by Ziv Golan ‘26

Junior Stephanie Rinelli operates her own business selling baked goods.

High school commonly is the time when many first enter the workforce, acquiring jobs at places such as retail stores, restaurants, swimming pools and summer camps. However, there are several other creative ways to make money as a teenager. Student-run businesses have started to become a fixture around Sherwood with advertisements on social media and posters throughout the halls marketing services to students. These businesses have largely attained some level of success despite humble beginnings.

Junior Stephanie Rinelli runs her own baking business. “Before February, it was definitely more of a hobby but then I started selling what I was making and things have slowly been taking off, but not to the extent that I can fully support myself through it. I would say that it has been pretty successful,” said Rinelli who sells brownies and chocolate chip cookies. “I have a local brewery that will have my chocolate chip cookies and my brownies on their shelves in a few weeks, and I also have a local law firm that is interested in having me cater their corporate events.”

As start-up businesses develop, social media is a major asset used to market services to the community. “I started it [baking business] in 2020 when the pandemic started, but rather than a business it was more me posting different things that I was making in hope that people would order,” explained Rinelli. From here Rinelli was able to gain traction, creating a menu and establishing herself as a true business.

As many of these businesses have developed, they have expanded their services and reach. Although the students behind such startups may make a bit more than other students with part-time jobs, the workload is clearly much more strenuous. Between booking orders/services, creating promotional content, and actually performing the job, all on top of school work, it can be difficult to maintain balance.

Student businesses also have a unique opportunity to gather a healthy clientele solely from the student/teacher population itself. Multiple students have sold candy during the school day or advertised several other services, such as shoe shining, throughout the building. The creativity of students is astounding to see with high schoolers branching out of the norm to take on the business world.