[15:57] How College Students Improve English Listening and Entrepreneurial Thinking with 30 Minutes Daily: A Practical Story

Selected practical listening materials suitable for middle and high school students, scientifically trained to break through easily! From extensive listening to intensive listening, from catching keywords to understanding the full text, gradually conquering 90% of the content. Persist for 21 days to let your ears get used to the rhythm of English, and you'll see amazing progress! Start now and witness a qualitative leap in listening! Below is a compilation by the qicai website editor of some listening content that dramatically improves English listening by listening half an hour every day.

and I'm 23 years old. I'm a business student at a university here in the United States. Today, I want to share something really exciting with you, the story of how I started my own small business while I was still in college. You know, when I first started college, I never thought I would become an entrepreneur. I was just like any other student worried about exams, trying to make friends, and figuring out what I wanted to do with my life. But sometimes, life surprises you in the best ways possible. My business is all about handmade jewelry and accessories. I make earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and even some cute hair clips. What started as a fun hobby in my dorm room has now become a real registered company. It's been an incredible journey, and I've learned so much along the way. I'm going to tell you exactly how it all happened. From the very first piece of jewelry I made to getting my first real customers. I'll also share some practical tips about managing time between school and business, and how I used social media to grow my brand. If you've ever thought about starting your own business, I hope my story will inspire you and give you some useful ideas.

It all started in September of my sophomore year. I was living in a small dorm room with my roommate, Sarah. The room was tiny. We could barely fit two beds, two desks, and our clothes. But you know what they say—great things often start in small spaces. I had always loved making things with my hands. When I was younger, my grandmother taught me how to make simple jewelry. She taught me how to work with beads, wire, and different materials. It was our special time together every summer when I visited her. In college, I was feeling really stressed about my classes. Business school is tough, and I needed something creative to help me relax. One evening, instead of studying for my accounting exam, I decided to make a pair of earrings. I used some colorful beads I had brought from home, and some wire I bought at a craft store near campus. The earrings turned out really beautiful. They were simple but elegant—perfect for everyday wear. When I wore them to class the next day, something amazing happened. Three different girls asked me where I got them. When I told them I made them myself, they couldn't believe it. "You made these? They look so professional," said Emma, a girl from my marketing class. "Would you make a pair for me? I'll pay you." That was my first aha moment. I realized that maybe other people would want to buy my jewelry too.

That night, I couldn't sleep. My mind was racing with ideas and possibilities. The next weekend, I went to the craft store and spent about $50 on supplies. That was a lot of money for a college student. I bought different types of beads, wire, pliers, and some small boxes for packaging. My roommate Sarah thought I was crazy. "Jessica, you're supposed to be studying, not starting a jewelry business," she said laughing. But I was determined. I spent the entire weekend making jewelry. I created 10 pairs of earrings and 5 necklaces. Each piece was unique and carefully made. I took photos of everything with my phone and posted them on my Instagram account. The response was incredible. Within two hours, I had sold three pairs of earrings to girls in my dorm. By the end of the week, I had sold everything I made. I couldn't believe it. I had earned almost $200 in just one week. This was when I realized I might have something special, but I also knew I needed to be smart about it. I was still a full-time student and my grades were important. I needed to find a way to balance everything.

Balancing school and business was probably the hardest part of my journey. At first, I was staying up until 2 a.m. making jewelry, then waking up at 7 a.m. for classes. I was exhausted all the time and my grades started to suffer. I knew I had to make some changes, so I created a schedule and stuck to it religiously. Monday through Thursday were my school days. I focused completely on classes, homework, and studying. I didn't touch any jewelry-making supplies during these days. This helped me stay focused on my education, which was still my top priority. Friday evenings and weekends became my business time. I would spend Friday night planning what I wanted to make, Saturday creating new pieces, and Sunday taking photos and updating my social media accounts. I also learned to work more efficiently. Instead of making one piece at a time, I started making jewelry in batches. For example, I would make several similar pairs of earrings at once. This saved me a lot of time and helped me develop a more consistent style.

Another important thing I did was set boundaries with customers. I told everyone that I only took orders on Sundays and delivered finished pieces on Fridays. This gave me a clear schedule and helped manage customer expectations. I would post photos of my new pieces. I learned that good lighting was super important—natural light from my dorm window worked best. I also started using hashtags strategically. Instead of just using #jewelry, I used more specific tags like #handmadejewelry, #collegestyle, #affordableaccessories, and #uniqueearrings. This helped people who were actually interested in buying jewelry find my account. One of my smartest moves was collaborating with other students. I gave free jewelry to girls who had a lot of followers on Instagram in exchange for them posting photos wearing my pieces. This was like free advertising and it really worked. I also started engaging with my followers more. When someone commented on my posts, I always replied. When someone tagged me in a photo wearing my jewelry, I shared it on my story. This made people feel special and connected to my brand. By the end of my first semester in business, I had over 500 followers on Instagram and was getting orders from students at other universities too.

Of course, it wasn't all smooth sailing. I faced several challenges that taught me important lessons about running a business. My first big challenge happened in November. I had received a large order for 20 pairs of earrings for a sorority event. I was so excited about the big sale that I said yes immediately, but I didn't think about timing. The event was in one week and I had midterm exams during that same week. I ended up staying awake for three nights straight, trying to finish the order while also studying for my exams. I was so tired that I made several mistakes. Some of the earrings broke and I had to remake them. I almost missed one of my exams because I overslept from exhaustion. This experience taught me a crucial lesson. I needed to be realistic about what I could handle. From that point on, I always checked my school schedule before accepting large orders. I also started keeping a small inventory of popular items so I wouldn't have to make everything from scratch for every order.

Another challenge was dealing with difficult customers. Most of my customers were wonderful, but there were a few who were never satisfied. One girl returned a pair of earrings three times, each time asking for small changes. Another customer complained that her necklace didn't look exactly like the photo on Instagram. These experiences taught me the importance of clear communication and setting expectations. I started taking more detailed photos of my jewelry and writing clear descriptions of each piece. I also created a simple return policy and made sure all customers understood it before they placed an order.

By the spring semester of my sophomore year, my little hobby had grown into something much bigger. I was making about $800 per month, which was amazing for a college student, but I realized I needed to make things more official. My business professor, Dr. Martinez, was incredibly helpful during this time. When I told him about my jewelry business, he was so supportive. He helped me understand the legal requirements for running a business and encouraged me to register my company officially. In March, I took the big step and registered Jessica's Handmade Treasures as a real business. It felt so official and exciting. I also opened a separate bank account for my business income and started keeping better records of my expenses and profits. I learned about taxes, business licenses, and insurance. It was a lot to learn, but it made me feel like a real entrepreneur. My parents were so proud when I showed them my official business registration documents.

Looking back on this journey, I've learned so many valuable lessons that go far beyond just making jewelry. First, I learned that you don't need a lot of money to start a business. I started with just $50 and a lot of determination. What matters most is having a good idea and being willing to work hard. Second, I discovered the importance of time management and setting priorities. School is still my main focus, but I've learned how to pursue my passion without sacrificing my education. Third, I realized that social media can be an incredibly powerful tool for small businesses. You don't need expensive advertising. You just need to be creative and authentic. Most importantly, I learned that starting a business is not just about making money. It's about solving problems for people and creating something that brings joy to others.

As I'm getting ready to enter my junior year, I'm excited about the future of my business. I'm planning to expand my product line to include more types of accessories. I'm also thinking about creating an online store so I can reach customers beyond just my university. My dream is to grow this business enough that it can support me after graduation. Maybe I won't need to work for someone else. Maybe I can be my own boss. But even if that doesn't happen, this experience has taught me so much about entrepreneurship, marketing, and business management. These skills will be valuable no matter what career path I choose.

If you're thinking about starting your own business, here's my advice: Just start. You don't need to have everything figured out perfectly. You don't need a lot of money or a fancy business plan. You just need an idea and the courage to try. Start small like I did. Use what you already have. Learn as you go. Don't be afraid to make mistakes—they are some of the best teachers you'll ever have. Also, remember that success doesn't happen overnight. It took me several months to build up a steady customer base. There were times when I wanted to give up, especially when I was stressed about balancing school and business. But I'm so glad I kept going. Most importantly, choose something you're passionate about. Making jewelry isn't just a business for me. It's something I genuinely love doing. When you love what you do, it doesn't feel like work, even when it's challenging. Thank you so much for listening to my story today. I hope it has inspired you or given you some useful ideas. Whether you want to start a business, pursue a creative hobby, or just try something new, remember that every expert was once a beginner. The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now. So why not start today? Thanks again for listening, and I wish you all the best in whatever you decide to pursue. Keep dreaming, keep creating, and keep believing in yourself.

The above is a compilation from qicai website to help you with daily half-hour listening practice to dramatically boost your English listening. Hope it is helpful to you!