In the last few years, ASB and several CLOGs have hosted a variety of on-campus events featuring student vendors. From night markets to festivals, these events build the school’s community and give student businesses the opportunity to grow and enrich the campus culture.
Many of the businesses at these events sell handmade items such as jewelry, small charms, clothing, and yarn goods. Most are owned by current students, but some alumni come back as vendors, which supports a tight-knit community by inviting and welcoming past students back to campus. These successful alumni-owned businesses inspire current students to start their own.
Along with giving the space for students to pursue their passions, these events allow students to build business skills, such as calculating profit, advertising, communicating with customers, and managing money, all within a low-stress environment. With events taking place throughout the year, student business owners can build experience over the span of a single school year.
The annual Homecoming Festival and the Jack Emery Winter Festival act similarly for vendors. Taking place in October and December respectively, these festivals give businesses plenty of opportunities to advertise their goods while welcoming both students and community members. With a diverse range of attendees, student vendors were able to build their brand beyond just high school students.
Sweethearts Night, a new event that made its debut this past February, was a Valentine’s-themed night that also enabled vendors to showcase their goods.
Aside from ASB-led nights and events, CLOGS hold their own events that are open to independent businesses. The Asian American Association’s (AAA) Night Market is a highly anticipated event of the year that happens every May since 2022.
Creatorscape, a newly established event in May 2024 led by One Long Story and Youth Arts Movement, is a unique space that highlights young artists and other creatives. Along with clothing, charms, and jewelry, Creatorscape welcomes student artists to showcase their work by selling artwork and doing live commissions, all packaged in a night market form.
Because of ASB and CLOGs, students are able to learn independence by managing their own businesses. Earning their own income, creating handmade goods, and being in a position of leadership give students responsibility over their success and thus teach them the value of hard work.
By starting a business in high school, students can build a solid foundation for their business in terms of advertising, reputability, and legacy. However, these skills also carry on to different, future careers. Even if students do not continue their businesses past high school or go into a similar career field, skills such as money-managing, leadership, communication, and timeliness are highly valued in most industries and can apply to a wide variety of jobs. Additionally, they are vital to entrepreneurship.
The multitude of campus events allows students to start and promote their businesses, thus, encouraging them to pursue their passions and enhancing our school’s culture. The promotion of these student businesses reminds everyone that besides being a place for education and learning, schools can support passion and build entrepreneurship.
