I am a CR 2 student. Asides being a doctor in training, I am a budding entrepreneur with two and a half businesses. I run Blessed hands en- terprise which consists of a home based hair styling service for women
called “Braids By Blessed Hands”, and a snack business called ‘Mo’s delicious Chin chin’. I also occasionally offer catering services for events.
My journey started in 2011/2012. I spent almost a year in a barbing salon learning how to cut hair while awaiting admission to school. Then in 2014, I decided to help out at my aunt’s hair styling salon. I never intended to practice the craft then, I had just wanted to do odd jobs like cleaning, running errands and getting water when necessary. Over time, I started doing more, I started helping wash hair, complete the tip of braids, trim braids and help in the actual hair making process. She taught me more basic hair making skills and her kindness made me enjoy my stay there.
On arrival in Dominica in February 2015, I knew I would have to do some- thing to help my mum with my education and living costs so I decided to come with a few tools in case I ended up making hair for people. Armed with my needle, thread, scissors and comb, I decided to start telling peo- ple I could make hair. Although this was partially a reach because till then I had not made a full head of hair from scratch before, I had a strong belief within me that I could do it and guess what? I did it. Now, I own ‘Blessed hands’ enterprise where I help many women feel beautiful with my hand work.
Being an entrepreneur and a student has been no easy feat. I’ve had some victories and mistakes that I had to learn from. I have grown and used all the previous stumbling stones as steps to get to my current height in my entrepreneurial journey. For the benefit of other aspiring medical school entrepreneurs, here are some tips that have worked for me or other awesome entrepreneurs.

1. CHRIST IS AT THE CENTER:

As a follower of Christ, every aspect of my business has been handed to him from the inception. I pray over every client, for strength, for speed and for guidance on how to settle disputes, manage time and handle school and other life issues. Every tip has been stamped by His approval and it is really by His grace that I have been sustained so far.

2. TIME MANAGEMENT IS KEY:
At the beginning of my business, I didn’t have a schedule, I accepted almost every potential client and made hair randomly. I slowly realized that I didn’t have time for the most important things to me. So, thanks to God’s wisdom, I decided to draw up a time plan. Make a plan for the semester relating to school and your business. Break the plan into weeks and then each day. In this plan be sure to allocate time to the most important things in your life.
For example, I dedicated 8am to 3pm to classes, 4 to 10pm to hair styling, scheduled a short nap then took some time to do assignments, study or any other important things. I did my hair styling full time during the holidays, not studying except when I was free. I also planned to style hair for the first two weeks of the block and not on the 3rd and 4th weeks so that time could be dedicated to exam preparation. I lost some clients through this prac- tice but most were understanding.
I also have a schedule to make my Chin chin once a week which has worked great for me. In essence, create a schedule and fix clients, when people know your schedule they will work with you.

3. DON’T LOSE FOCUS ON THE GOAL:
No matter what you do, no matter how much you make; medicine is the goal. Don’t lose sight of that goal. It is important for you to treat your business seriously, but your studies should be taken even more seriously. This will mean you may not have time to watch movies, go out and chill like others but it’s worth it. Never compare yourself with anybody and try your best to find time to relax so you don’t burn out.

4. GET A SUPPORT SYSTEM:
Your support system includes study partners, accountability partners, and business partners and so on. I once felt hesitant to ask for help but I learnt that it is important in growing a business and you don’t need to make a lot before you can get help. I now have two people who work with me. We have grown together as a team, they have made my work easier and faster and have been a source of encouragement many times.

5. MULTITASK:
While working, you can listen to videos on your school courses, you can review school work with your clients if they are students as well.

6. BE FIRM:
Learn to say NO politely, especially when you have school work and clients are adamant on you working for them. Don’t worry they will come around. You may have disappointed them but you had to choose “yourself and medicine” at that crucial point.

7. BE OPEN TO OTHER OPTIONS:
You can look into a business that is less time consuming and labor intensive, be involved in something that will give you joy and peace. Funds are important but they cannot be your only motivation. You can also try to get a part time job at an establishment if you are not an entrepreneur. This may mean going to the course director to explain your situation and request a reduced course load per semester.
Finally,
times will get tough and you will go through seasons when you want to quit. Keep pushing, you will do great. Know that your path is different, though you might wear the same white coat as your colleagues, yours might come with a chef’s hat, a sewing machine, a painter’s brush or a comb. Keep praying and pushing, you will succeed at being a student and entrepreneur.

- Modupe Harriet AJISAFE.