Classical junior investing in his future

LYNN – Classical High School junior Ryan McDonald knew it would look better on his college resume if you created a new club rather than simply join an existing one so he founded a club he could use, the Entrepreneur/Investment Club.”I started it last May,” he said. “I wanted to educate people and myself about investments, and someday I do hope to own my own business.”McDonald said he put out the word to like-minded friends, and history teacher Frank Grealish signed on as the club advisor. Forty students turned out for that first meeting and when the group met last week they had nearly just as many.McDonald said the idea behind the club is to bring in speakers who own their own businesses or know something about investments. For the first meeting of the new school year the up-and-coming businessman did what all good businessmen do, he networked reaching out to an old family friend.David Solimine Sr. went to school with McDonald’s grandfather and when he attended Classical in the early 1950’s he worked in his family’s greenhouse business.”We had greenhouses just up beyond Frey Park,” he said. “Nanny Goat Hill is where I lived and still live today.”Solimine said he was happy growing flowers and thought he would carry on the family business but that changed. Ten years down the road, married with kids, Solimine decided to go back to school to be a funeral director, he said.Juniors and particularly seniors might have a solid idea of what they want to do when they grow up but Solimine warned them to be flexible. Things change just as they did for him, he said.”I was out of high school 10 years before I really zeroed in and decided this is what I wanted to do,” he said.He also told the kids to take advantage of high school and college, and to learn as much as they could, do their homework and study hard.”So whatever you decide you’ll be better prepared for it,” he said.And, he said, follow your heart.”If you really like what you’re doing you’ll never work a day in your life,” he said.Be patient, he said. He spent almost eight years operating in the red, owing money, before his business started to grow but it was worth it, he said.Students peppered him with questions regarding investments, changes he has seen during his nearly 50 years in the business and what he is most proud of.Solimine admitted that his son, David Solimine Jr., handles the investment side of things for business. Female funeral directors, the growth of the cremation industry and the demise of the small family funeral parlors have been the biggest changes, he said.”Mom and pop stores in the funeral business, they’re just not anymore,” he said. “You just don’t see one person businesses anymore. They’re all larger firms … with a large number of employees.”What he is most proud of is easy, he said, not only his son but his grandson now run the business and he can spend much of his time giving back to the community. From the recent Veterans Appreciation Parade to serving on the board for the North Shore Cancer Association, Solimine said he loves giving back to the community. He also told the students it’s important. Whether it’s coaching soccer or serving on a board or committee they should all take the time to give back to their community.His best advice to students, however, was to do something that they believe in and that has a future.”You could make $1 million a year but it’s not worth it, I don’t think, if you don’t like what you’re doing,” he said.