By: Naomi Morales, Staff Writer
Creative: Poly students shine as young entrepreneurs and earn some extra cash doing what they love.
Poly students usually have a lot on their plate, but they are hard working and strive for the best. Some students at Poly use that hard work to start earning money. Poly Students Lourdes Buan (12), River Ballantyne (11), and Sarah Smith (10) have started their own small businesses. Each individual started this to make some side money, and the best part is they are doing it on their own time schedule.
Lourdes Buan
Buan (12) started their small business around the time the pandemic first began. Buan (12) Business is called Lulus Teajou where they make Jewelry and Crochet beanies. They started this business to make some extra money. But as they began to make more jewelry, they really tapped into their creativity and soon expanded to crocheting beanies. When given the question, is it hard to own a small business? Buan (12) answered passionately “It’s just a matter of getting confidence, that’s one of the hard parts about it. No matter how small the business is.”
Buy from Buan here! https://www.etsy.com/shop/LulusTeajou?load_webview=1&bid=R7VymAKEyYgqNkkHNLJSRC6EBsSs
River Ballantyne
Ballantyne (11) started their small business as well as Buan (12) during the beginning of quarantine in November 2020. Ballantyne’s business is called Fer Forest Co, where they make stickers with an emphasis on nature and the LGBTQ+ community. They wanted to earn money on their own time, as their busy schedule doesn’t allow for them to have a job. They manage to keep up with their business as well as with school by doing it on the weekends such as drawing, printing, and cutting stickers. When being asked, what is your favorite part about owning a small business? Ballantyne (11) responded, ”My favorite part of owning a small business is the ability to control my own schedule, and I also like being able to design stickers that reflect my personality.”
Buy from Ballantyne on Instagram at: @thefernforestco
Sarah Smith
Smith (10) started her business in the summer of 2019. She started Sarah’s Art Commissions because she drew a lot, and people would tell her how much they would pay for her pieces. Smith is impressively able to manage school and her business, as well as create pieces that are very much first come first serve. Smith’s favorite part about owning a small business is that they can work on their own time and she can decide the worth and effort they can put into their pieces. When asked how far would you take this business, she responded, “I plan to go as far as it will take me. It is always nice to have some pocket change from doing what you love.”
Buy from Smith by messaging her at: @itsgeki
Owning a small business can be hard to start up, but these students never give up on making what they love to share with people. They are all amazing at managing the schedule between school, work, and extracurriculars. Please support small businesses!