Lydia Dominguez applies acrylic over fake nails at her business, @nailsbymelissa, based out of her San Jose home. (Elda Alvarez/Mosaic Staff)
Editor’s note: This article was written for Mosaic Vision, an independent journalism training program for high school students who report and photograph stories under the tutelage of professional journalists.
Teens like 17-year-old Naomi Anderon Garcia are leaning more towards becoming business owners rather than applying for part-time jobs while attending high school.
She’s one of many students who have started companies while in school: A 2022 survey by Junior Achievement USA found that 60% of U.S. high school students are more interested in starting their own business than taking a traditional job.
Andalon Garcia, a junior at Yerba Buena High School in San Jose, has been running her jewelry business for more than four years. Her main platform for selling her silver jewelry is her Instagram account, @thepalomajewelry, which has more than 640 followers.
“You might think I sell mostly to schools, but it’s mostly people on Instagram,” Andaron Garcia said.
Selling jewelry is not her first job.
“I used to sell peanuts and walk around the neighborhood yelling ‘Kakawates.’ I love the feeling of freedom,” she said. The growth of her business has allowed her to become financially independent from her parents.
Andalon Garcia travels to Mexico two or three times a year to buy and resell jewelry, spending several thousand dollars on it, she estimates.
Another budding business owner, Lydia Dominguez, a senior at Latino College Preparatory Academy in San Jose, offers acrylic nails to customers at her home.
“I’ve been doing this since before I was a freshman, so I’ve been doing it for almost four years,” she said.
Dominguez started her nail salon in her backyard and now has a dedicated nail room in her home. She has over 1,530 followers on Instagram @nailsbymelissa.12 and was booked with about 10 appointments per week for proms and graduations in May. Now that her work life has gotten busier and she’s no longer relying on her parents, she’s reinvesting the money she makes into her business.
“I took art classes all through high school and I feel like it really developed my creativity and line drawing skills,” she said.
Throughout her high school years, Dominguez built a loyal clientele, and as her business expanded, her schedule became busier and busier.
Another entrepreneur, Arely Rodriguez, a senior at Latino College Preparatory Academy, wanted to get a job but her parents wanted her to focus on her studies, so she got her parents’ permission to start her own business. She makes artificial flower bouquets, crosses and flower baskets using colorful ribbons.
She started her business last year and it has slowly started to grow. Her Instagram account @rodriguez.bouquets has around 90 followers since she started her business last year.
“I really love making flowers. I don’t do it for the money, but it helps me relieve the stress of school,” she said.
All three students graduate this month and hope to continue growing their businesses after attending college.
Andaron-Garcia plans to do pop-ups at local parks this summer before attending San Jose State University to study child development.
Dominguez plans to attend Evergreen Valley College in the fall.
