Senior Trase Lee’s business was already getting off the ground when he entered the Entrepreneurship Program at South Gwinnett HS. Established in 2018, Tray Productions Photography focuses on capturing special moments for his target audience—students, families, and friends. But why take an entrepreneurship class when he already had launched a business? Trase says, “I wanted to learn the many aspects of business and apply what I’ve learned to my company.”
From networking to finances, the class has helped this young entrepreneur build his skillset and master his craft. “This class taught me the power of having an entrepreneurial mindset, a skill that allows me to identify and make the most out of every opportunity presented to me,” he says.
Franchesca Thompson, South Gwinnett’s Entrepreneurship teacher, says the yearlong program is designed to help students understand the risks and benefits of owning a business. “The program bridges the gap between textbook learning and practical application, empowering students to innovate by turning their passion into profit,” she says. Partnerships—like a “Shark Tank” experience with the City of Snellville and the opportunity-focused Youth Entrepreneurs—give students a chance innovate creative businesses to solve a problem, test their ideas, and pursue funding to make their dreams happen.
Ms. Thompson says learning experiences in real-world scenarios prepare students to approach opportunities with an entrepreneurial mindset. “Students are prepared to work for themselves or work for others with the aptitude to be innovative.”
As for Trase, he’s keeping an eye out for options that will allow him to grow and be successful. He says his future includes photography but he also hopes to attend the MOPAR Career Automotive Program at Gwinnett Technical College to become an automotive technician. It’s all about making the most of opportunities presented.