For most students, the final bell of the day signals the start of sports practice or a mountain of homework. But for a growing group of Cal High students and alumni, it also marks the start of the “second shift.”
April Vasquez, Emma Cervantes, and Class of 2024 graduate Savannah Rodriguez are part of a wave of young entrepreneurs who have turned personal passions—chocolate-covered strawberries, nail artistry, and custom chamoy treats—into thriving ventures.
Every business starts with a “why.” For junior April, it was a family tradition. Inspired by her mother, April began making chocolate-covered strawberries for fun before her coaches and family convinced her to go professional.
For senior Emma, the motivation was practical: “I first started my nail business because I didn’t want to pay to get my nails done anymore,” she explains.
Savannah Rodriguez, now a graduate, took a calculated risk as a 15-year-old junior. “I only
had 200 dollars to my name, and instead of spending it, I wanted to find a way to multiply it,” Savannah recalls. She developed her own chamoy recipe, and soon, she was known school-wide for her unique snacks.
Running a business in high school requires a level of grit that isn’t taught in textbooks. For these three, the school day itself is a marketing opportunity. Emma uses her own hands as an advertisement, wearing “crazy” designs to spark conversations. Savannah recalls the intensity of selling during the lunch hour. “I literally had to walk around the entire school… I had to develop a short, effective sales pitch to make the most sales in a limited time.”April uses social media to stay ahead of trends, adapting flavors like her popular “Brisk” inspired treats to keep her clientele growing.
The journey hasn’t been without its challenges. Both April and Emma cite time management as their greatest struggle, often balancing late-night prep with sports and homework.
Savannah faces a different kind of memory: the risk of operating on campus. “I spent most nights up until 2:00 AM preparing candy… Another major challenge was simply trying not to get caught by administrators,” she laughs, noting that even getting caught once by security didn’t stop her drive.
Beyond the profit, these entrepreneurs have gained invaluable life skills; Confidence: April’s biggest takeaway is to “not be afraid to put yourself out there.” Resilience: Emma emphasizes that “making mistakes is the only way you’re truly going to learn.” People Skills: Savannah credits her time in the business academy and track for teaching her that “life is what you make it.”
While April and Emma continue to grow their businesses within the Cal High walls, Savannah is proof that there is life for a “student-owned” business after high school. Now running on an order-and-delivery basis and hosting pop-up shops, Savannah is looking to expand her menu to “all things sweet.”
Her advice to current students? “Just go for it! It doesn’t hurt to try, but it hurts more to never know what you could have achieved.”
Whether it’s a hand-dipped strawberry, a fresh set of acrylics, or a bag of chamoy candy, these three entrepreneurs are proving that at Cal High, the best way to predict the future is to create it yourself.