According to Forbes, Gen Z is becoming known as one of the most entrepreneurial generations to date. It seems most of Gen Z have no intentions of working a ‘9 to 5.’
Many young people at Sunnyslope are driven by a desire to be their own boss and have more control over their lives and careers.
Some businesses at Slope, for example, Beckett Visuals captures multiple athletic departments and personalized art into visually appealing photography. Junior Greyson Beckett runs the business and is known for his creative pieces.
To students, entrepreneurship is about more than just making money.
It’s about having the freedom to pursue passions, create something from scratch, and have an influence.
“What inspired me was the possible impact that my art and creations could have on other people,” Senior Iris Butler said. Butler does freelance multimedia, which includes henna tattoos, making custom cards, crocheting stuffed animals, paintings, etc.
“I enjoy what I make and being able to share it with others makes it much more exciting and motivating because they enjoy what I do.”
Junior Viannette Lugo Monge bakes and offers dozens of pastries through her business called Vii’s Sweets.
Monge was inspired when she baked a churro cheesecake and everyone around her encouraged her to start selling.
Juniors Melanie Pacheo Hernandez and Belki Vazquez Boza also bakes sweets for their businesses entitled Sweets by Mel and Boza Combos. “Honestly, I just really enjoy baking,” Hernandez said.
“I would start by making things for my friends and I would give it to them and they told me I should turn it into a business.”
“It all started with the Carlotas, which is a French word for cheesecakes,” Boza said. “That was my favorite sweet since I was little. Since we knew the economy was getting down these past few years, we decided to help my parents and start selling.”
High school students view starting a business as a way of gaining financial control early on, especially as the cost of college approaches. The National Federation of Independent Business reports that many young entrepreneurs see their business as a way of gaining practical experience that will help them stand out in the marketplace in the future.
“I’ve learned a lot of different techniques, the science behind how ingredients mix together and certain things will cause different reactions. And also learning how to navigate a business,” Hernandez said.
“Starting this business has improved my communication with others by far the most,” Butler said. “It’s expanded my ability to communicate properly and professionally and is something I’m using in my daily life.”
The path to becoming a business owner is not without its difficulties. It’s challenging to strike a balance between extracurricular activities, business obligations, and schoolwork.
“You have to manage your time wisely, especially when managing another school. I’m in West-Mec, which I do medical-assisting,” Monge said. “You just have to set your time and your schedule.”
“Staying motivated, especially in times of stress and schoolwork is sometimes always impossible,” Butler said. “However, working yourself to death is a secure failure for your business. To avoid that, I don’t work 24/7. I’ve managed to find ways to multitask, for example, I can bring current projects to school during breaks and receive feedback from teachers who know about my business. I just have to make sure I don’t neglect my mental and physical health and still keep up with my priorities.”
Boza is involved in many activities such as cheer, pom, Key Club, Girl-Up, and Honors Spanish Society. Boza is currently taking lifeguarding classes, by next summer, she will be able to work at the Sunnyslope Pool. “I love to keep myself busy,” Boza said. “I always keep a reminder in my phone so I don’t forget to deliver an order or forget to attend a club meeting. I’m still struggling a little bit, but I try my best.”
Starting a business as a high school student has many misconceptions. Butler learned that nothing comes naturally when starting entrepreneurship and that recognition just doesn’t come quick. “I think a common mistake people make about starting your own business is that it’s much less work than a ‘regular job.’ I’ve had to work hard just to show people I exist.”
While managing a business can be stressful and demanding, it’s important to acknowledge why business owners started in the first place.
“I just think about how the person who I’m making it for is going to enjoy it and they’re really going to get to indulge in it. Especially because when I make cookies, I know they’re looking forward to it, it makes me feel good knowing that I’m making something they’re going to enjoy,” Hernandez said.
These young business owners are not only the future of entrepreneurship, but the future of business itself. These high school entrepreneurs are expected to rise to the top in their fields in the years to come. They started their businesses while still being in school and are changing industries, breaking standards, and motivating the next generation of entrepreneurs.
“Don’t be shy or don’t be afraid to start your small business because even though there’s a lot of small businesses out there, every single one of them is unique, so if you want to start doing ramos or selling Carlotas or whatever small business, you’re definitely going to have competition but every small business is unique in their own way so don’t be afraid to tell people you have a small business,” Boza said
“Observing other business owners and atomic habits that helped them thrive is definitely something that others should consider in using,” Butler said. “If it helped them thrive, it could help you too.”
If you want to help support small businesses, Sunnyslope DECA will be hosting the Merry Marketplace event on December 6. Stop by at both lunches to check out more.
