The recession is over, for some students. Several students are making profits off of businesses that they have created.
But why do students establish or join these businesses? Do these students gain a little extra cash, or do they just want entrepreneurial experience for the future?
Sophomore Ross Gassman wants to pursue his industry for future years in Palmetto and in college. Gassman owns a DJ business and started his deejaying in the eighth grade when he received his turntable as a holiday present. He gains a profit from his production and also works occasionally for community service.
“I started making my own music and I really wanted to share it,” Gassman said.
Palmetto also has certain clubs and organizations that help students that are interested in the business field. Palmetto offers a marketing club known as the Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA). This club provides students with a lot of different scholarship opportunities and also notifies students with contact information of entreprenuers.
“This club provides skills for students to know how to act in a business situation,” DECA sponsor Kay Rosendal said.
Senior Mindy Wang belongs to a nonprofit, student-led organization known as the Connect Americas Program. This organization collects computers to repair, and then sends the fixed computers to schools in the Caribbean and in South America. Wang is the VP of the organization and the chairperson for collecting any donations from Palmetto.
“I see that a lot of unfortunate people in less developed countries cannot afford the basic technologies that we have,” said Wang. “ I discovered that doing Connect the Americas would be beneficial especially for students.”
Another business that a fellow Panther takes part in is the Central Asia Institute. Junior Ellora Sarkar is involved in this business and tutors many students.
“I love organizing, and I would definitely raise money for charities,” Sarkar said.
Senior Alexandra Madden-Beatley also caught the entrepreneurial bug. Beatley designs and sells t-shirts for Palmetto, which she has done for two years now. She posts her designs on Facebook for sale. Beatley also makes t-shirts for different Palmetto clubs.
“I’ve always been trying to sell artwork, and when I created my first shirt, people wanted to buy it.” Beatley said.
Business ownership classes taught by Mylene Exposito provides students with the skill needed to realistically evaluate thier potential as possible business owners.
“You must be willing to work hard, keep up with the times,” Exposito said, “and you have to believe in your own abilities.”
