| Do you know how long you have been an | | | | gum. That day, I began my gum business. My mom |
| entrepreneur? Do you think of a young girl with a small | | | | bought the first pack, and I bought the rest. My mom |
| pink purse as an entrepreneur? I was that little | | | | and teachers knew I sold gum, but they told me not to |
| bright-eyed girl with a small pink purse and did not | | | | chew or sell it during class. Therefore, the gum was |
| realize I was an entrepreneur. However, I liked to make | | | | never banned. |
| money. Who does not want to make money? As an | | | | I bought a four pack of variety gum for around $1.50. |
| entrepreneur, I began at a young age and continued to | | | | Then, I would resell a single piece of gum for $.25. |
| evolve. | | | | However, I noticed students began to buy the whole |
| In fourth and fifth grade, I carried a petite pink purse full | | | | pack, so I gave a bargain to these students. Because |
| of an assortment of pencil erasers. Yes. My mom and | | | | each pack of gum contained five pieces, I could have |
| teacher knew that I was carrying these erasers, and | | | | sold the whole pack for $1. I gave them a bargain and |
| they were not upset. Because I sold my erasers, my | | | | sold the pack for $1.00. Moreover, I liked to chew gum, |
| mom told me she was no longer going to purchase | | | | earned money from gum sales and reinvested the |
| them. My teacher told me I just could not sell them | | | | money on different flavors of bubble gum until I |
| during lesson time. I had to sell the erasers before | | | | reached high school. |
| school, during morning and afternoon break or after | | | | In high school, my intention was not to begin another |
| school. | | | | business adventure. Nonetheless, it happened anyway. |
| I bought pencil erasers in bulk for around $.05 each. | | | | One day, I brought extra pencils to class. Then, it |
| Then, I would resell the pencil erasers for $.10. Because | | | | happened. I was introduced to "Pencil Wars". If you |
| my erasers were cheaper and fancier, students | | | | have seen boys and girls try to break pencils by |
| purchased erasers from me before they would buy | | | | flipping them with another pencil, you have witnessed |
| them from the school cart. When the eraser was the | | | | "Pencil Wars." |
| same price at $.10, they bought from me because I | | | | I carried a pack of pencils in my book bag for personal |
| had an array of colors and designs. The school sold | | | | use. One day, a student asked me if he could buy the |
| the small dark pink erasers for $.10 and large erasers | | | | whole pack. I sold the pack, but I added $.05 to each |
| for $.15. Therefore, students wanted my erasers. I | | | | pencil. I bought another pack, and it sold quickly. The |
| suppose you could say I knew a little about customer | | | | same group of students played "Pencil Wars", but I |
| satisfaction because I would give a student another | | | | sold my pencils to any student that needed an extra |
| eraser if his/her eraser broke. However, none of them | | | | one. |
| ever complained about not liking the eraser. Moreover, | | | | At a young age, I believe children can be |
| my prices never went up. Okay. I know I was not | | | | entrepreneurs. I evolved from selling erasers to owning |
| going to get rich, but I ran this business for two years | | | | a construction company. Moreover, I will continue to |
| until I entered Middle School. | | | | evolve and strive to become a more successful |
| When I entered seventh grade, I liked bubble gum and | | | | entrepreneur. Nevertheless, I will always remember |
| bought a variety pack. When a classmate saw the | | | | that little girl with a small pink purse. |
| gum in my book bag, I sold the first piece of bubble | | | | |