As a full-time student, it can be difficult to balance classes, homework, and extracurricular activities. But balancing these responsibilities was not enough for one ambitious student. She made the decision to take on a challenge and start her own business. Her name is Megan Besas, a second-year Economics student, and her story as a student entrepreneur is one of hard work, perseverance, and empowerment.
In 2020, Megan began her entrepreneurial journey during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was a time of difficulty, struggles, and hardships, but it has also been a time of innovation and creativity for some—an avenue for self-discovery and seeking out different ventures. “I was willing to learn sa process, and gi ready jud nako ako self sa ups and downs kay kahibaw ko na there is always room for me to grow,” (I was eager to learn the process, and I really prepared myself for the ups and downs because I know that there is always room for me to grow.)said Besas.
Seeing the people around her do their own thing and start their businesses online kindled her passion for starting a business. Fueled by the desire to become a better version of one’s self, Megan took on an endeavor that brought forth numerous challenges that have been a true test of her character.
As it turns out, this has become a big win as her mochi business, Megimochi, is almost reaching its third year and is still going strong as ever. As she would put it, “This wouldn't happen if I didn’t take the risk. It was my risk it all or lose the chance moment.”
However, starting a business from scratch and running it on your own was not without its challenges. She had to stumble and fall, but what mattered was that she persevered. She, herself, is her biggest stakeholder. She poured her passion and energy into building the foundations of her business by keeping in mind the feedback she gets from her customers and maintaining her chin up in times of adversity.
There were times when Megan fell short in handling things on her own; she did everything, from marketing, delivery, to making her mochi, while maintaining her studies.
When she first pitched her business idea to her father, he immediately recognized its potential and provided the initial capital without hesitation. With his unwavering support and her newfound sense of responsibility, she grew ecstatic to give this her all.
Making her product known throughout was a factor she knew was important in giving life to Megimochi. She used social media to her advantage to market her product, she made sure to be concise and include all the important details in her posts. To run a good business, you have to be a good customer. As a customer herself, one of her keen observations with online businesses is that many of them seem to overcomplicate their captions and not even include their prices. This would cause people to lose interest and end up not buying at all. She found that being direct and concise in presenting her product has brought her much success.
But doing that much wasn't enough. She'd go the extra length to personally deliver the orders herself, even to the remote areas in Baybay. These were sacrifices she had to make for people to be aware of and grow curious about this new confectionery that has been going around town and for the orders to start rushing in, and it all started when prompted by such an innocent question, "Unsa’y mochi?"
But you can only do so much by yourself. And then she realized that she has her family, overlooking their ardent daughter with a gentle smile, eager to support her, every step along the way. With that, she always finds a way to cater to her customers. And being able to see their love, loyalty, and patience for Megimochi is what pushes her forward.
Megan's hard work doesn't go unrewarded. For her, one of the most gratifying and moving moments in her venture, which she considers a 'core memory' was a precious interaction with a delivery to a customer. During this, she overheard their mother mutter a sarcastic remark in the background, saying, "Mochi na sad?" (Mochi again?) This made the two of them laugh, as it had actually been her fourth order for that week.
As they laughed, she realized that throughout the two years she had been doing this, mochi had slowly become a part of their lives. They ate when they studied for exams, on their birthdays, and in times of celebration. For Megan, mochi was more than just a dessert; it was a tangible reminder of the meaningful memories that she shared with her customers.
It was a memory she keeps close to herself, as it served as a reminder of why she continues to work so hard for Megimochi; the shared experiences and the joy that can come from even the simplest of moments. Also, running her business has given her the gleeful experience of being financially independent, capable of supporting herself for her needs as a student without feeling like a burden to her parents.
Megan believed that none of this would have ever happened if she had let her doubts cloud her mind. Her message is one of empowerment and self-determination. A belief that she holds close to her heart is that we should take charge of our own lives and not let the opinions of others define or limit our worth. With determination and a can-do attitude, we can achieve anything we set our minds to. Her message is simple: believe in yourself, take control of your life, and never give up on your dreams.
As for her plans with Megimochi, she is excited to see where it will take her next: "As a woman in this industry, mao rani ako nahibaw-an, no one can stop me. Megimochi will flourish, pangitaan nako na ug paagi."(As a woman in this industry, one thing I know for sure is that no one can stop me. Megimochi will flourish, and I will find a way to make that happen.)
With a spirit of determination and a heart full of passion, there's no telling how far she can go.