Modern day Knochefeller? Most students that attend Knoch High School are simply just that… students. However, grab your magnifying glass and detective coat, because there are more students that are businessmen and women in disguise than you may have expected.

This “build a business at Knoch tycoon” is alive and well.

I’m sure we all had our fair share of slime shops and rainbow loom enterprises when we were in elementary school. But, how many of us were really thinking about pursuing business in our futures? Especially our mid to late teens? 

Junior Abby Markiewicz, for example, has a small crocheting business. 

Markiewicz crotches a multitude of things such as keychains, animals, and decorations for her business Made by Abby Mark. She started roughly three or four years ago when she received a small kit for Christmas. 

Being a young business owner is a great way to network as well. Markiewicz attends many festivals and markets where she meets fellow crocheters as well as has an instagram account that promotes her patterns. Follow her @madebyabbymark !!

Markiewicz believes that the most difficult part about her small business is moments before an event.

“I find it very difficult right before markets to build up enough inventory. It is also difficult to keep doing craft shows whenever certain markets don’t have a great turnout.” she states.

Fellow junior, Grace Mayhugh, also runs her own small business.

Mayhugh’s business, Gracie’s Goodies, is predominantly a cookie business, but sometimes she throws in cupcakes and cakes as well. Balancing school, extracurricular activities, and a part time job is definitely not an easy task. However, Grace manages.

 “Sometimes it’s hard to process a lot of orders given I’m in school and also have a part time job, especially when it’s during a holiday or graduation party season. Also, the price of butter is absolutely insane,” She explained.

Mayhugh also has had some good networking opportunities.

“My cookies got featured in a Pittsburgh magazine for being a part of the best wedding cookie table!!” 

Congrats Grace!

Students aren’t the only ones at Knoch hoping to make a little extra change with their hobbies. Mathematics teacher Mr. Frishkorn and band director Mr. Hayden are just two teachers here at Knoch who have side hustles going for them. 

Mr. Frishkorn works for Berkshire Hathaway Real Estate and is a member of the Hutterer and Stahl Team in the Saxonburg office. He also had a used car business, a pizza shop, sold mortgages, and worked construction throughout his life. 

Frishkorn has worked in real estate for roughly five years and wants to continue to pursue real estate even more after his retirement from education. 

“It is hard to be a full time teacher and have a business on the side.  The real estate team really helps me out during the school year and then I try to return the favor during the summer when we are busy,” he explains.

Working in real estate wasn’t just for self-enjoyment. Frishkorn also wanted to help his family out. He and his wife wanted to be able to aid their kids with college payments and it has proven successful. Both of their kids have graduated debt free, and his daughter has the opportunity to go into vet school as well!

Mr. Hayden plays a multitude of instruments such as alto saxophone and tenor saxophone. Occasionally he also plays soprano saxophone, clarinet, flute, baritone saxophone and bass clarinet to make music as an entertainer. 

It’s not always easy to find a job. Hayden has found that it can prove difficult to promote yourself. There are so many different types of media and platforms, things are constantly changing.

“Keeping up with the marketing game can be a struggle but it is necessary. You know…you have smash the like button and click subscribe etc…lol”

Hayden technically started getting his jobs in high school; however, they weren’t steady until he was well into college.

Overall, it seems that young entrepreneurs are on the rise. Starting a business at a young age or just in general is becoming more and more common.

 Mr. Frishkorn said, “Small business runs our economy, so I think more now than ever people are trying something.” 

Mr. Hayden has a bit of a different point of view.

“The biggest challenge is getting the gigs.  A lot of clubs or vendors like to use the same people over and over again. And I get that because it’s a proven product to them.  Sometimes when you are younger and newer to the scene, it’s hard to get clubs to give you a chance.”

There are so many different businesses, but it seems that there is one common denominator (shameless math plug). They all love what they do and decided to pursue it as a business to make some money out of what they love.

“In general, I love to play music so it was just natural to try to get paid for it. lol. Plus, seeing other people doing it, you think to yourself, “Hey, I could probably do that, too!”” Hayden said.

Similarly, Mayhugh also makes the comment, “I think I will definitely continue this little side gig for as long as I can because it’s something I enjoy and extra money never hurts!”

There’s not much to lose by trying to start a business especially if it’s something you have a passion for. So what if it doesn’t work? Who knows, maybe you’ll hit it big and become the next Jeff Bezos. 

In the words of Mr. Hayden, “It takes hard work and persistence to be successful.  It doesn’t just happen overnight.”