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These parents have had a chance to witness how truly exceptional and beneficial this internship program has been for their son or daughter. Each year we begin our season with seminars and interviews held at various college campuses, read below to hear these parent’s point of view.
Dear Steve and Staff of YEAA,
Thank you for allowing us the privilege of spending a weekend with you and your entrepreneurs. We are grateful for the opportunity you are providing our son along with many other young leaders. Though we are very proud of Enin’s accomplishments, we were equally impressed with all his mentors and colleagues who all helped each other be successful. He didn’t just win an award and make great friends; he won a network of ambitious, honorable allies for life.
When Enin started the internship we were happy for him, but also cautiously optimistic that he would be able to run a painting business despite having never painted, especially in the middle of a pandemic. We knew very little about Student Painters, but we believed in him and knew it would be a valuable life lesson regardless of his success.
When UMASS Amherst went virtual and the world shut down, we weren’t sure whether he would be able to get enough sales. We were also concerned with his active social life at home during Covid-19. His business provided him a mission and direction during a very challenging time. When most of his friends were going to the beach and playing basketball, he was marketing neighborhoods and doing job estimates. He chose to devote his time and energy toward building a business. And now his hard work afforded him the reward of spending some time in Hawaii until he comes back next Spring to be one of your Executives.
We understand why many parents may be skeptical of the Student Painters program. If you had told us a year ago our son would produce $173K in business, win Entrepreneur of the Year at an awards trip to Mexico, and afford to spend time in Hawaii, we wouldn’t have believed it either. But what Enin said in his acceptance speech is absolutely true, when your child tells you they are “Deciding to Win” believe them, support them, and know that they can win, in many ways. For that we are forever grateful!
Andrea and Bryan Mulligan - MA
When our son Ian called near the start of freshman year, we could tell right away that he was very excited about something. He had found a club that offered the opportunity to run a summer business. Like many parents, we were skeptical at first, but after some due diligence, we decided to give him our support and encouragement. That first summer offered many challenges, and he juggled many tasks simultaneously. It seemed like he was constantly hiring new painters, and he had to split his time between painting, marketing and sales. Despite these challenges, Ian considered his experience a success, and decided to return as a district manager. Most kids approach this from a financial perspective: how much can I earn, and our son was no different. But as parents, we were also looking hard at the skills Ian was developing that he can carry forward to any future job. We are happy to say that the program exceeded both ours and Ian's expectations. Ian has learned much about running a business, including:
• Interviewing skills as a hiring manager
• Marketing/ lead generation
• Sales
• Contracts and negotiation
• Goal setting/incentives
• Managing people
We have watched Ian grow, not only his business, but also his business acumen. He learned how to handle diverse situations from customer satisfaction to crew satisfaction. The growth we witnessed from year 2 to year 3 was greater than the growth of running a business and coaching from year 1 to year 2. With a full time focus on mentoring and coaching, Ian provided key support so that his mentorees found success. He constantly analyzed the collective needs of his team and applied his expertise where it was needed. These executive skills are difficult to learn and master. Young Entrepreneurs Across America provided instrumental guidance throughout the program.
Patti McCarthy- MA