By running a small business, students are presented with an opportunity to share their passion with others while building valuable skills they can utilize for the rest of their lives.
For sophomore Mia Lapp, who sells crocheted stuffed animals, running a business has taught her time management while still allowing her to be flexible.
“As a student athlete, it’s been really hard to find time in between all of this stuff that I’m doing to work on my craft,” Lapp said, “but it’s been something that I really enjoy and something that I find time to do amidst all the other work I have to do.”
As for sophomore Ariana Im, who sells press-on nails, she has expanded her social skills and the ability to market herself from her nail business.
“It’s helped me develop a lot of social skills,” Im said. “It’s [also] taught me promoting skills, because now I can promote myself to other people, which I’ve never done before.”
According to business teacher Maria Halteman, there are “so many” skills that can be developed from running a small business.
“Money management, communication, time management,” Halteman said, “pretty much all of the important soft skills.”
For senior Kayla Fierle, who sells handmade jewelry, running a business has taught her self-discovery from real-life experiences.
“When I first started, I still hadn’t even grown into myself outside of my business,” Fierle said, “but you learn through experiences how to come into yourself.”
In addition to building valuable life skills, running a small business gives students a creative outlet and an ability to share their passion with others.
For Fierle, she is “big on the creative expression” that jewelry and accessories can provide to others.
“I like being able to create stuff that people can wear and express themselves with,” Fierle said, “because there’s a little something for everybody.”
As for Lapp, being able to inspire and share her creativity with others is what motivates her to continue her craft.
“I really like making other people happy,” Lapp said, “so I definitely see myself continuing this for years to come.”
Some students find that burnout can be a challenge when they are running their own businesses.
For Im, she combats burnout by stepping away from whatever she is creating.
“If a set isn’t turning out how I want, I decide not to upset myself and leave it alone for a couple of days,” Im said. “Then [I] pick it back up when I feel that creative surge.”
As for Lapp, she overcomes burnout by imagining how her work can make others feel. “I really focus, and I imagine myself and the outcome, thinking ‘Oh, what would this bring to other people?’ and it pulls me forward,” Lapp said.
Fierle hopes that others can find their own creative spark, as well.
“[I] wish for more people to get out and find their artistic passion,” Fierle said. “Once people are able to find it, they thrive.”