The Beginning...
Hello and WELCOME to my tumblr! My name is Jessica. I am a mother of a beautiful 10 month old named Gabriel, and have another surprise on the way! I am engaged to an amazingly supportive veteran Marine, who is my rock. My dreams of owning my own business would never be a reality if it was not for him. Our journey getting here has been crazy, but here we are a few short weeks away from opening our own ice cream parlor. I feel so blessed to have this opportunity for my family. I want to share my story with anyone who cares to take a look because I feel its important know everyone has a story and a reason how the became the way they are today. So here is mine:
I was born in an upper-middle class family in Williamsport Pa. I can diffidently attribute my interest and passion for business to my father. He was executive of sales for Shop Vac for nearly 30 years. I grew up on show floors learning the difference between vendors or dealers and everything you could ever want to know about hardware.
Probably the most important thing I learned on those show floors was networking. It amazed me how just because the friendships my father made at these shows. we could stay in pent house sweets and go home with the coolest gadgets. These shows are some of my fondest memories growing up.
Being the youngest of three girls close in age, I was the most rebellious of my sisters for sure. My grades were no where comparable to my sisters honor roll report cards, but I managed to pass each year. I don’t think any of my high school teachers will expect to read about me in the news paper in the next few weeks for opening my own store. This was a very motivational thought for me.
I managed to barely pass through high school, where I met the love of my life Brett. He was a senior when I was a sophomore and we were blind prom dates through mutual friends. I can honestly say I probably would not have graduated if it wasn’t for his constant push and motivation. Only four short months after we started dating he left for USMC boot camp.
Between my junior and senior year of high school my parents separated and my father lost his job. This was a huge devastation to my home life. Over the years prior I watched my family slowly sink deep into debt after paying for two tuitions for my sisters; Penn State and Temple University. Needless to say those educations took a huge hit on my family’s life style.
By the time I went it was time for me to look at colleges I was less than enthusiastic especially after how college tuition had already broke my family. I applied to a few close small colleges around Williamsport and surprisingly got accepted. Since my parents were separated and both unemployed I was blessed to receive partial grants.
In August 2009 I moved 45 minutes north of Williamsport to attend Mansfield University as a business major. It was a very small town where the most exciting thing to do was visit Walmart. I only lasted one semester. I believe to this day, college was not for me.
It was probably the most disappointing experience of my life thus far, to move home with my mother. Seeing my hometown friends parents telling them I have moved back home and was no longer attending college was extremely embarrassing. My self esteem reached an all time low at this point.
I returned to work at my high school job, a family owned ice cream parlor that was an icon in our town. I had worked there since junior year of HS. Once again this was another huge blow to my ego. Little did I know…
I worked a couple of other odd jobs along with Sunset, while Brett finished up his four years in the Marines. He was always my one sense of pride, I was a Marine corps girlfriend and we had made it work through two combat deployments. We got engaged in January 2011 after he returned from Afghanistan. He returned home for good in August 2011.
I continued at Sunset and moved into his parents home with him. At this point I felt like I had no direction. I was no longer a USMC girlfriend who had the excuse of “waiting”. I had a wedding to plan, but that was about it. Still the girl who had dropped out of college and still worked at a part time job at an ice cream parlor.
January 2012 we found out we were pregnant with our first baby boy, Gabriel. I finally felt like I had a purpose. Gabe became my motivation.
While I was pregnant I found out after 36 years in business, Sunset Ice Cream was going to close their doors for good and only whole sale. I immediately jumped on the opportunity to fill the void. After working there for 5 years and having lines 30 customers deep consistently all summer long, I know people were not ready to let Sunset close.
I started this endeavor in April 2012 and here we are in August 2013 after much trial and tribulation, ready to open our doors.
I feel very blessed to be where I am today and have this opportunity. It still shocks me that the girl who didn’t care enough to try to get a B in high school and failed as a business major is here today as a new business owner!
I hope my story can motivate others who may feel that college isn’t always the only route, and I can’t wait to share the rest of my story with you all!
Just found my original blog!!! Here's how it all began!
