HENDERSON, Texas — When you think of kids earning extra money during the summer, you probably think of mowing lawns and going door to door. But one East Texas teenager is thinking outside the box.

In Rusk County, 17-year-old Kennedy Miller, a 12th-grader at Henderson High School, stands on the side of the road selling watermelons to earn money for his tuition. His entrepreneurial career began in middle school, selling candy.

“Growing up, I always heard these stories and I knew that one day I wanted to get paid to do something like that,” Kennedy Miller said.

These aren’t just any watermelons – they’re watermelons from Grapeland, a small town in Houston County.

“To get there, we have to get up early every morning. The working hours are very long. It's very hot,” said Kennedy Miller.

For him, the melons are not only a way to put extra money into his pocket, but also an investment in his future.

“I want to go to (Texas) A&M,” Kennedy Miller said.

His goal is to become an executive producer of high or low budget Hollywood films.

His father Steve said the problem was that Kennedy was having trouble finding a place to sell the watermelons.

After two of the locations where he was offered for sale withdrew their invitation, last Thursday a local business offered to temporarily allow him to sell watermelons on their property.

“I want to help him as much as I can to achieve his dreams,” said Steve Miller.

This is not only a financial opportunity for him, but also brings the father-son duo together.

“It's not just about him following in my footsteps, it's about him using my footsteps to chart his own path. He has a bright future ahead of him and I'm so proud of him,” Steve Miller said. “I'm happy and honored to be his father.”