On Monday, Dec. 9, 2024, the Lancer Market took place at CHS from 1:30 to 2:30. Some small student-run businesses and clubs were able to sell their merchandise and promote their businesses. All of the stands promoted different products, including slime, pottery, clothing and more.
Junior Ben Blasi is a member of a business called Lancer Lights. Lancer Lights is a business that custom-engraves acrylic pieces and puts them on plates to produce hand-made decorations. Blasi believes he receives several benefits from running a business as a student, including gaining experience in the business industry.
“[I get to develop] skills in the marketing backgrounds because a lot of job careers end up in some sort of marketing,” Blasi said.
The Lancer Market shines a spotlight on the students of CHS who pride themselves on pursuing experiences that will teach them numerous skills after graduation. Junior Charlotte D’Avignon, the president of the Ceramics Club, believes her participation in the club has allowed her to learn more about what it takes to run a business.
“[Running this club has] taught me commitment, and there’s a lot of different levels that you have to think of, like prices,” D’Avignon said. “It’s taught me a lot about responsibility.”
Junior Charlotte Jenson is also a student entrepreneur at CHS who runs a slime production business that prioritizes assisting students with learning disabilities in the classroom. Her experience with the Lancer Market has shown her that being a teenage business owner comes with unique benefits and challenges.
“There definitely are some cons with being a younger business manager,” Jenson said. “It’s a lot more difficult to get your product out there, but it’s also nice because you’re young and just experimenting with your business.”
D’Avignon feels Ceramics Club produces positive outcomes for students attending. She believes that the club is more sentimental than the creation of pots and pans and works to foster an inclusive and supportive environment.
“[Ceramics] helps connect people because groups of friends will come to the club and they all make stuff together and compare [them], so [the club] definitely embraces friendship and connections,” D’Avingnon said.
Jenson has put a lot of work into her business because she understands that her experience and dedication to her craft will pay off later on. The Lancer Market has helped her promote her products and prepared her for her future career as an entrepreneur.
“I think having a business as a sixteen-year-old really helps get you experience before you go out into the real world,” Jenson said.
