Have you ever thought of owning your own business? Well -- this year, seniors from our school celebrated Entrepreneur Week, and they did so with a competition. Why? Perhaps it was to see who could make the most money on an online game called GoVenture. Maybe it was a little friendly competition, or perhaps it was to learn from mistakes and making good decisions with some play money. At least sixty-four students competed in the event, so it's easy to say that the seniors kept busy as they had fun learning.
Sixty-four students competed in this event. GoVenture’s game consisted of running a virtual business cart selling either ice cream,
snacks, hot dogs, clothing, and jewelry or electronics. Students got to pick where to locate their
cart, taking in factors like weather and other events happening in the city. In addition, students had to buy products, advertise, hire employees, and set prices – all the while avoiding bankruptcy.
Cristin Ball, a cosmetology senior, told us, “When I was playing the game, I thought picking the least
amount of everything was best; but I came to the realization that getting a
larger quantity of items, raising the items’ cost, reading the paper to find a good
location and hours, and hiring more than one employee helped raise the money
being made and took my income statement out of the negatives.”
Throughout the course of the game, students learned about owning
their own business. “I thought
businesses ran on little factors, but now I know there is a large amount
of details you must pay attention to in order to make money,” remarked Logan
Michaels, a senior from construction trades.
“I thought that running a business would be easy, but I
was wrong. Now I know it takes time,
money, and patience to run a business,” said Ashley Long, also a senior from construction trades.
“I was thrilled at the student engagement!" Ms. Conder laughed. "They were yelling at their virtual employees
for not showing up to work!”
The Grand Prize winner, David Zajac, made $31,174 and was granted a fundraising box of
52 Hershey’s candy bars. The First Runner-up, Dominic Fobes, who made $29,815, received a ticket to our
Behavioral Incentive field trip to see the Phantoms play hockey. Second Runner-up, Samual Johnston, with $25,657, received one of our school
shop uniform shirts.
After it was all said and done, Mrs. Conder told us, "The students learned more while struggling, trying to make a successful business, than I could have taught them in a week!”
Mrs. Conder plans to make this a yearly event.
After it was all said and done, Mrs. Conder told us, "The students learned more while struggling, trying to make a successful business, than I could have taught them in a week!”
Mrs. Conder plans to make this a yearly event.
