"Engineering."

"Computer Science."

"Commerce."

"Human Resources."

"And what do you do?"

"I write," I told them, "I write about renaissance history." The reaction I got was unexpectedly enthusiastic, and a flurry of questions about my academic career ensued: What did I plan to do after my degree? What had I written? Where was I published? Was I interested in writing about entrepreneurship?

Entrepreneurship? I immediately imagined a small mom-and-pop shop crushed by an enormous Walmart crane. Why would I write about that? I remembered my Russian father shaking his head and muttering in his heavy accent, "Vhen you're businessman, every day is business day!" and, "Dhey go to sleep, think about business. Wake up, think about business. Vhat a life!" Somehow a steady income and an overbearing supervisor seemed less daunting.

It was only after I joined Impact that I realised I had something to offer the organization. I was a writer, and they needed a writer on their communications team. I connected with people that shared my ambition to succeed and my determination to create something, something I could stamp my name on and call my own. Little did I realise that this was the "entrepreneurial spirit" that Impact was trying to promote all along.

My relationships with fellow Impacters thereafter were different. I felt supported, encouraged, and understood. And as the new generation of youth came circling the room, I found myself sharing words of wisdom with shy students with little black notebooks.

"Sociology."

"Fine Art."

"Music."

"Classical Studies."

"And what do you do?"

"I'm an entrepreneur."

Contributed by:
Lena Shulman of Impact Entrepreneurship Group
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