Junior Achievement’s program Biz Kids came to a close Thursday after two days of entrepreneurship classes for students ages 9-12 who got to learn the basics about starting their own business ventures.
A total of 20 students from the H.L. Neblett Community Center participated in the program. They spent the first day learning about starting a business and hearing about local business owner Sean Byrne’s experience in starting his own companies.
JA Program Manager Mercedes McCain said the students then went to the dollar store to purchase several pieces of random items to create their own inventions. Students imaginatively made anti-sweat lotion, stress balls, and an Apple necklace.
“This gives them that freedom to really express who they are and who they want to be and it gives them no limitations, and that’s what’s important,” McCain said.
McCain said the students were given free rein to make their plan, only loosely having an activity sheet that prompted questions such as the cost of the product and intended use.
After creating their inventions, members from different parts of the community were invited in to act as “sharks” — like in the Shark Tank-style investment meeting. “Investors” were given roughly $100 of fake money to give to whichever groups they determined to have the best product.
The exercise also allowed the students to practice public speaking and other social skills.
McCain said some of the students noted they had never had people invest in what they were thinking about, saying this exercise allowed them to have confidence in themselves.
