In light of black history month, it's important to take time and recognize some of the  achievements made by members of the black community. Someone very close to home is Jacala Holland, a junior running her very own business. 

     “I grew up with a lot of family members around me owning their own businesses and being their own boss and it pushed me to want to start my own as well. There were also others around me that talked about how much they hated their jobs and having to work for someone and I just knew that was one thing I didn’t want to do. I wanted to be my own boss,” Holland said. 

     Holland's business started from the ground up, inspired by those around her; she currently sells her products via her own website. The products mainly focus around beauty ranging from hair care products to jewelry. She has her own signature edge control gel, dry shampoo, heat protectant spray and wave grease. All of these hair products are made, tested and bottled by her. 

     “I plan to go really far with my business. In the beginning I wasn’t really so sure I could do it, but as time progressed, I realized this is really what I want to do in life; be my own boss and create a name for myself,” Holland said. 

Holland has been working hard for the past two years to maintain her business. She currently has 500 orders and has made approximately 1000 sales. Her most popular item is the edge control, which is the only item she started her business with, and has been the most popular for two years. 

     “I want to grow and expand my business by expanding it from so much more than just being a retailer. I am going to start hosting more pop up shops and classes that could educate young people like myself about what it takes to be an entrepreneur and the steps it takes to owning a business,” Holland said.

     She's only a junior and while concurrently taking all her classes, she's running this business on the side. It's a perfect example of a hardworking member of the community and just goes to show how strong members of the black community can be. 

     “It has created a positive mindset for people in my community, motivating them to go against all the odds that have been put against us,” Holland said.

     Representation is an issue a lot of minority groups faced throughout the media. Whether it be on television, YouTube, Instagram or other forms of media intake, these platforms often lead to misrepresentation of minorities as well as a false narrative of inclusion. That is why this is such a big deal, this is not only inspiring for her peers but to the local black community as a whole to see someone so young representing other black entrepreneurs.