Daniel Island young adults make the most of summer jobs
During the dog days of summer, local teens are looking for ways to stay busy and earn some spending money.
But for many young adults, a job is about more than just a paycheck. Ambitious teens across Daniel Island are using their summer jobs to gain experience and take steps toward their future goals.
From serving tables and raising money for charity to launching businesses and interning in the fashion industry, these young adults are proving that a summer job can be much more than a line on a résumé.
For Miller Carnohan, working as a server at Kickin' Chicken in Mount Pleasant has given her an opportunity to combine her job with her passion for giving back.
Carnohan used her role at the restaurant to organize fundraising nights for her sorority, Tri Delta, which partners nationally with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. During one recent percentage night, Kickin' Chicken donated 10% of all sales to support the cause.
“Kickin' Chicken was so excited to help with my philanthropy fundraising for my sorority,” Carnohan said. “All of my coworkers and managers were so excited to share the passion I have for St. Jude with the community.”
Carnohan said her experience has shown her how businesses can have a positive impact on the communities they serve.
Entrepreneurship has also become a popular summer pursuit among young adults. Izzy Schneider has spent her summer growing her jewelry brand, Orabelle Jewelry, while balancing an internship with a jeweler in Beaufort.
Schneider sells many of her handmade pieces through social media and has hosted pop-up stands at local businesses on Daniel Island, including Beech. Building her own brand has given her firsthand experience with everything from marketing and customer service to product design.
By combining a small business with an internship in the jewelry industry, Schneider is gaining valuable insight into a field she hopes to continue pursuing in the future.
For Madison Bittner, summer has become an opportunity to explore the fashion world from multiple angles. In addition to working at Two Cumberland clothing boutique, Bittner is serving as a design intern for Shop Melzi, a college gameday apparel company.
“I applied for this internship on a whim, and I ended up getting it,” Bittner said. “It's taught me so much about the back-end side of production and distribution of clothes and goods.”
Through the internship, Bittner has learned about the licensing requirements involved in collegiate apparel, including obtaining permission from universities and using exact school colors and branding standards.
“I've sewn with materials I've never used before and talked directly to distributors,” she said. “I feel like I'm learning a lot, and this internship will help me be very successful in my future career in fashion.”
While their jobs may look different, Carnohan, Schneider, and Bittner share a common goal of making the most of their summers.