School & Family Magazine Newstand Northwest ISD Winter 2017-18 | Page 6

Feeling color BUSINESS ACADEMY STUDENT LEADS INNOVATIVE COMPANY By Anthony Tosie [email protected] A common adage in the business community is that the best companies are founded to solve a certain problem. For one Northwest ISD student, the problem was right in her own family: How to help her blind aunt know what color clothing she’s picking out each morning. At the Academy of Business Management and Entrepreneurship, housed at Eaton High School, students are able to create their own companies with the guidance of academy staff and the Junior Achievement organization. Jakayla Dixon, a junior at the academy, started Feel the Color because she knew current offerings of clothing tags for those with visual impairments aren’t well-liked. 6 Jakayla got the idea after talking with her aunt, who loves fashion but lost her eyesight 20 years ago after a surgery. “Her story is what really inspired this company,” Jakayla said. “She had to use metal tags in her clothing to know exactly what she was putting on, but it was uncomfortable – I don’t know many people who would want metal in their clothing. My aunt loves fashion, and once she lost her eyesight, she said she felt like there was nothing for her. I really wanted her to have the opportunity to go to the store and lead her best lifestyle.” After months of research, Jakayla settled on a solution: