Entrepreneur, a person that takes on the responsibilty and risk of a business apon his own shoulders. These men and women are valued around the world for their ability to take an idea and make a profit off of it.

Senior Aaron Ortiz opened his own business venture when he began to sell drinks to the public on Sept. 26. Since that first day he has expanded his inventory from just Monster energy drinks to include Rockstars, Propel, apple cider and water. The energy drinks sell for $2, the cider and Propel are $1 each and water for 50 cents.

?I started selling drinks at school because I wanted money for leisure, school and other acitivities I was doing,? Ortiz said. ?It?s really helpful.?

Although the business provides a monetary buffer, it also teaches about the business cycle, where consumers interest in a product fluxuates.

?I?ve learned a lot from this experience,? Ortiz said. ?People will want to buy one day and then they won?t; you can?t count on anything.?

Other business’ create little conflict with Ortiz’s home business. The student store and John?s lunch truck both sell food and drinks for the school. All the students store?s profits go back to the school in the form of the leadership class.

“I try not to take over their business,” Ortiz said, “but instead take a corner of the market that no one has yet, energy drinks.”

According to Ortiz anyone can create a small business.

“I came up with the idea myself,” Ortiz said. “If your going to start one yourself, get your own corner of the market and give people what they want.”

Many online sites offer tips and guides for starting business’, but don?t get drawn in too quickly, Ortiz warns. Research your ideas before you make any major life changing decisions.

The economics class, taught by Robert Foshee, leads an annual project that teaches entrepreneurship in Febuary or March depending on the class.

?This will be our fifth year doing the project,? Foshee said. ?It teaches the process of entrepreneurship. Creating a product from concept, to marketing, to sales and to producing the product for consumers.?