Entrepreneurship at Middle School Career Day

Seventh Grader Sasha C. has a lot in common with Mr. Matt Paul, of Matt Paul Sports, both are entrepreneurs.  Sure, Sasha isn't running her own company just yet, but it was her entrepreneurial thinking that gave birth to the first Middle School Career Day.  Bayard Templeton, 7th Grade Head Advisor, reports "We are at a time in our middle school where student-initiated causes, events, and solutions to problems are more present than ever. As teachers, we try to contribute here and there and support when we can, but the bottom line is that more and more things that are getting done here at GA are getting done because students are at the center of it. Career Day is a culmination of an unprecedented amount of work and organization by a seventh grader, taking a unique idea and running with it much farther than many would have expected. With the support of classmates Lauren Purcell, John Karr, and Lily Ernst, Sasha Capers is the reason this event is happening."

"Over the last few months, Sasha has called meetings with the student government reps and faculty advisors, looking at both the “nuts and bolts” of how the day would run, as well as the bigger vision of what this day should be about. She walked across the parking lot to Goodman House to meet with Mrs. Zighelbohm to strategize the best ways to find speakers. She wrote each one of the speakers emails to ask for and encourage their participation. And at 8pm last night, Sasha was still responding to emails as last-minute needs arose."  

Of the sixteen professionals that took time out of their busy schedules to meet and inspire GA's 7th graders, one Matt Paul, spoke to the joys and challenges of being an entrepreneur.  Matt Paul Sports, aims to "transform the lives of young people through the power of sports."  Students interested in "being their own boss" sat in rapt attention as they heard about the success and (necessary pitfalls) of running our own business and scaling it over time.