Are you entrepreneurial?

Do you:

• Take initiative?

• Stay motivated?

• Adapt and fail forward?

• See solutions in the face of problems?

• Think both critically & creatively?

• Have a growth mindset and embrace the power of YET?

These are not just characteristics of successful entrepreneurs; they are characteristics we can all develop to be successful in life. That was the message shared at our Discover Entrepreneurial Thinking Day on February 3.

Twenty-four high schoolers from Washington County came together to talk with and learn from professional entrepreneurs from seven different businesses. The students were able to learn about their own strengths through StrengthsFinder as well as hear about the importance of being able to think entrepreneurially.

Students were able to do hands-on activities, explore challenges and brainstorm ideas, learn about their own strengths, and network with local professionals. Student participants were from Belpre, Fort Frye, Frontier, and Marietta high schools as well as the Washington County Career Center and from the home school community. Entrepreneurs joined us from Ataraxia Properties, Little Muskingum Kettle Farm, Stoked Coffee, BB2C Makerspace, Marietta College, Ohio University, and Washington State Community College.

Student survey responses from the event included:

It helped show all the different aspects of what you can do, and how many times you can change your path.

Really helped me learn about myself and ways I can improve.

It taught me to expand my knowledge in different ways and know my strengths.

This helped me make informed decisions about my future career options by expanding my knowledge about where to go (resources I need).

It gave me more knowledge about life after high school.

Knowing my strengths will help me choose my careers.

Showed me opportunities for careers that I hadn’t considered.

I thought that this was a great learning experience and I really enjoyed learning about the people who worked with flipping houses.

I should take time and really think about what I want to do, and it’s okay if what I want to do changes.

It opened my eyes to all the possibilities.

This discover day helped by opening my eyes to the real like situations of being an entrepreneur and how difficult it may be. They also talked about how I will probably change career choices many times throughout my life.

This helped me make informed decisions about my future career options in that it would probably be best to go into a field I like or am good at. I also learned that although I may study a certain subject and get a degree in it, I may get jobs in different fields or study to get another different degree. Moreover, I could still use what I learned from my career to work in other careers.

Special thanks to Grant Schneider, Seth Murphy, and Jake Walker of Ataraxia Properties for sponsoring our fist-ever Discover Entrepreneurial Thinking Day.

BB2C was also able to partner with Waterford High School in February to bring entrepreneurial thinking activities to their schools. Contact us for more information if you are interested in this opportunity for your classroom or school district.