On top of the schoolwork and social pressures, Liberty High School students are deciding to maximize their free time with a job. Though for several students specifically at Liberty, they aren’t doing job interviews or getting hired, they are becoming their own boss.
In the DECA classroom, streaming down the whiteboard, lists over 15 different social media accounts of these student-run businesses. Producing a display of entrepreneurship on a teenage scale.
Sophia Anizell’s home bakery, Sophia’s Enchanted Kitchen, is helping her to get involved with her passions as well as her personal education. Anizell said, “It gives me motivation to do something I’m passionate about in the middle of the busiest year of my high school career. When I get to take a pause on homework, and projects, and stress, and just bake to bring people joy. It’s just the best and it’s a great way to make some extra cash and work on my marketing skills.”
Anizell also suggested that some struggles come with being a teen in a business role: “The cons I would say are that business can be inconsistent and sometimes it can be very hard to know what to do next or how to actually run a business.”
Another student-run business at Liberty is Navaya Rivera’s photography entrepreneurship, “Shotbynavaya.” Rivera is a freelance photographer and videographer who mainly shoots sports and is now branching out into branding and advertising.
Rivera explained about the pros and cons to having a business in high school, “the pros would be how I get to do what I love at my age and get recognized by students for my work. The only con I really have to say is having to balance school and my business at the same time, it can be stressful, but I know it’s worth it in the end.”
Motivator towards starting a business for students are based on passion and benefits. Rivera got into photography from her peers and her passion grew from there. “My photography/videography business has taught me to stay patient with the process of being an entrepreneur, and to learn that it is okay to make mistakes at my age.” Rivera said, “If you have a dream or a passion, pursue it and don’t be afraid of any outcomes, good or bad.”
DECA, a class dedicated to marketing and businesses, is still as of now, displaying the contacts on the classroom wall for students who would like to support small businesses like nail art, photography, baking, and car detailing. The list is also there to inspire others that maybe their passions can be turned into income and can be something to fill free time with more productivity.
