“I would rather spend my money helping a friend than buying a cake from a big company,” senior Carolina Marinelli said. Her opinion is not uncommon. Junior Jayda Peatross’s homemade desserts have built a following of classmates and community members who choose her creations over store-bought sweets because of the care and detail she puts in to every dessert she makes.
Peatross’s baking business began as a family tradition then grew through word of mouth. Her interest in baking started at home during holidays from baking with her family, where she learned the basics of baking. As her skills developed, she started baking for family birthdays and gatherings. Over time, more people began asking her to bake for special occasions.
“I started just making caramels with my mom. Then I started getting really into other things, like cupcakes and other stuff. And then I just started making little birthday cakes for family members. And then it just kind of became a business because of the spread of word,” Peatross said.
Customers say Peatross’s independence and hands-on involvement sets her desserts apart. Martinelli said knowing Peatross personally creates a level of trust that customers do not feel when purchasing store bought desserts. Martinelli added that it is reassuring to know who is preparing the food and how it is made, as well as knowing what is in the food you’re going to eat.
While Peatross enjoys baking, balancing school, sports and business responsibilities can be challenging. As a high school student involved in extracurricular activities, managing her time requires careful planning. Baking orders often need to be scheduled around homework, practices and events.
“I try to put forward my sports and everything, and I feel like the business kind of falls short of things, but it’s just balance,” Peatross said.
According to her parents, taking on more opportunities and responsibilities and hearing positive feedback from customers “has given Jayda a real confidence boost,” Jayda’s mom, Nicole Peatross, said. Through running her own baking business, she has learned how to manage challenges, stay organized, and balance her responsibilities.
Another challenge Peatross continues to navigate is pricing her work. She said charging customers, especially friends or people she knows personally, can feel uncomfortable. Despite this, she recognizes that pricing fairly is an important part of running a business.
“Definitely charging people. That’s been hard for me. If I know you, I feel bad. I just want to give it to you for free, and I sometimes have to struggle with that and pricing,” Peatross said.
As Peatross balances school, activities and her growing business, support from friends, family and customers remains central to her success. What began as a family tradition has developed into a thriving small business. Through each order, Peatross is not only creating desserts, but also building confidence, responsibility and real-world skills that extend beyond the kitchen.
