Jonathan Bell

Working in social media 

• Was eager to start working at the age of 15
• Applied to many places but was turned down for all of them 
• During Covid, started utilizing social media for marketing his family-owned business 
• In April 2020 he launched his own website for digital marketing consulting

Balancing being a high schooler and business owner 

• Even though Jonathan is still in high school, 
• He feels that he can relate to the older business owners more than other teenagers
• He is still learning how to balance being in school and meeting with people 
• Some days he needs to be a high schooler, 
• Other days he needs to be a man 
• Despite being professional, people have turned Jonathan down because of his age 
• Jonathan experiences a lot of support at school 
• And he has inspired other students to start their own business

Life experience

• Everyone has different kinds of life experience
• Just because someone is older,
• Doesn’t mean they are more experienced
• Just that they’ve had different experiences
• “Your human experience is no more human than mine”
• It’s important to validate experiences in children and young adults 

Conflicting environments 

• Growing up, he moved back and forth between Springfield and Chicago 
• His home in Chicago wasn’t in the best area 
• Eventually moved back to Springfield 
• Because his mom felt that it was a better environment 
• It was a big change coming to Springfield,
• But still experienced some of the same racial labeling as Chicago 
• Like being called the “whitest black kid”

Being in the news

• Jonathan feels that the article written about him has helped him become more connected with Springfield 
• And has given him the opportunity to meet more people
• Some of the comments on Jonathan’s news article were misinformed or stereotyping 
• Jonathan stays professional because he knows who he is 
• Although, his story was published on a different platform and the comments there were very positive and supportive
• All mediums are objectifying 
• And it can be hard to see how people interact with that representation of you 

Strategies to success

• There are so many different paths to success 
• The best strategy for one person may not be the best for another
• Jonathan sets himself up for success by planning out how he will reach his goals 
• And sometimes has to re-strategize when something doesn’t go right 
• And you don’t have to do what other people say you should 
• Or label yourself what others label you 
• Jonathan is proud of the things he’s done and will continue to do