The announcement read, “First Ever Kids Christmas Craft Fair.” Entrepreneurship is a central part of our homeschool; so I told my
children about it. My oldest daughter already worked in the nursery during a women’s Bible study, so she passed it up. My two
sons and younger daughter jumped with
enthusiasm at an opportunity to earn some
extra spending money. They got to work on
their craft ideas, which included doll quilts,
clay figures, felted animals, and created several other things over the three years that
they participated.
My children have engaged in a number
of entrepreneurial pursuits in childhood.
Among them are the usual babysitting,
lawn care, snow removal, and selling cold
drinks on a hot day. However, they have
also come up with original ideas such as
selling homemade candies, surplus garden
produce, and teaching art classes. My old-
est son developed a complex idea for a busi-
ness involving personalized 3D printed fig-
urines, for which he won a monetary prize
at a local competition.
An entrepreneurial mindset is more im-
portant than a piece of paper verifying a set
of classes. I spoke with two top professors
at both Northwestern University and Co-
lumbia College in Chicago about what em-
ployers look for in the creative fields. They
both told me, “Show what you can do. Show
a portfolio of work.” I did job searches for
graphic designer, animator, game devel-
oper, writer, content strategist, and a few
other creative jobs, and nearly all of them
listed software programs and experience as
job requirements. Most of them did not list
a degree! Searches on freelance sites such
as Guru and Upwork do not list any de-
gree requirements, either. A degree is only
essential in the certifying fields such as law,
medicine, education, and engineering.
In a global business environment where
job security is practically non-existent, it
is increasingly important for young people
to acquire the skills necessary to succeed
without depending on a corporate paycheck. The process of earning a college degree and the expectations that come with
that do not teach these skills. Learning how
to start and run your own business successfully is a real-world experience that does
teach them. It also looks great on a resume
or application.
Entrepreneurialism teaches leadership.
A leader influences and guides others towards a goal. A leader understands how to
get things done and how to motivate others
around a common purpose. These skills are
prized in any business and in many cases,
sorely lacking. As Christians, positions of
www.TheOldSchoolhouse.com
by Julie Polanco
Why Your
Teen Needs His
Own Business
More than a
College Degree
An entrepreneurial mindset is
more important than a piece of
paper verifying a set of classes.
