Between exams, dorm life and packed schedules, many college students look for ways to earn money without leaving campus. For Andrews University sophomore Ruth Suarez, that opportunity began in her dorm room, where a personal hobby quietly grew into a nail business serving fellow students.
What started as a creative outlet has become a steady side hustle that fits into Suarez’s student routine, showing how entrepreneurship can coexist with classes, roommates and deadlines. Her experience highlights how small ideas, when managed intentionally, can grow within a campus community.
Suarez, 19, is double-majoring in social work and Spanish translation. Long before she had clients or an Instagram page dedicated to her work, nail art was simply something she enjoyed doing for herself.
“It started a few months before COVID,” Suarez said. “I used to buy nail kits from Walmart and do press-ons in my room.” Coming from a single-parent household, regular salon visits weren’t always an option. Instead, she learned through practice, watching videos and experimenting with designs on herself.
When the pandemic hit, and salons closed, her hobby became more practical. “I had just gotten my nails done and needed a refill, but everything was closed,” she said. “So I ordered supplies online and started practicing more seriously.” Friends began noticing her designs, and soon, requests followed.
“They’d say, ‘Oh, I like your nails,’ and I’d be like, ‘I did them myself,’” Suarez said. “Then they asked me to do theirs.”
Word spread quickly among students, and without much planning, Suarez found herself running a small campus nail business from her dorm room. She now specializes in acrylic nails, Y2K-inspired “junk nails” and hand-drawn designs. Her artistic background plays a big role in her work.
“I really like detailed designs,” she said. “I used to draw a lot when I was younger, so that shows up now.” Her favorite sets often feature long nails, rhinestones and bold colors like red.
Running a business while being a full-time student hasn’t been easy. Suarez relies heavily on organization to balance her workload. “When we get our syllabus, I put all my exams and due dates into my calendar,” she said. “That way I know when I’m free and when I’m not.”
To protect her time, Suarez introduced a small deposit system after dealing with missed appointments. “That time could’ve been used for studying,” she said. “So now I ask for a six-dollar deposit and explain why. It helps people respect my time.”
Her first client was closer than expected. “It started with my roommate,” Suarez laughed. “She thought my nail suitcase was makeup.” From there, friends, classmates and acquaintances began booking appointments.
One returning client, junior Christiana Michel, said affordability and accessibility are what keep her coming back. “She acknowledges that her target demographic is college students who can’t always spend a lot on non-necessities,” Michel said. “Her pricing, how easy it is to book with her, and how talented she is all made me want to go back multiple times.”
Instagram has become Suarez’s main marketing tool, allowing her to showcase her work and manage bookings. She recently began printing business cards and leaving them around campus to reach new clients.
Like many student entrepreneurs, Suarez faced early financial setbacks. “I wasted money buying cheap materials that didn’t work well,” she said. “But that helped me learn how much to charge. Materials run out, and I have to make a profit.”
Still, the business means more to her than income. “My favorite part is seeing how people feel after,” Suarez said. “They come in stressed and leave smiling. It’s like a little self-care moment.” She also values the conversations that happen during appointments. “People open up. It’s kind of like a vent session.”
Looking ahead, Suarez hopes to continue growing her brand. She’s planning a professional photoshoot to upgrade her Instagram and wants to invest in new tools, including an airbrush machine for trending styles like cat-eye designs.
While she hasn’t decided if nail work will be her full-time career, she’s open to opening a studio someday. For now, she’s focused on school, her business and serving her campus community.
Her advice to other students with ideas is simple. “Just do it,” Suarez said. “You don’t have to have someone bossing you around. You’re your own boss, and you get to do something you enjoy.”
For Suarez, what began as a dorm-room hobby has become a realistic example of how student entrepreneurship can thrive one appointment, one design and one busy college schedule at a time.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.