While most teenagers are enjoying their last bit of their high school years, others such as Alexis Taylor are working on making their first million.

Taylor, an 18 year old student at the University of Texas in San Antonio, was one of several successful graduates of YEA, a young entrepreneurship program for teenagers. Taylor now owns her own personal care business.

“I have my own bath and body business,” said Taylor. “We make soaps, scrubs and other bath products.”

Taylor launched her business in August at the Texas Business Alliance One Woman National Business Conference. She “broke even” at the conference and is very excited to move forward with her success.

“My parents were very proud and ecstatic,” Taylor said. “I wasn’t afraid stepping into unknown territory, I was just excited to be part of the program but I was a little shy.”

Taylor said that she had been told about the program at school.

“I was in my school office,” the teen said. “The office clerk told me about it because she knew I was interested in the field of business.”

The YEA program was launched in February 2010. From nearly 100 applicants, 15 lucky youths were chosen to participate and 13 of them diligently finished the program.

Jeffery L. Boney, Texas Alliance CEO and Founder, started the program.

“We are so proud of the 13 graduates,” Boney said. “My heart is full of joy, having met such determined young leaders and knowing that we helped them realize their dream of business ownership. YEA instills the principles of self-determination, self-reliance, self-respect and individual initiative.”

YEA equips high school and college students with the tools and resources to pursue an entrepreneurial alternative. It seeks to turn low to moderate income teens into community leaders and successful businessmen and -women. The students, while involved in this seven-month program, have met leaders from the Greater of Houston Partnership, United Way and Fortune 500 companies as well as some successful small business owners.

“The Youth Entrepreneurship Academy is a demonstration of the Texas Business Alliance vision to strengthen the Texas economy and spur job creation by expanding minority- and women-owned businesses and encouraging youth entrepreneurship,” said Boney. “TBA wanted to equip high school and college students with the tools and resources to pursue an entrepreneurial alternative and instill the practical and technical knowledge to have a sustaining business.”

According to Boney, students aren’t required to pay to be a part of the program.

“Student participation in the program is funded through the generosity of TBA corporate sponsors, individual donors and grants,” he said.. “We are, at this time, accepting funding for Class II and welcome interested parties to contact us to be involved.”

Up to 15 high school and college students are accepted into the program per year. Youths receive a hands-on, dynamic experience regarding the fundamentals of business ownership and membership. The participant experience includes a real-life creation of a small business.

By the end of the program, students will have the theoretical and practical experience for exemplifying leadership, teamwork and citizenship, as well as becoming a business owner. The program culminates with a graduation ceremony, and a mentor is assigned to participants to assist with business sustainability.

As for Taylor, she is excited to continue to make profit from her business.

“Now my profit is about $250,” she said with a laugh. “I plan to make my first million before I turn 30.”

As for going into business, Taylor said she would wholeheartedly recommend it.

“I would tell people who want to get in this field to just go for it because it’s a great opportunity,” the teen said with confidence. “You have to know what you want and just go get it because no one else is going to go get it for you.”