Jeremiah Brown may seem like a typical Elon University student, but what sets him apart from the rest is that he has been selling real estate in New York City since he was 18 years old and created an iPhone application that had more than 1,000 downloads the week it was released.

Brown was driving down 34th Street in Manhattan when he saw a sign outside Rapid Realty that said it was hiring. He walked in, asked what the qualifications were and decided to apply. He began taking classes and took a state test for realty that was “a little more difficult than the SAT,” he said. He passed the test and landed the job.

[quote]I'm like Steve Jobs. I like the innovation.[/quote]

“I didn’t have experience, but I had an interest,” Brown said.

For Brown, that was all it took. He was eager to learn the profession and that’s exactly what he did.

Despite his enthusiasm, Brown has faced his share of adversity. Some clients are hesitant to trust him because of his age.

“I’ve definitely faced discrimination,” Brown said. “It’s a cutthroat business. The hardest part is getting older clients to buy into what you’re trying to tell them.”

Despite the challenges, he doesn’t let it faze him. Instead, he focuses on what he can gain from each experience.

“The best part about real estate is closing the deal,” Brown said. “Beyond the money, it’s more of a personal accomplishment. It shows that I have stuck to it and made someone comfortable enough to sign a contract.”

Brown’s patience has paid off. Before coming to Elon, his manager asked him to help film director Spike Lee find an apartment.

Since attending Elon, Brown has stopped selling real estate but continued to promote the company.

If a career in real estate that includes selling property to a well-known director isn’t impressive enough, he has also made his mark on the technology world.

Brown created an iPhone application called Cyclone HD. The application is modeled after a popular arcade game in which the player tries to catch a rotating light when it lands on the jackpot.

“I was surprised no one had thought of it before,” Brown said.

Brown learned the coding that went into the creation of the application at Long Island University, where he studied information technology before coming to Elon. Although he is knowledgeable about the technology that is required to develop an application, he is more interested in the creative side of it.

“I’m like Steve Jobs,” Brown said. “I like the innovation.”

It is no coincidence that Brown has found success at such a young age. As a college sophomore, he has already established himself as a capable entrepreneur.

According to Brown, his motivation comes from past experiences.

“I learned a lot from my past,” Brown said. “In high school I played sports, but had an injury that didn’t allow me to advance further. I didn’t get the scholarship I had always dreamed of.”

Brown wasn’t able to fulfill his dream of becoming a college athlete, but found another dream to chase. He takes his aspirations seriously and commits himself to reaching his goals.

“Every project I consume myself with, I want to excel at it,” Brown said.

With all his success, one might wonder where he finds time to savor the typical college experience.

“It’s very hard to find balance,” Brown said. “I barely go to parties, but I’m not stressed out that I’m missing out on the college experience. I’m more focused on where I need to be in the future.”

Brown may not be leading the typical college student’s life, but he said he believes he has found his own version of success through hard work and innovation.