The Rise of Entrepreneurship

Anjali Huynh ‘19, Baraa Suleiman ‘19, Coleson Krupp ‘19, and Max Long ‘20, are just a few students who are making a change for entrepreneurship in high school.

Entrepreneurship has made a mark on the world, and creators are using their strengths and passions to begin and operate businesses of their own. Entrepreneurship is currently increasing in popularity among high school students in the US. With this growing popularity, students are encouraged to start small businesses by having one idea that they were interested in pursuing and making the decision to execute it.

 Anjali Huynh ‘19 was asked by her friends to take their senior photos as they thought that her rates would be cheaper than the average senior photographer. “Then that’s kind of where my business started. I made a website and compiled a bunch of portraits I had taken at events the year before.” Huynh says. Huynh enjoys being able to raise money for causes that she cares about. She hopes to start a fundraiser for a women’s organization in India. “I’ve gotten a lot more confidence through my photography because I’ll be taking pictures of people I don’t necessarily know, or I wouldn’t have met.”

I’ve gotten a lot more confidence through my photography because I’ll be taking pictures of people I don’t necessarily know, or I wouldn’t have met.

— Anjali Huynh '19

Huynh says students should not be afraid of making mistakes while doing business. “I’ve messed up with rates and getting photos out on time[…]and I’ve made a lot of mistakes[…]you learn from them and it makes you a better person.” The promising entrepreneur wants to pursue journalism and photography as a career and hopes to continue her senior photography business in college as a platform to expand her photography skills.

The summer of 2018, Coleson Krupp ‘19 held a small position in a concrete construction business where he realized there was a demand for a caulking business in the corridor. Once he came up with the idea, he asked Baraa Suleiman ‘19 to market and manage the business, and the two came across the name ‘Caulking Contractors’.

Suleiman and Krupp continue to find innovative ideas to grow and improve their business. “Currently we are working on different forms of advertising, such as developing flyers, using social media, and speaking to business professionals that are endeavors.” said Suleiman. “In the future, we hope to get to such a massive scale that we are doing commercial lots such as mall parking lots and just expanding in other cities,” Krupp says. When being an entrepreneur in high school, balancing work and school can be difficult. “I think it would be a healthy idea if everybody found a balance between work and education to where they are comfortable and not sacrificing too much of one for the other.” Suleiman adds.

I think it would be a healthy idea if everybody found a balance between work and education to where they are comfortable and not sacrificing too much of one for the other.

— Baraa Suleiman '19

Max Long ‘20 first began mowing the lawns of his neighbors in order to make some money. When he was offered an opportunity from an older peer of his, Long decided to turn his job into a passion, and partnered up with Erik Alberhasky in ‘Outdoor Pros’. “I’ve always been doing lawn care and landscaping work for four years now. I finally decided that I should take the bigger step.” Long says. On the job, Long would typically do the lawn mowing and his partner Alberhasky would do the landscaping. However, after working in his business ‘Outdoor Pros’ for the summer of 2018, Long decided it was time to move forward. “I made the decision to sell my shares recently in order to start my own lawn care business.”

Business teacher and Business Professionals of America adviser Diane Fickel says that there are benefits of being an entrepreneur in high school. “Like with anything, the younger you start, the better off you’ll be down the road,” Fickel said, “It teaches you many life skills: commitment, passion, responsibility, finance, and marketing[…]starting a business is all encompassing.”

It teaches you many life skills: commitment, passion, responsibility, finance, and marketing[…]starting a business is all encompassing.

— Diane Fickel

“The community is so supportive and there are many investors in the area that are pledging to help young people be successful,” Fickel says, “The reason for this growth of popularity[in entrepreneurship]is because of online presence[…]online has enhanced the opportunity for high school students to start a business small scale.”

As for students wanting to pursue entrepreneurship, there are many resources available. “Students should take an entrepreneurship class if they’re going to start a business, because diving into the business entity without prior knowledge, a roadmap, or a business plan, is very difficult.”