By: Lauren Filey
For student-run small business owners on campus, Homecoming week brings a completely different kind of hustle. Amidst midterms, social gatherings, and heavy coursework, Hampton University student entrepreneurs navigate a massive surge in client demand while balancing academic obligations, campus leadership roles, and personal growth as business founders.
During a typical week, student service providers maintain a steady flow of appointments. As homecoming approaches, however, that workload rapidly explodes. Raeanna Figueroa, a second-year pre-nursing major from Philadelphia, manages an on-campus nail business and experiences the seasonal rush firsthand.
“My client volume triples during homecoming weeks,” Figueroa said. “I will not lie. I am drowning in clients. I have six clients some days. A typical week, I might have like seven to 10 clients, but during homecoming week, I'm easily ranking 20 to 30 clients.”
Because homecoming coincides with midterms, student business owners face an immediate test of time management. Figueroa prioritizes her academics by refusing to book appointments during classes, though accommodating her high client volume requires studying late into the night.
“I don't work during my class time. If I have a class at 10, I am not taking another client until 12,” Figueroa explained. “But typically during homecoming week, I am up very late because I am studying very late. It's very stressful during this time, and if you don't have proper time management skills, you can fall behind.”
Other student providers face similarly demanding routines while juggling campus leadership. One student hair stylist, Imani Sherman, who serves as a Resident Advisor, manages a rigorous schedule during peak season.
“I'm on desk from 7:45 to 11:45, and then afterward, I usually change, get ready for class, go to class... come back, I probably have a client,” said Sherman. “I did struggle a little bit; I wasn't able to study before tests as well as I could have because I had clients run over, but for the most part, I scheduled clients in my absolute free time.”
The heavy client workload often requires sacrificing popular homecoming festivities. “On Sunday, since I did have a bunch of clients, I was not able to go to the kickoff for homecoming at the waterfront,” Figueroa recalled.
Despite the long hours, operating a business at an HBCU offers unique networking opportunities and a supportive community.
“Working at an HBCU as a nail tech, I run into a lot of other students like my peers, and it makes it pretty decent to network. I've been offered fashion show positions for my work, things like that,” Figueroa said.
Sherman echoed the unique advantage of the campus environment: “Everybody needs their hair done at an HBCU. Like braids– everybody needs braids, so it's easy for me to find someone who would be willing to let me try different styles on them. Whereas if I went to a PWI, I'd probably have to search, and I definitely would not have the clientele.”
For underclassmen looking to launch campus brands, student founders emphasize persistence.
“If you're starting a business, I really just say you have to go for it. It's gonna start off slow, but as you get better, as you gain clientele, things will pick up greatly,” Figueroa advised. “Having a skill that you need your hands for is amazing, and no matter what, nobody can take that away from you.”
