For Alysyn Merrill, co-leader of the Entrepreneurial Studies (E-Ship) program at DSST: Green Valley Ranch High School, teaching isn’t just about covering curriculum—it’s about sparking ambition, resilience and creativity in her students. Through the E-Ship classes, Merrill empowers students to bring their ideas to life, often learning as much from her students as they learn from her.
“What inspires me the most about E-Ship is that students can have the opportunity to learn what it takes to build a business while gaining some hands-on experience,” Merrill said. “It is also really helpful that the students can ‘fail’ at their business and learn from their failures within an environment that doesn’t penalize them as much as the real world will.”
Merrill especially values the unique insights her students bring to the table. “Getting to work with the students and see their insight into what they want to accomplish,” she said, is one of the most rewarding parts of her job. “I also enjoy learning from the students as they start creating their business ventures. I learn something new every year.”
Beyond classroom instruction, Merrill is dedicated to bringing industry experts to share real-world insights with her students.
Recently, former NFL player and entrepreneur Josh Martin visited the class to share his experiences in business, offering valuable advice and lessons on overcoming challenges. For Merrill, these professional interactions are an essential element of the program.
“Providing students with the opportunity to engage with industry professionals allows for them to learn from someone other than myself,” she said.
Merrill’s passion for E-Ship doesn’t end with her own classroom. She envisions this program expanding across the DSST network, allowing more students to discover their entrepreneurial potential.
“I would love to see this program grow network-wide!” she said. “It is such a great opportunity for students, and so many aspects of entrepreneurship can transfer into their future paths regardless of what students decide to major in.”
Students like Yaphet, Alfredo, and Abdulahi already feel Merrill’s program’s impact. “Being in E-Ship is valuable because it’s close to what I want to do in the future,” Yaphet said. Alfredo noted that the program “helps us plan for the future and allows us the opportunity to see what it’s like to build a business with guidance.” Abdulahi added, “We are learning things we want to learn, which makes it interesting.”
Looking ahead, Merrill envisions even greater possibilities for her students and for DSST. “There is such a huge opportunity for entrepreneurship in both the for-profit and non-profit sectors,” she shared. “Helping students learn these skills in high school provides them with such an advantage, opening doors they may not have imagined before.”