California Baptist University 2022

Rachel Bolinger balances school and her small business while in Japan

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Many California Baptist University students do more than just attend day to-day classes. One student in specific is Rachel Bolinger, junior communication studies major. Bolinger is the owner of Marie Jocale, a small business where she sells handcrafted earrings. Creating and designing

home with more inspiration to continue her creative journey. Balancing classes, work and a small business is a heavy task, but Bolinger stepped up to the plate. “I use my free time for about two or three days where I give myself three hours to de-stress and create jewelry.” She treats her

I use my free time ... where I give myself three hours to de-stress and create jewelry. Rachel Bolinger junior communication major

small business as a hobby that she can pour herself into artistically, rather than focusing on a means to make money. Chloe Brown, a junior public health major,

jewelry is Bolinger’s

form of creative expression as she takes time out of her day to make earrings. She started this business in the summer of 2019 when her grandfather encouraged her to pursue the idea of starting a small

shares a room with Bolinger and is able to see the behind

the-scenes of the business. She gets to

business. After the pandemic hit, she had more time to dedicate to her business and develop her creative process. She took the extra time to create more earrings, but while in lock down, selling her designs was put on hold. During the pandemic, Bolinger spent the majority of her self-quarantine in Japan with her family where she used that time to sell her jewelry on the streets of Japan. After putting herself out there, she came

watch Bolinger sit on the bedroom floor dedicating her time to developing her jewelry, “I am really proud of her because you can tell she loves what she’s doing and does it not only because she is good at it, but because she wants to glorify Christ,” Brown says. Students interested in supporting her small business can purchase her earrings on Etsy at etsy.com/shop/mariejocale.

WORDS Gracie Servin

PHOTO Courtesy of Rachel Bolinger

DESIGN Madison Kirkland Kia Harlan