There’s a common misconception that high school is a time of passive learning. That you’re meant to learn facts by rote, intake and apply information within the confines of a school setting, and leave the weighty work of “doing” until after you leave high school.
Nothing could be further from the truth. If you have an entrepreneurial spirit, you should foster that passion as soon as possible. If you have a naturally curious mind, a penchant for invention or the drive to build a successful commercial enterprise, there’s no rulebook stating you can’t start now.
In this article, let’s review how entrepreneurial high school students can prepare for (and even kickstart) a fruitful career in business.
Table of Contents
Attend an Online School
The top tip for a business-minded high school student is to enroll in online high school courses. There are several reasons why online courses are advantageous for entrepreneurial high school students. Here are just a few:
If you’re an entrepreneurial high school student not currently enrolled at an online school, give the idea some thought.
Research Post-Secondary Business Programs
Not all entrepreneurial young people advance through post-secondary business degrees. (You’ll find notable exceptions leading Fortune 500 companies). But several businesspeople find their time in college/university programs indispensable for honing skills and making connections.
Why not get started now? Research the top business programs in your country and actively work toward fulfilling the entry requirements. If the Yale business program requires certain GPA minimums, prerequisites and volunteer hours, start the process early. Likewise, you can research the reading lists for post-secondary business programs to start your learning before you enter university.
Workshop Your Pitches and Proposals Early
Pitches and business proposals are the bedrock of entrepreneurship. These documents help you secure funding from venture capitalists, outline your idea to attract talent, and create a roadmap for your business operations in the future.
If you have a great idea, don’t sit on it until after high school. Workshop your pitches and proposals now with the help of online guides. You can even ask your teachers if you can present your business idea as a school project.
Find Networks and Mentors
The business world runs on mentor/apprentice relationships. It’s how one generation passes down concrete, experience-based knowledge to the next.
Find your network and mentors while you’re still in high school. Look for “young entrepreneur” programs in your area. Search for innovation incubators and extracurricular business groups to start building out a network from which you can learn.
Don’t let anyone tell you that you’re “too young” to start realizing your vision. Sure, there may be hiccups and failures along the way – but the path toward success is paved by challenging learning experiences. It’s better to grow your wings early than wait for everyone else to fly ahead of you.
