Most students at Spectrum have a job working at places like Target or Starbucks, but some have a more unique way to earn some extra cash. Spectrum students Sylvia Navratil, Naomi Orth, and Ella Lynch have creative pursuits that go beyond the regular after school job. Sylvia Navratil owns a crochet business, Naomi Orth makes and sells earrings, and Ella Lynch is an author. Others, like Jb Kolby, simply enjoy the learning experience. Jb Kolby is the assistant to the Spectrum Middle School tech club.

Like with any business, student-run businesses find their own road bumps along the way.

“I’ve always had trouble staying and staying true to keeping on going,” says Ella Lynch.

When asked about challenges, Lynch talks about writers block and motivation for writing.

“It’s very improvised, says Jb Kolby. “Some of the time, my lessons, I come up with them like the period before I start.”

Starting a business comes with rewards, too. Ella Lynch published her book titled Shadow after working on it for a long time.

The student entrepreneurs use these experiences now to determine what they may want to do in their futures. Naomi Orth states that she does not want to sell art for a living, while Sylvia Navratil says she may want to go into something art related. Business running is full of its ups and downs, but all the hard work makes it worthwhile.