Photo Credit: Olivia Dobberstein Bottom center: Christy Occhipinti

An assortment of shirts made by Olivia Dobberstein

Dream Cards by Emma Canny
Every student experiences successes in high school. For some it is getting an A in Pre-Calc or winning CCS, but for senior Emma Canny, it was starting her own business.

Canny and her mom had been making greeting cards for as long as she could remember. But today it has become more than just a hobby: card-making is Canny’s business.

Dream Cards, as they named it, makes hand drawn cards for different occasions based on the needs of their customers. Canny created a website where people can view cards and choose the ones they like, and then email her with requests and the amount of cards they want.

She has also started to make and sell cake-pops for various occasions because, “they are more appealing to people our age”.

Most importantly, all proceeds go towards the Close-Up program which sponsors the Washington D.C. trip in March run by economics and history teacher Jonathan Senigaglia.

“I’ve been making cards forever but now I just have a reason to [continue] mak[ing] them,” said Canny.

She especially enjoys the opportunities Dream Cards has given her to reach out to the community and “different demographics” she said. “I like that it’s local.”

For most high school students finding time to run a business is no easy feat, but Canny manages perfectly.

“It’s fairly time-manageable, I mean lately I’ve been busy with college apps but I try and make time on weekends,” she said.

Though continuing her business in college could be difficult, Canny wants to find time.

“I might hand it over to my mom [to run]” she said, “but I definitely will continue to make cards.”

For more information or to order cards click here.

Olivia Dobberstein Shirts

Rather than make money by babysitting or walking dogs, sophomore Olivia Dobberstein found an unexpected success last year when her crafting project turned into a business.

She first began bleaching shirts for fun around February, making dark colors turn to pastels creating a unique tie-dyed look.

“When they’re done they look amazing and every one is unique,” she said.

Her friend began asking her to make more for them, and she began spending a few hours a week making shirts. Then one day, someone offered her money for one.

“A girl at St. Francis (her former school) just walked up to me and said she’d pay $10 if I would make one for her.”

Within days Dobberstein had made over $100.

She continued to make them during the warm-weather season, and created a Facebook page to help publicize.

“I posted pictures of some of the shirts, and had my friends post ones of the shirts I made them,” she said.

Dobberstein hopes to continue the business next year, although “finding the time” will be more difficult.

To see examples and order your own please click here.

If you have a business of your own that you wish to see featured, please leave a comment below.