HEEd 134 bears the course title Practicum I Entrepreneurship Education. In this course, third year BS Home Economics students, who have successfully passed HEEd 133: Entrepreneurship and Livelihood Education, will now need to take on the challenge of implementing and profiting off of their business ideas that were conceptualized in HEEd 133. HEEd 134’s main goal is to impart the skills and knowledge necessary to manage and operate a business and teach entrepreneurship, anchored in real-life principles and contexts.

For the second semester of the academic year 2024-2025, HEEd 134 saw the establishment of four ventures, each by different groups—Kape Tayo Tea, Up-Riceing, Thrizzle, and Everything But Patatas. 

Kape Tayo Tea offered iced beverages, focusing their menu on coffee and matcha. The group members’ previous experience and background in making specialized drinks along with the competition that they were expecting from other groups inspired them to provide drinks that gave their customers the “pick me up” that they needed with the caffeine or a fun trending beverage like banana pudding on top of their lattes.

Every group offered something unique from one another and together, they all had something for every one who walks up to their booths and stands. The rice meal paired well with a refreshing drink and an after snack or the mojos along with an iced americano was sure to pick anyone up from a bad start to their morning.

While they offered an elevated fun to the usual transactional snack and drink businesses, that is not to say their service is not without costs and challenges. Like with any prolonged group work, it is bound that the flaws of the working dynamic would start to show. 

“Complacency” was their biggest challenge. Working with friends and acquaintances can often lead to relying on them too much without having to say anything, expecting them to take initiative in a way that friends do in their friendships. But they soon realized that operating a business is a much more complicated endeavor than being friends. In being too reliant, the flaws in their ethics and teamwork showed. Admirably, they were quick to remedy that.

All groups shared they often needed to put professionalism and discipline above friendship. While it was hard for them to address each other with the distance of a colleague, it bore fruit with how things turned around when they had communicated their needs and what they truly needed to work on and pay attention to keep up the group morale.

While their challenges were numerous, their successes and triumphs were not lacking. Partnerships with big events were something worth celebrating even though it was, figuratively, a big fish to reel in. All groups were recognized for their hard work for not only successfully completing the venture, but also reaching beyond what they could have targeted. Despite their doubts and hurdles that tested their resolve, friendship, and even the purpose of it all—they came out triumphantly with more than enough takeaways that would resonate with them for the rest of their lives.

I asked the group what advice they would give for the next batch of students that would take HEEd 134. There is no other way to deliver this but to directly quote their answers:

“Enjoy it while it lasts. It’s going to be difficult and it will demand a lot of time, energy, and attention. Conflict will happen but this will all be a core memory for you, something you could look back on with pride as it teaches you the life skills that you’ll carry no matter what path you take.”

“You’ll create life-long memories in HEEd 134. Everything will pile up—late nights, skipped meals, hardly any rest but you’ll enjoy it. If there are misunderstandings, clear them right away and don’t let it hang on until the end. Seeing an authentic smile and knowing customers are satisfied with what you offer and your service will be more than enough motivation to keep pushing forward.”

Everything But Patatas

“To anyone who has yet to take HEEd 134, treat it as a real-world opportunity rather than a school requirement. Communicate with your groupmates and embrace the challenges. Don’t be afraid to have difficult conversations with your groupmates and accept every hurdle. They’ll help you grow in ways the classroom alone can’t teach you. Take the practicum seriously, but don’t forget to enjoy the process. No sugarcoating—you might hate it at first. It will be hard; you might even cry, feel fatigued, and the heat will feel unbearable. But once it’s over, you’ll realize how much you miss it.”

Thrizzle

“My advice to those who have yet to take HEEd 134 is to trust the process — a piece of cliche advice that is fitting for something we are not able to predict the result yet. The practicum entails a variety of processes, all of which contribute to the end result, no matter how taxing they may appear. Enjoy the experience as you engage with your classmates and customers, learn more about yourself and your work ethic, and see how real-world entrepreneurial ventures operate. Do your best throughout the process, chances are the results will be worthwhile at the end.”

Up-Riceing

“Plan accordingly—make sure that you know exactly what you are getting into. Sometimes the things that you want are good, but ambition tempered with realism would provide the best chances of success. Communicate and support your teammates.  “One for all - All for One” as they say.  The success of the business depends on the leader at the helm, and each one’s ability to change and adapt to the circumstance.”

Kape Tayo Tea