If you are a business-oriented student, you have probably imagined what it would be like to own your own business. You’ve imagined what it would be like if you could be your own boss: Would things at work run smoother? Would customers be more satisfied? Would you actually end up being more productive? Well for one of Skyline’s former students this heady dream has bloomed into a reality.
     Jenny Araquistain currently runs her own floral shop-Enchanted Flowers. She operates her business right out of her home in nearby Pacifica. Araquistain specializes in making floral arrangements for weddings, but also does other special occasions like Christmas and office parties.
     Some of the classes Araquistain took while here at Skyline were photography, ceramics and news writing. She admits that she has “always been creative” and that she likes “doing creative things.” She also attended CSM where she took classes in the Floral Design program.
     Araquistain had worked in a floral shop for 5 years where she learned all the ins and outs from the shop owner. While working there she started taking flower arrangement orders on the side, and then in January of 2001 she was officially licensed and ready to start her own business.
     “I like being in contact with the brides, I like making it easy for them, I don’t want them to have to worry about their flowers on their wedding day.” said Araquistain.
     When she first started learning about the flower shop business, Araquistain not only learned how to deal with blushing brides, but those who came for funerals as well.
     “I had to deal with the funerals,” she said. “From that I learned about comforting that kind of customer.”
     So, taking these comforting skills, she applied them to the weddings, claiming that one needs to know how to properly talk to brides, as they can be very stressed.
     “I have more one-on-one contact with the clients that way-it’s more personal.”
     From the business end of things, Araquistain finds that the busiest time of year for her is in May, a time when most weddings are in their final planning stages, but there are other busy times of the year.
     “During Christmastime, I do wreaths and I also do arrangements for holidays like Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day,” she said.
     Not excluding herself, Araquistain’s will be getting married too. Her fiancé, Mike Duskin- currently a cosmetology major here at Skyline, plans to join her, not only in life, but in business as well.
     “We plan on offering package deals where I come in and do the flowers and Mike does the brides hair,” Araquistain said.
     As for her upcoming marriage to Mike Duskin, Araquistain proudly admits, “I am getting married in September and I’m doing my own flowers. He really wants to do my hair, but I don’t want him to see me till I’m all ready.”