Since a young age, Cody Tarkowski, a senior at the Jr./Sr. High School, has known what he wanted to do in life - - own a business.
Cody says his desire to be an entrepreneur stemmed from a project he did as an elementary student. 
In sixth grade, Cody participated in the “Young Entrepreneurs Academy” through Mohawk Valley Community College. As part of the program, Cody and other students his age created their own, real businesses. Cody’s business sold a bag called a “Burrito Bag.”
Flash forward a few years, and everything Cody first learned as a sixth grade student is paying dividends today.
Cody, along with some of his classmates, designed a “Bulldog” book bag. The process first started a year ago in Mrs. Weissenberger’s accounting class, and now the book bag is for sale in Jr./Sr. High School’s Bulldog Bookstore.
“The project spanned my junior and senior years,” Cody, who took on the role of lead designer in his group, explained. “There were so many stages of planning and designing. The final product was the seventh design.”
On October 3, Cody and his fellow students he worked with on the project, visited Mrs. Hecklau’s first grade class. They spoke to the students about the book bag and how it went from a dream to a reality. Each student was also given their very own book bag.
In order to help offset the cost, the first grade students were tasked with designing, producing and ultimately selling their own product to family and friends.
“It’s really cool because when I was in first grade, I didn’t have the chance to do something like that,” Cody said. “Maybe this experience will inspire some of the kids to start their own business someday, just like I want to.”
The “Bulldog” book bag features one large pocket and a smaller, waterproof pocket that can hold sneakers, shoes or boots without getting other items wet - - which Cody says is the bag’s main selling point. The book bag can be purchased at the Bulldog Bookstore for $22.
Cody is currently considering several four-year colleges to study business administration/management, marketing, and possibly even engineering.
“I enjoy being in the business field because it makes you realize you truly can do whatever you want if you start your own business,” Cody said. “Businesses run the world.”