High Schools Train Students to Be Entrepreneurs

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• YESENIA MERCADO, Student:

  I'm kind of nervous. What's at stake is pretty much everything for me.

  I'll call you as soon as I find out if I get the money or not.

• MOM:

  Love you.

• YESENIA MERCADO:

  Love you, too.

• JOHN MERROW:

  Today, Yesenia and 12 of her classmates will get a chance to launch their own business.

• YESENIA MERCADO:

  We're hoping to raise $10,000 to start the Big Picture Soda Company. We have a group of investors coming in.

  Hi, how are you? I've been dying to meet you.

  Basically, we're going to be presenting the business plan to them. They're going to taste the soda, and they've come down to either yes or no.

  The Big Picture Soda will sell carbonated drink. It's made out of all-natural flavors.

• POTENTIAL INVESTOR:

  How much money do you expect to make?

• YESENIA MERCADO:

  The first year, we expect to make a little — like, $5,000 for the first year. But that's just thinking minimum. It's a different appeal, a different taste. You're going to love it. And all the money is going to go to college scholarships.

• POTENTIAL INVESTOR:

  Excellent. OK. So who's in charge of marketing here?