GLENMUIR HIGH School in Clarendon exhibited an array of entrepreneurial acumen, artistic flair, and innovative prowess during an esteemed event dubbed ‘Earn ‘N Share’.
Stakeholders including students, educators, parents, and faculty converged last Friday to partake in the entrepreneurial endeavour, showcasing and offering an array of goods.
From fresh ground provisions and succulent fruits to elegant clothing items, rejuvenating skincare products, delectable pastries, and vibrant plants, the school’s Sydney Scott Auditorium was transformed into a vibrant, bustling commercial haven.
Amid the fervent atmosphere of entrepreneurship, a group of second-form students dazzled onlookers with their adeptness in crafting exquisite beadwork, fashioning an array of necklaces, anklets, and bracelets; and a fifth-form student who expertly crafted beautiful flower bouquets, refining her skill through tutorials she said she found on the social media platform TikTok.
The second formers, 14-year-old Zawadi Simpson, and 13-year-old Thelecia Boothe, entrepreneurs behind the jewellery business ZT Beauty’s, shared with The Gleaner that the business was founded upon a mutual passion for creating jewellery from beads.
“We both like making beads for fun, and we both wanted to make some money on the side, so we decided to combine forces, and start our first official brand today (Friday) and see how best it would work out,” said Thelecia, who praised her visual arts teacher, Lesa-Gail Lewis-Rose, for teaching her the intricate art of using beads to create artwork.
“I feel great that I’m able to do this and make money on my own without my parents’ help,” Thelecia told The Gleaner.
For her partner, Zawadi, the venture also provided an opportunity to tap into generating much-needed funds.
“The business helps me a lot. I can help out myself, and my mother, ‘cause she’s having some troubles, so this money is really helping,” young Zawadi told The Gleaner.
The Earn ‘N Share event served as a significant source of motivation for 16-year-old Marissa-Kay Mohammed, who noted a surge in sales early in the day, boosting her spirits.
“The business was going good when I just started, then it went down and I wasn’t getting any orders, but today, best day ever! Everything I brought has been sold out. I’m actually proud of this event,” beamed an enthused Marissa-Kay, owner of Mar’s Girl Boss Boutique.
She also shared that after acquiring skills from TikTok, she made the decision to leverage it to bridge a gap in her rural home town.
“I found the flower bouquets cute and creative, and it’s not a business I see in Clarendon, so I thought I could be the one to have that business here,” she said.
Fifth-form students Danielle Banton, Tamera McKenzie, and Abygail Cousins are the driving forces behind Cxsmic Visixn Yarn and Craft – a crochet business specialising in a variety of items including hats, bags, shirts, headbands, and roses.
Abygail praised the school for the initiative, adding that she was pleased that administrators recognised students’ talents and gave them a boost.
“I remember when we just started out and we made a big bouquet of sunflowers, and the vice-principal, Mrs Meikle, saw us and said, ‘Aby, you made that? No, man! We have to put these things out there for others to see’,” shared Abygail.
The school’s principal, Dr Marsha Smalling, described the event as a resounding celebration of community and the entrepreneurial spirit that thrives within the school.
“It encapsulated the essence of the Glenmuir family – students, staff, parents, alumni, and well-wishers – united by a shared vision to showcase their talents and entrepreneurial skills while earning and sharing with each other,” Smalling said.
“While I applaud the creativity, innovativeness, and resilience of all the entrepreneurs who participated, I must mention how immensely proud I am of our student entrepreneurs, including first-formers, who took this opportunity to display their incredible talents. Among them was a creative T-shirt designer, a passionate photographer, innovative jewellery designers, a group that designed and knitted the most unique crotchet products, those who had their personal branded cosmetic items, and a culinary artist whose pineapple escovitch chicken, plantain bread and other pastries were nothing short of delectable,” the principal told The Gleaner.
Smalling expressed that the event’s success laid a robust groundwork for what she envisions as an enduring annual tradition at the school.