Creativity.

Community

We’re more than just contests! From book clubs to writing workshops to career and financial Q&A sessions, we want to do everything we can to help your stay creative, feel courageous and be successful.

Prizes and Awards

You deserve to be recognized for your achievements! Prizes may include the physical publication of your work, an author profile on our site, gifts, and cash prizes. We also host a semi-annual essay contest with a $1000 scholarship award.

Upcoming Contests

Frightening Fall - Short Story Contest

Submission Deadline: September 5, 2025 (Sorry this contest is closed)

Contest Prompt:

Write a short story (1,000–1,500 words) inspired by Halloween. It can be spooky, funny, mysterious, magical, or even heartfelt — as long as it captures the magic of the Halloween season.

Deadline: September 5, 2025

Word Count: 1,000–1,500 words.

Eligibility: Girls ages 13–18.

Prizes:

- 15–20 winners published in The Frightening Fall Anthology (title TBD).
- Each winner will get a printed copy of the anthology, a certificate, an author bio on our site, and a Halloween-themed gift
- Top 3 winners will receive a cash prize: $200 First Place, $150 Second Place, and $100 Third Place.

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Our Mission

We’re on a mission to help this generation develop the communication, critical thinking skills, and self-worth that they haven’t found in traditional education. Our aim is to boost their mental and emotional well-being through writing, photography and publishing. By providing a safe space for them to explore their creativity, we can greatly reduce anxiety and self-judgment, while allowing them to see that diversity and connection are a part of the same circle.

Don't Miss Out!

From contests to free workshops, we’re always creating fun ways to help your teens be successful.

But you have to be a subscriber to know about them. Join Now.