Rose Wendel, a senior at Hempfield High in Salunga-Landisville, Pa., is blooming on and off the field!

A Harvard softball recruit, a nationally ranked player—she was ranked No. 40 in last year’s edition of the 2027 HOT 100—and an All-American infielder, she’s also crushing it on the tennis court playing No. 1 doubles and helping her team win league and district titles!

Rose has also been on another impressive kind of “court:” the homecoming court!

The standout two-sport athlete, who will play in the Florida Gulf Coast League featuring top college players, has been a long-time blogger for Line Drive Media… here’s an example of one of hers titled: Starting Travel Softball Young Really Matters & All-American Junior Infielder Rose Wendel Shares 17 Reasons Why! (April 10, 2026)

Here she is on her recent campus trip to the Ivy League school:

Go Crimson!! ❤️❤️ @HarvardSB https://t.co/Cxiw3rkBes

— Rose Wendel (2027) (@RoseWendel2027) October 18, 2026

Between football games, friends, senior-year fun, and running her own summer gardening business, Stop and Smell the Roses, the irony isn’t lost on her—she started a business about stopping to smell the roses but hasn’t slowed down long enough to smell one herself!

“Starting my gardening company was like drinking from a fire hose – or should I say, a garden hose!” she laughs. “With Stop and Smell the Roses, I wore many hats: founder, salesperson, and social media manager.”

Rose also had a plan on how to secure clients as well as those needed to get the job(s) done.

“I used social media and word-of-mouth referrals to find clients, then organized six part-time employees around their strengths and each project’s needs.”

Impressively, she found out what each of the half dozen workers were good at and assigned them to those tasks.

“Some loved weeding, while others excelled at trimming and the finer details of garden care.”

Not only that, she rewarded the employee who impressed each week via a social media post.

“I also created an “Employee of the Week” feature on our Instagram Story to recognize outstanding work. Employees could even include that recognition on their résumés.”

Just a 17-year-old high school senior, Rose—who is business these days helping lead her high school tennis team to the district finals—says the experience of being an entrepreneur left her with experiences she’ll use long-term in her college and subsequent work career.

“Stop and Smell the Roses taught me that leadership is about more than assigning tasks,” she adds. “It means understanding people, recognizing their strengths, and creating opportunities for them to succeed.“

It also taught her something she really wants to stay away from in the future.

“I also learned that running a gardening business means dealing with worms,” she concludes. “And I’m still not a fan of that part!”

Line Drive Media’s Brentt Eads caught up with Rose to dive more into her business venture she founded; here’s more insight into how she made it work…

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Our Q&A with Rose

Tell us about your business and what you do to run it?

I’m the founder of Stop and Smell the Roses.

I schedule jobs, manage payroll, oversee my employees while they work, and often get my hands dirty and work alongside them when I’m in town.

When did the gardening idea first come to you and why?

I started my gardening and property maintenance business because I wanted work experience, financial independence, and a way to pay for my own expenses.

Gas isn’t cheap!

Our property always had gardening projects that needed attention, so I started there.

Before long, neighbors began asking for help, too. I had always wanted to work at Dick’s Sporting Goods, but between softball tournaments, tennis practices, clubs, and volunteering, I couldn’t commit to a traditional part-time job.

Instead of letting my busy schedule hold me back, I decided to create a business of my own—one that would let me earn money, gain real-world experience, and build something around the activities I love.

Did you have experience gardening at home?

I had some gardening experience growing up. In California, we spent a lot of time outdoors, and my mom made sure we helped take care of the yard.

During COVID, we even built an entire rock walkway using rocks from the beach and planted lots of succulents because of the lack of rain.

After moving to Pennsylvania, I continued gardening during the summers. Our property has beautiful hydrangeas and roses, and I’ve always loved flowers. Those early experiences gave me a starting point and inspired me to turn something I enjoyed into a business.

Is the business run from your house, or do you work at other people’s properties?

I manage most of the business from my phone, but the actual work takes place at clients’ properties.

I even use AI tools like Nano Banana to help create invoices and design promotional flyers.

What did you have to do to get the business up and running?

Getting the business off the ground was challenging because no one knew about it at first. I created flyers to recruit employees interested in flexible, part-time work and started with one main client.

As word spread, more neighbors began asking for help.

I launched an Instagram account to promote the business, attract new clients, and recruit employees. Between social media and word-of-mouth referrals, I gradually built a team and a growing customer base.

I learned quickly that starting a business takes more than a good idea; you have to put yourself out there, build relationships, and earn people’s trust.

What were some early business obstacles you faced?

Scheduling was one of my biggest early challenges. Coordinating too many employees at once became overwhelming, so I scaled back and built a smaller team with two people working alongside me.

Weather was another obstacle since rain could delay projects and disrupt our schedule.

What was your first big success or accomplishment?

One of my biggest accomplishments was growing the business to six part-time employees while managing multiple projects. It was rewarding to have customers trust me with their properties and to create flexible work opportunities for other students.

But my proudest idea was starting an “Employee of the Week” recognition on our Instagram Story. I wanted my employees to feel appreciated and have something meaningful to add to their résumés. Building a business was exciting but helping others gain experience and recognition made it even more worthwhile.

How many hours do you dedicate to the business each day or week?

During the summer, I dedicate about 10-15 hours a week to the business, depending on the number of projects and my softball tournament schedule. I manage scheduling, communicate with clients and employees, and handle day-to-day operations around my other commitments. Whenever possible, I also work alongside my team.

Will the business continue when you go to college?

I hope to continue the business in some capacity when I go to college. I started it to create something flexible enough to fit around my commitments, and I plan to apply that same approach moving forward.

Balancing the business with college and a summer collegiate softball league will require some adjustments, but I’ve learned how to delegate responsibilities, organize a team, and keep projects running smoothly.

My employees and clients are also excited to keep the business going, which makes me optimistic about its future. I’m proud of what I’ve built and hope to continue growing it while pursuing my academic and athletic goals.

How do you think the business experience will help you with what you want to do at Harvard?

Starting my own business has taught me valuable lessons in entrepreneurship, organization, and leadership. Working with employees and clients from different backgrounds has also pushed me beyond the athletic environments I’m used to.

I’ve learned that effective leadership isn’t just about assigning tasks; it’s about recognizing people’s strengths, building trust, and helping others succeed.

At Harvard, I hope to bring that mindset to the softball team, student organizations, and new opportunities I explore. I’m excited to keep learning from others, collaborate with people who have different perspectives, and use my experience to make a positive impact on the Harvard community.

Is the business continuing to grow?

The business continues to grow during its busy spring and summer seasons, largely through social media, referrals, and repeat customers. As I’ve gained experience, I’ve become more effective at scheduling employees, managing projects, and matching people to tasks that fit their strengths.

I’m proud to have grown it into a manageable small business while balancing school, softball, tennis, and volunteering.

Rather than growing beyond what I can responsibly manage, I’ve focused on building a reliable team and creating a business that can continue to thrive alongside my other commitments.

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The Kitten Who Became Part of the Business

One of the most unexpected challenges this summer Rose faced began with a tiny meow from behind a bush at one of her clients’ properties.

She picks up the story from there.

“My part-time employee, Aapakshya, discovered a little baby kitten hiding in the bush and it was so tiny and cute that she immediately called me. Luckily, I was between games at a softball tournament, so I was able to help figure out what to do.”

Rose encouraged Aapakshya to try a nearby fire station, hoping someone there could help.

“Unfortunately, they couldn’t take it,” she continues. “Aapakshya then tried a nearby animal hospital, but they couldn’t take the kitten either.”

“Not knowing where else to turn, she made the decision to take the little kitten home with her to keep it safe. And then, incredibly, she returned to finish her work!”

That earned Aapakshya Employee of the Week honors, but the story didn’t end there.

“Over the next several days, we spent hours texting back and forth, trying to find the kitten a permanent home,” Rose explains.

“I was still managing the situation remotely while balancing softball, and we used social media and word-of-mouth to spread the word.”

“We eventually found a wonderful family to adopt the kitten, whom we named Brad. Knowing the family already had another cat made us feel confident that Brad would be loved and well cared for.”

Rose says she learned that in business, like in softball, you can be thrown a curve every now and then.

“The experience was a reminder that running a business rarely goes exactly as planned,” she admits.

“I had started the day expecting to manage gardening projects, employee schedules, and client communication—not coordinate a kitten rescue from a softball tournament!”

“But leadership means adapting when unexpected situations arise, communicating with your team, and caring about people and problems beyond the job itself.”

“I was especially proud of Aapakshya for going above and beyond to help Brad.”

“In the end, the experience showed me that the best part of building a business isn’t always the work you complete; sometimes, it’s the people you work with and the difference you can make together.”