Many students in college who are unable to find employment find themselves using their creative minds and industrial characteristics to develop their own hustle.
While it is difficult to assess the exact number of college student entrepreneurs, according to http://www.celcee.edu/publications/digest/Dig01-07.html, various statistics show that entrepreneurship is alive and well on college campuses across the nation.
In connection with this information, there are many Florida A&M University students who are forming their own ventures, and using the profits to help with college costs.
Basiyr King, 22, a third-year business administration student from Philadelphia has been an independent promotions contractor for two years. Instead of using his profits to pay for his education, King uses his earnings as a way to support extra curricular activities such as parties and trips, as well as paying household bills.
“You have to creatively come up with ways of letting the consumer know what is available,” King said. “Promotions is similar to campaigning you must be friendly and informative.”
King said that in order to be an entrepreneur, you have to have a desire to do so, as well as a plan.
“I have a great passion for selling things and am also very talented in promoting events both directly and indirectly,” King said. “In order to successfully promote events you must possess patience and energy.”
In addition to having a desire, it is also important that the entrepreneur has a well-crafted skill.
Keisha Faulkner, 18, a first-year business administration student from Morris Town, NJ is surprised by the level of professionalism, skill, and drive several hustler on campus display.
“Since school started, I have noticed countless girls successfully doing nails and stylishly styling hair in the dorms,” Faulkner said. “I look at these side hustles, as a great way to show how serious students are about making money and being successful.”
Familiar campus hustles include students selling textbooks, styling hair, and selling food.
However, there are also a number of students who are taking more unique approaches to making money.
Marquis Viser, 18, a first-year accounting student from Houston, designs clothes as well as shoes with NIKE. Viser, who has been in business for about three years, successfully totaled $11,345 in sales during his first year.
“What many people don’t know, is that I have a contract with NIKE,” Viser said. “I started this business because I love to be different, and because I don’t know anyone else who has a business like mine.”
King believes that if anyone wants to be their own boss, they should go for it.
Viser’s advice to students thinking about starting their own business is to trust in God and to stay focused.
“Being an entrepreneur is the true American dream, and as long as you have a plan and some will, you can achieve greatness,” Viser said.