Financing student life isn’t easy — that’s why 22.5% of U.S. high school students are employed, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, not everyone’s first job is traditional part-time work. Some determined Spartans have used their ingenuity to launch their own businesses, all while juggling the demands of academics, extracurriculars, and active social lives.

Brennan Griesch – 402laced

402laced, now a well-known apparel vendor, began as an accidental venture. Junior Brennan Griesch started his business in middle school by selling old clothes and shoes from around the house, but quickly switched his inventory to designer clothing once its popularity grew.

“I built relationships with people all over the country,” Griesch said. “I saw what those businesses were doing and there was nothing like it in Lincoln, or even Nebraska, at the time.”

Since its humble beginning, 402laced has expanded its clientele far beyond Lincoln’s borders. Griesch has since sold trending streetwear to various Nebraska athletes and a plethora of out-of-state buyers. He attributes his success to his ability to establish connections.

“They’re everything,” he explained. “Who you meet, when you meet them, how you treat them. If you’re able to keep connections strong, it’s gonna go way further than if you disinclude any customers. If you discount any of them, that’s a potential long-term client that you’re getting rid of, so I feel like every connection matters so much.”

Mason Orr – Bucket Hat Cleaning

Many teens make a respectable sum of money by working in general labor: cleaning services, lawncare enterprises, moving companies, and more. For Lincoln East senior Mason Orr, window washing is his undertaking of choice. Orr worked at the YMCA prior to the creation of his company, but they began scheduling him less and less. He decided to take matters into his own hands and create Bucket Hat Cleaning, specializing in commercial and residential window cleaning.

“I went to Home Depot and got a bunch of equipment,” Orr said. “Then I started knocking on doors. First I cleaned peoples’ houses for free to learn how to clean windows better, and eventually I started pricing higher and higher.”

Being a business owner has proven to be wildly different from being an employee. Orr reflected that he’s grown in his responsibility and communicative skills.

“It’s definitely stressful because you’re managing everything,” he stated. “You don’t have a set schedule, but it is nice to be your own team. You’re more passionate about it because it’s yours.”

MaKenna Larreau – Sugar + Spice

Sometimes, the entrepreneurial spirit just runs in the family. Both of junior MaKenna Larreau’s parents were entrepreneurs, so it seems only natural that she started her apparel business, Sugar + Spice, all the way back in 2019. Her brand, and her dream of one day filling an in-store boutique with her designs, blossomed from a seemingly trivial moment.

“I went and bought a scrunchie with my birthday money,” Larreau said. “And then it broke, so I came home and I sewed it. I started sewing scrunchies and selling them, and it turned into what it is today.”

However, starting your own business while in high school isn’t for everyone. Often, the founders of these ventures make tough decisions every day when balancing their work, academics, and social lives.

“You have to choose your business over some of the other things that a normal high school student would choose,” Larreau said. “Sometimes you have to put that stuff off.”

Belinda Qiao – BANNERS BY BELINDA!!

Starting your own small business isn’t just for upperclassmen. Belinda Qiao, now a sophomore, decided nearly a year ago to channel her creativity into a more profitable endeavor—creating custom banners. So far, she’s designed photo ops for gender reveals, grad parties, and countless birthday celebrations.

“I got the idea off of TikTok and I honestly thought it looked easy,” Qiao said. “I like crafts and painting, so I asked myself, ‘Why not?’.”

Anything can be sold if there’s a market for it, and luckily for Qiao, there’s certainly one for banners. However, the most important part of running your own business is having a passion for what you’re doing.

“You just have to have fun with it,” Qiao said. “Otherwise, there’s really no point. I don’t even think of what I do as a business, I just find it fun.”

Notably, Banners by Belinda operates with an end goal in mind. Within a few years, Qiao will donate her earnings to Bryan Health to provide assistance for patients in need.

Avery Linder – averys_nails12

Since so many of us love to pamper ourselves with a fresh set of nails every few weeks, it’s not surprising that a handful of students have started to offer an alternative to the overpriced and overcrowded salons. Junior Avery Linder discovered her passion for doing Gel-X nails in January, and has since been promoting her designs via Instagram. Linder, having previously worked in the fast food business, enjoys her current work much more.

“Fast food wasn’t for me,” she said, “And shortly after quitting, I picked up doing nails. I like picking my own hours and I like how much freedom I have to be myself.”

Through the promotion of her services, Linder asserts that she’s learned much more than merely how to apply, shape, and beautify a set of nails.

“I have definitely learned to be more social, as well as learning to be more disciplined,” she said. “I can’t just cancel when I want and I have to be able to work with people well.”

Clearly, kickstarting your own business is worth a shot. Besides generating income, jobs like these teach people the importance of time management, communication, and enthusiasm. If nothing else, running a business while in high school looks great on college applications and resumes. Additionally, not every East student’s start-up was mentioned, so be sure to check out your fellow classmates’ ventures and support them on their entrepreneurial endeavors.