Most high schoolers work a service job at a local business; however, some students decide to take a different route–entrepreneurship.
Entrepreneurship serves as a valuable side hustle students can continue after high school.
Students feel entrepreneurship fits the busy lifestyle of a high schooler because of the flexible scheduling hours, room for creative expression, opportunity to make connections and the chance to develop networking skills for the future.
Estelle Treiber, owner of Elegance Designs, curates designs for twirling costumes, whether it be her own or for collegiate twirlers. Treiber also designed personalized college merchandise for graduating high school seniors.
Students like Treiber look to entrepreneurship as a creative outlet rather than a source of income. “I started [Elegance Designs] to express myself and to work towards my goal of working in design in the future. I am passionate about the arts and design, and it allowed me to show my talent in a unique way,” said Treiber.
But, there are many other outlets students can choose for entrepreneurship. There are teens running multi-million dollar businesses creating bath bombs, baking cookies, face painting or landscaping.
Senior Dawsyn Green learned to do her own acrylic nails because of the substantial cost of getting her nails done. Green quickly discovered other students preferred more affordable acrylic nail services as well. Green’s nail services, starting at a base of $22, are much more affordable than other nail techs whose prices can be as high as $120 for a full set of acrylics.
Entrepreneurship is an enjoyable job for Green, especially as she gets to express her creative side. “I enjoy doing it because it allows me to meet new people to do their nails, and it allows me to be an artist on my free weekends,” Green expressed.
Student Riley Kramer, amongst other high school students, started his own landscaping business because he was too young for a “real job,” but he now appreciates the benefits of entrepreneurship and what he has learned.
“I saw some older neighbors who could use the help with their yards and ended up turning it into business. Running a small business is different from working a conventional high school job because you make your own hours, directly communicate with clients and have to manage all expenses. Instead of just showing up and clocking in, you have to manage everything on your own, ranging from insurance costs to disgruntled customers,” said Kramer.
Kramer mentioned many of the advantages of teen entrepreneurship, but there are even more. Entrepreneurship teaches students soft skills needed for future careers like problem-solving, financial literacy, adaptability, time management and communication.
Entrepreneurship serves as a time-worthy and invaluable option for high school students–a side hustle that could lead them to their future careers.
