What does the future hold? How will people make a living in the year 2030? The answer… I have no idea and that is a bit disconcerting as I try to prepare kids for their future livelihoods. Many jobs that existed 150 years ago don’t exist any more; for example, today blacksmiths are novelties at historical villages such as Colonial Williamsburg. But are there 21st century jobs that will go the way of the blacksmith? I am sure that there are. The problem is that we cannot know what they are.
With these thoughts rattling around in my brain, I planned my elective course for this fall “Entrepreneurial Skills.” Because we do not know what the future holds, one of the most important skills that people can develop is the mental habit of looking at the world like an entrepreneur.
The class consists of three distinct components: A teacher-based lecture aspect, guest lecturers and an attempt at making money. The students have learned about the American economy and how entrepreneurs fit into it, and the benefits of being an entrepreneur, among other things.
I am a teacher not an entrepreneur, so, for the second portion of the class, I have also brought in guest lecturers from the Baymonte community. Elliot Stone of Elite Martial Arts, Gretchen Cortes, owner of Perfect Planning, and Neal Saiki of NTS Works spoke in our class. Thus far we have learned about marketing, jobs that fit various personality types, hiring employees and numerous other topics. Mrs. Cortes taught the students about how their unique personalities can help direct them toward a perfect career. Mr. Saiki made a thought provoking statement during his presentation. He said that although entrepreneurs have to work hard (he spoke of working 16 hours a day), they get to do what they love. Consequently, his business ventures have frequently revolved around his hobbies, such as riding motorcycles and bicycles. He brought by his cargo bike to show the class.
The third aspect of “Entrepreneurial Skill” will be our attempt at making money. I hope you will consider supporting our students, as we will put on a sale of upcycled and other “crafty” goods for your home and garden. We have been watching “Flea Market Flip” and checking out Pinterest for motivation and ideas. The money raised will be applied to the students’ accounts to help pay for their various field trips, such as the science camp for the 6th graders or the Mexico mission trip for 7th graders. Look for another article in the near future for the time and location of our sale, with pictures of our merchandise.
