Graduating Students Find Future in Starting Their own Businesses

While a majority of graduates search for jobs over the Internet, fax their resumes off and interview with future employers, some Howard University graduating seniors created opportunities for themselves and are blazing new trails for student entrepreneurs.

"Since the change in the economy, approximately around 2008 there has been a drastic increase in the interest and the start of Entrepreneurs at Howard University," said Cathy House, professor of entrepreneurship.

Lawrence Ball, a graduating supply chain management major from Los Angeles, started his company, Meshu Creative Services, in 2008. With a client base that ranges from student entrepreneurs to fortune 500 corporations, Ball's company provides interactive communications and management services to clients in the DMV area.

"The last three years have helped me pay my tuition at Howard due to me starting Meshu Creative Services," Ball said in an email.

DeAndre Xavier Aubry, a graduating marketing major from Los Angeles says he is not tailored for the standard nine-to-five corporate jobs. He started his personalized candy bar business, "Ooh So Sweet," five years ago to serve people with sweet milk chocolate keepsakes for special events. His personalized bars have reached from Howard campus events to California.

"The vision of this business belongs to my mother Monique Aubry," he said. "After I graduate my plan is to focus on my business."

Aubry credits his passion for entrepreneurship from being raised in a family of entrepreneurs that contributed to building a successful magazine distribution company.

Britni Simmons, a graduating marketing major from Chicago founded her catering business, "InTirb," when she was a sophomore in high school.

She went to culinary school at the age of 12. Simmons's high school teacher Catherine Cooper-Abraham introduced her to Network For Teaching Entrepreneurship, which taught the young entrepreneur how to write a business plan, receive mentoring and funding. She won Young Entrepreneur of the Year and Sixth Best Entrepreneur of Chicago in 2006.

"Cooking is my passion, I paid for my entire freshman year due to starting my company," Simmons said in an email. "I've been cooking since I was 5 years old. My mom was a single parent at the time, and I loved to watch my grandfather cook at his house when she was at work. Then, when I was about 12-years-old my mom meet my stepfather who was a chef, and it was like heaven sent. He worked for my company, and it's been only great times ever since."

Simmons credits Howard University's School of Business entrepreneur professor, Susan Harmeling, for teaching her to use her skills to better the community.

After graduation, Simmons plans to expand her catering business into an umbrella company consisting of a restaurant and other businesses.

"Another factor that has spurred the increase of entrepreneurship here at Howard University is the launch of an online six-week course introduced to the entire Howard University Community in 2005- 2009 through the Institute of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, the Planning the Entrepreneur Venture, a Kauffman Foundation tool," Epps said.

Jasmine Hill is a graduating marketing major from Yeadon, Penn. She began to do research on starting a business when she transferred from a public to private high school.

"I felt really disadvantaged in comparison to the other students, because their preparation from the lower grades was vigorous in comparison to mine, "Hill said in an email.

Hill is in the process of starting her own business called "Spoken Heritage," which would be designed to help low-income students, between the ages of three and five with critical thinking through books and online programs.

"My mom has worked for Head Start for over 30 years, and I have visited classrooms and interacted with the children, some of which were in my family, and I see a big need," she said.

Antonio Eugene Lyons II, a graduating supply chain management major from Cocoa, Fla. is working to create jobs and get kids in to college.

"I operate CRS a College Recruitment Service with Ionnie McNeil, Howard Alum, which assist organizations in recruiting talent from area universities including Howard, Georgetown, GW, and the University of Maryland," Lyons said in an email.

Lyons credits his educator and entrepreneur parents for teaching him about the necessity to create for self while remaining selfless in serving others.

"I have also started the I Love HBCU's Foundation where the goal is to create DVDs highlighting opportunities at Black Colleges. My belief is every kid can't take a college tour so why not take it to them by way of DVDs and the Internet," Lyons said.

House says the United States was founded on entrepreneurship and small businesses that often become big business.

"Due to the fall of big businesses, Small business will rule," House said. "Students do not believe that working for a corporation for 30 years is an option. Therefore, students are and will take their future in their own hands, and I teach and applaud them."