I’m so happy that I got on board with this months-long journey. I think the most important thing is that I’ll remember this experience for the rest of my life. Not only did I learn how to work as part of a team, develop my entrepreneurial skills and start a business, but I also learned a lot about myself. In these past few months, I realized that I needed to trust myself more and not hold back when I wanted to share an idea or make a point. I also became more organized, as I had to manage a lot of things all at once. Now I’m always looking for ways to be helpful and I’m not afraid of taking risks. I think I’ve finally come into my own as an “entrepreneur.”

The Company Program is so much more than just an after-school activity. It’s an educational program that opens the doors to the world of entrepreneurship.

I never would have thought that just thinking about meeting up with my new friends every Tuesday could get me so excited. I was always looking forward to our “OBI” nights, where we’d work together and laugh like crazy. We built a genuine team spirit in our group, despite a few hiccups along the way. That’s what made us tight-knit and strong.

I’m forever grateful for the opportunity I had to experience this unique adventure, and I think that all young people in Quebec deserve the same opportunity. After all, we’re the leaders of the future.”

I’ve been attending Collège Stanislas ever since my parents, my brother, my sister and I moved to Montreal 2 years ago. We really like it here, and it grows on us with every season that goes by. This year, I started participating in the Junior Achievement program on Tuesday nights from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at my school. Only a few of my friends are involved in it, so it has given me a good opportunity to meet total strangers. We have a card game company where we handle all the production, design, and everything having to do with entrepreneurship. All the entrepreneurs are dynamic, motivated, and creative, and everyone’s always eager to share their great ideas and pitch new concepts. Every Thursday, I learn a new skill or discover something new that I can work on developing and trying out for my business. Thanks to your program.

I’d like to thank JA Quebec for all the energy and planning that goes into bringing these programs to Quebec schools. I don’t think I ever would have gained first-hand experience running a business if I hadn’t been involved in starting Ludicartes. Also, ever since I started Secondary 5 and discovered this aspect of entrepreneurship, I’ve been thinking about taking courses in economics and social sciences so that I can start my own business one day. I’m already starting to fill up a notebook with ideas! And since I really like long-term projects, I’ve thought about creating a hotel chain, and I’ve already collected dozens of ideas through my experiences. I love spending time on things like this, and I often look forward to summer break so I can spend all day thinking about my business ideas. Recently, I starting exploring some new ideas, this time having to do with how the school and health care systems are run here in Quebec. I’d like to find ways to run them better, or maybe even reform them. I’m still just developing ideas and talking them over with the people in my life, like my parents, friends and acquaintances.
In my free time, I also run a blog that focuses on what I like to do for fun rather than my entrepreneurial interests. I’d love to talk to you about this experience, because it really brings together my organizational skills, writing ability and my creativity in a great way online.
Thank you for reading!“