LeiLei Secor is a 19 year old from New York who attends the University of Virginia (therefore she is paying out of state tuition). The cost for LeiLei to attend University of Virginia a year is around 40,000 dollars a year. Because of such a high cost, LeiLei was driven to find a way to lessen the burden of tuition. So, she decided to start an Etsy account. In the last 3 years, she has raked in upwards of $100,000 selling dainty jewelry and accessories which she hand-makes. Some of her top selling items are layered necklaces, statement pendants, knuckle rings, and wire jewelry. Because of her successes selling on Etsy, Secor is paying for her tuition. Furthermore, in 2014 she received the Nation Federation for Businesses’ Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award.
LeiLei’s story should show us as students that we are fully capable of having our own business and being successful at it, even while we are in school. LeiLei worked on her products in her spare time and was wildly successful. Maybe the real message in LeiLei’s story is to students who say “no I can’t” or “I don’t have time”. She would say, “yes you can”.
Works Cited
It is great that Etsy has allowed for young entrepreneurs to become successful! Even better is the fact that LeiLei was able to be an entrepreneur and be a full time college student!