Entrepreneur and Student Duties by Ashley Rodriguez
One thing she would say to her past self is, “You should have taken that dental assistant course!” It is currently one of the things she regrets. This young entrepreneur from Back Bay High School could have already been working at a dental office as a senior.
At the age of 14, Ashley Diaz Arzate established her own flower arrangement business. It all started when she made her sick neighbor in the hospital a flower arrangement. She loves creating beautiful arrangements for people to give to their loved ones and is even an extra source of income. Ever since starting her flower business three years ago, she does not regret it at all. For the reason being that on special occasions she is busy most of the time but she takes it as a good work opportunity. Diaz client list ranges from 10-15 in a slow month but can move up to 35 on holidays. Her income starts at about $500 minimum.
Ashley Diaz Arzate learned staying consistent is a big step to reaching your goals. Diaz had planned to become a dental assistant and expand in that career, but after some reconsideration she plans to expand her business and travel. She also wants to buy a house at a young age and have a nice loving family. Her passions also include fashion and going shopping which is why she is glad she decided to go on her own path and not take the dental assistant course.
Diaz also began thinking differently; in a business mindset. Meaning that she started to expand her knowledge in sales and what works best for her clients. For example, focusing on what the clients prefer and expanding to always think bigger and better. Thinking about the future, Ashley plans to expand her business enough to employ her family members. Ashley Diaz sometimes laughs about the one thing she’d tell her younger self: “You should have taken that dental assistant course!” It’s something she once viewed as a missed opportunity, imagining herself working in a dental office by senior year. But that small regret sits beside something much bigger she’s built—her own small business started at just 14 years old. What began as a simple gesture to cheer up her hospitalized neighbor turned into a passion she didn’t see coming.
Diaz discovered that she loves creating flower arrangements that brighten people’s lives. Each bouquet feels meaningful, especially when she knows it will be gifted to someone special. Over the past three years, her business has become more than a hobby—it’s an extra source of income and a stepping stone toward her future dreams. Staying consistent, she says, is a huge part of success. Even on tough days, she reminds herself why she started.
Now, Diaz thinks more like a business owner with a focus on improvement and growth. She pays attention to what clients like, how to be creative with her designs, and how to level up instead of staying in the same place. Her passions for fashion and shopping also influence her style and help her keep her business fresh and visually appealing.
Looking forward, Diaz hopes to expand enough to employ her family, travel, buy a home young, and live a life she’s proud of. If she had taken the dental assistant route, she might already be working—but being a business owner gives her something even more valuable: freedom to build her own path. Instead of living with regrets, she turns that early “what if” into motivation. Ashley Diaz may not be cleaning teeth, but she’s growing something even brighter—a future built from creativity, hard work, and flowers.