Faurias of Crespi Join Ranks of Self-Employed to Earn Summer Cash

The unpleasant prospect of spending the summer flipping burgers at a fast-food restaurant prompted Crespi football player Quinn Fauria to take matters into his own hands. Because he couldn’t stand the thought of working for someone else, he started his own business.

The 18-year-old senior hired his 16-year-old brother Christian, a tight end on the Crespi football team, and together they formed their own bricklaying company. They specialized in small residential jobs, fixing up old patios, walls and mailboxes around the San Fernando Valley.

They learned the bricklaying trade from their father Ashley, a member of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Ashley learned the trade from his father while growing up in New Orleans. Ashley served as adviser and helped work up estimates for his sons, but the boys did all the work--and kept all the money.

Quinn, a starting linebacker and fullback, estimated his earnings at a “couple of thousand dollars” for about 30 jobs.

“I was sitting in an art class last spring thinking about the summer and I came up with this idea,” he said. “It’s a good way to make money and I like being my own boss.”

Ashley said he lets his sons make their own decisions but is confident that Quinn’s profitable summer will not interfere with plans to attend college next year.

“That kind of work is really hard and they’ll appreciate school more and want to go to college,” he said.

Quinn, who is banking on a football scholarship, isn’t so sure that’s the lesson he’s learned this summer.

“I don’t know about appreciating school more,” he said. “But I appreciate money more now.”