What Does It Take?

Story by Liberty Welsh »

Do you have an idea that no one else has thought of? Have you ever wanted to be your own boss? If you answered yes to either of those questions, then perhaps you should become an entrepreneur! What is entrepreneurship, though? Entrepreneurship is the process of creating, launching, and starting a business.  Entrepreneurship is a great example of an occupation that requires the individual to step up as a leader and take control. Becoming an entrepreneur gives you the opportunity to take your idea and put it into motion.

Senior Emily Hull sees the potential of success all around her.

“I think that some people in our generation will be successful entrepreneurs and they will change the world in ways we can’t even understand yet,” Hull said.

Business and finance classes at EHS are great opportunities to take advantage of if you are looking into starting your own business. The class provides you everything you need to know, from budgeting your money in an efficient way to the basic people skills required to be a successful business owner.

The most important qualities entrepreneurs need are creativity, confidence, determination, strong people skills, strong work ethic, and passion. There is absolutely no time for procrastinating, and it is imperative that you take responsibility.

There are opportunities available to students that will provide a real-world experience of what is to be expected when starting a business, and will help enhance the qualities that will lead to success. One of these opportunities includes the Douglas County Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge. The contest is open to high school students from Baldwin City, Eudora, Lawrence and Perry-Lecompton. This competition is held every year in March or April on the campus of Baker University in Baldwin.

“The purpose of this competition is to encourage our generation to develop the skills and knowledge necessary to become a successful entrepreneur,” said Ben Posch, Soph.

Ben is one of three Eudora students entered in the competition, along with Emily Hull and Junior Bobby Lounsbury.

In order to enter the competition, each student had to create a business plan. This plan had to include a product description, financial summary, a market analysis, and a description of the student’s management capabilities. The business plan alone will be judged before they can move forward. After they have passed through the judges, the students will attend a trade show at Baker University, where they will advertise their product, give an elevator pitch to a panel of judges, and give a presentation to anyone who may pass by their booth in the show. At the end of this competition, the top three places will be announced, and cash prizes will be awarded to help jump-start the business concept. The first-place winner will take their business plan and compete at the state level.

Our school provides so many opportunities for our students to get involved in entrepreneurship, and assists in guiding them down their future road to success. All it takes is a little creativity, hard work, and perseverance.

Posch believes that this current generation of high-school students has what it takes to succeed in the long run.
“We hear people say all the time that we are the future of our country – and the world,” Posch said.