Once finals end and college students are freed from attending class and studying, often, another challenge awaits: the summer job. Here’s how a few local postsecondary pupils are making it work.
Starting a business from scratch is never easy. Getting started, spreading the word and building connections can be a tough slog. For Carter Williams, a 2024 Leigh High School graduate attending Chapman University, and Grant Ryder, who completed classes at the same school the prior year and now attends Santa Barbara City College, that challenge has grown into a summer business
What started as a way to help people in their neighborhood put up Christmas lights in late 2021 has evolved into a service for things like yard work, garage organization and furniture assembly. Promoting their services through platforms like Nextdoor, Williams and Ryder have built up a solid reputation amongst clients.
However, Williams admits the road hasn’t always been smooth, as he offers a piece of advice to those looking to start their own business. “Never be afraid to put yourself out there. The worst they can say is no. And trying costs nothing,” he said. “Even if no one responds at first, that first connection can make it all worth it.”
With plenty of experience gained in recent years, the duo decided to keep their business running this summer—and perhaps even through 2026.
While not exploring entrepreneurship, Adam Kelch, a 2024 Los Gatos High School graduate and current Foothill Community College student, certainly means business. Kelch is working his own way through college and has triple the motivation to prove it. This summer he has three jobs: helping at a farmers market, coaching kids’ tennis and bussing tables at Tomato Thyme, a restaurant in San Jose. He knows his packed schedule will offer him rewards down the line, but, right now, he’s facing the short-term pain of his schedule crunch.
“I got burnt out fairly quickly once the summer started,” Kelch shared. “It’s easy to lose motivation when you have so many things going on at once. I just try to find time in between jobs to rest and get some food in me. It’s very difficult work to do, but I know that it’ll be worth it in the end.”
Through his evening shifts at Tomato Thyme, Kelch has also gained a new appreciation for full-time restaurant workers. “It really changed my perspective,” he said. “I give lots of credit to people who are working full time. Customers who are rude or inconsiderate don’t know how difficult it really is. I wish more people understood that working in a restaurant is never easy, and it’s normal to make mistakes.”
Once he completes his second year at Foothill, Kelch plans to transfer to a university to pursue a degree in computer science.
For some, summer means gaining career experience through internships. Gauri Chawla, a 2024 graduate of Cupertino High School and rising sophomore at the University of Michigan, is spending her break interning at Lume Labs, a public benefits company working to make evidence-based mental health treatments more accessible.
Chawla’s work with Lume Labs has given her a better insight into the difficulties of mental healthcare and the importance of other treatment options beyond medication. “The work we’re doing here can hopefully present more options to people who are struggling with mental health,” she said. “It’s easy to get discouraged when trying to seek out treatment due to cost factors and the reactions to the treatment. There’s plenty more options than frontline medication.”
At a time when some students are losing jobs to AI, Chawla is grateful for the hands-on experience that is helping her navigate the social and scientific side of mental health care. Heading back to school in August, she will continue studying political science and Native American studies, with an eye toward a future career in corporate law.
In a similar manner, Aanya Sharma, a 2024 Los Gatos High School graduate and rising sophomore at UC Riverside, is gaining valuable experience through her finance internship at Capital Advisors. As a business administration major with a concentration in finance, Sharma has found that this internship is helping pave her career path.
“I love it,” she said. “Heading into this internship, I knew that I wanted to do something in this field. This has only reassured me that I’m right where I’m supposed to be.”
While learning about financial reports and client relations, Sharma has taken on new leadership challenges. By running meetings, for example, she has learned to strengthen her communications abilities. “I’ve learned a lot about the finance industry and what skills need to come along with it,” she explained. “This has really helped my communication and leadership skills grow.”
As Sharma looks toward the future, she says she’s confident in her career plans.
Whether starting a business, juggling jobs or interning, local college students are using the summer to learn, grow and shape their futures. Each path is different, but all are driven by the motivation to succeed. As they return to campus, they carry not just summer work memories with them, but the beginnings of meaningful careers—and the stories to prove it.
