MELBOURNE, Fla. — Talent, intelligence and humility sum up one Brevard County teen who has created a way for students in need to still thrive in the pandemic.

"I've been with my violin for a long time," says Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy senior Ellen Choi, who has a passion for music.

She strives to find balance between music and school, where the senior is this year's class of 2021 valedictorian.

"Violin is like a place for me to come back to my regular pace," she says.

Choi's pace changed dramatically when she began remote learning. But early on, she worried that some students wouldn't have the resources to succeed in this unprecedented time. 

"I realized that this pandemic was going to be a magnifying glass on educational injustices," Choi says, "especially for students who don't have free access to computers and mobile devices at home."

So she formed her own organization called Buddies United to Dream.

High school students were recruited from around the world. They signed on to become personal pen pals and tutors for more than 50 students needing help.

Choi worked with Brevard's Dorcas Outreach Center for Kids to find them.

"I'm hoping Buddies will continue after I graduate," she says.

If you know of someone would make a good nominee for an Everyday Hero, head to our page and fill out the form.