A former teacher’s simple idea to help one student grew into a global platform empowering thousands to become U.S. citizens.
Challenge
When Danielle F., a stay-at-home mom in Washington, D.C., began volunteering to teach literacy classes, she never expected it to change her life. A former elementary school teacher, she loved helping others learn. One day, she met a woman struggling through the complex U.S. citizenship process. Danielle guided her every step of the way — researching legal forms, attending interviews, even witnessing the oath ceremony. Watching her student beam with pride inspired Danielle deeply.
She realized how confusing the immigration process could be for many people. Government websites were dense, classes were long, and most applicants juggled full-time jobs, childcare, and language barriers. Many simply couldn’t commit to months-long in-person lessons. Danielle wanted to make learning accessible to everyone — especially for those who couldn’t afford tutors or find reliable resources.
Action
In 2015, Danielle built a simple website that broke down the citizenship process in plain language. Then she took it a step further: she launched a YouTube channel called ESSA Group (Educational Support Services for Adults). Her goal was to bring her lessons to anyone, anywhere, at any time.
She recorded short, easy-to-follow videos covering everything from civics questions to English conversation practice and interview preparation. Her warm teaching style and clear explanations quickly resonated with viewers. Within weeks, her channel was getting over a thousand views a day — and growing fast.
At first, Danielle hadn’t planned to make money from it. But when she realized the channel could be monetized through Google AdSense, she decided to try. She continued uploading weekly videos and engaging with her growing audience, answering comments and updating content as immigration procedures changed.
Result
Within six months, Danielle was earning between $1,800 and $2,000 per month in ad revenue — all while keeping her tutorials completely free for viewers. Her videos soon reached millions of views, helping immigrants across the U.S. and beyond prepare for their citizenship interviews with confidence.
Today, Danielle still spends about six hours a week creating new videos and just a few more responding to questions. The income from her YouTube channel has given her family greater financial freedom — funding savings accounts for her daughters and even helping support newly arrived refugee families with essentials like books, clothing, and household supplies.
Lesson
Danielle’s journey shows how one act of kindness can grow into a lasting source of impact and income. By combining her teaching skills with technology, she built a business that helps thousands of people achieve one of life’s biggest milestones — becoming a citizen.
Takeaway: Sometimes, your most meaningful side hustle starts not with a business plan, but with a desire to make a difference.
Inspired by a true story originally featured on Side Hustle School by Chris Guillebeau. This rewritten version is independently produced and fully original.