Junior Gianna Harkins started painting as just a hobby, but eventually blossomed it into a small business.
Harkins’ business, @g.i.yed, started with the idea to paint banners this past summer. She was inspired after seeing videos of banner businesses on social media. She was unfamiliar with any local banner businesses in Pittsburgh, let alone Baldwin.
She first sold to friends and family, giving them discounted prices. Harkins has now expanded to more customers in the area.
Her design process begins with the customer sharing their ideas or requests, which she then designs in Procreate and Canva. After creating the design, she sends it back to the customer for feedback, allowing them to suggest any additions or changes. When the customer is satisfied with the design, she then paints it on brown Kraft paper.
“I average about two to five banners a month,” Harkins said. She also created the opening banner for the Highlander Hub, which is planned to be displayed permanently in the student store.
She wishes she had more time for the banners. But school and her other activities take up most of her time.
Harkins is the co-president of the student council, where her duties have helped her develop skills for her future. She plans to become a lawyer, and her time on the student council has prepared her for speaking up in a courtroom, she said.
Harkins and her council co-president, junior Nathan Malock, have been working together since fifth grade, when they were both involved in BW Creations. They worked together throughout middle school and continue to do so in high school. Additionally, Malock is president and Harkins is vice president of the junior class.
When they were sophomores, Malock had the idea of a school store, and Harkins soon joined him.
“I came up with the idea last year around this time, and I presented it to her because she was the student council vice president,” Malock said. The two then presented the idea to Assistant Principal Denise Wells. The Highlander Hub is now open and running.
Harkins has become a key leader on the student council, sponsor Francesca Cappetta said.
“I’ve seen her rise up as a leader in the student council as she moved throughout high school,” Cappetta said.
Cappetta is confident that Harkins will succeed in the future because she displays great leadership skills, a positive attitude, and a professional presence. She shows initiative and works with others to get things done, Cappetta said.
But Harkins continues to do more. She participated in theater and musicals in her freshman year, but soon had to drop those due to her involvement in girls soccer.
Harkins said soccer is the most challenging to balance because it takes up so much time, and the sport itself is challenging.
“Games are pretty long, and we have a lot of tournaments coming up, so I’ll be in different states,” Harkins said.
