November

You likely have been asked or have asked the age-old question: “What do you want to be when you grow up?” But have you noticed that the answers to this question are increasingly more diverse?

Over the past few decades alone, advances in technology have energized a global economy and inspired possibilities that can — and often do — complicate student choices.

To help students make informed decisions, the Richmond and San Francisco Feds created an interactive tool called Invest in What’s Next: Life After High School. In the first lesson, students inventory their interests and goals and explore various career options. In the second lesson, they use this information to create a plan and budget that reflects their personal choices. “The lessons provided by this tool are designed to help high school students find the path that is right for them following graduation,” explained Nick Haltom, the Richmond Fed’s director of Economic Education. So far, more than 9,000 students have enrolled in the online course.   

Our Economic Education team recently introduced students to the course while highlighting the variety of jobs available at the Richmond Fed during the Mission Tomorrow career event held October 27–28 in Richmond, Virginia. The Bank was among 100 businesses that provided information and career exploration activities for 12,000 public school eighth graders and their teachers.

Teachers have played a key role in helping us create economic education and financial literacy resources for students. Our Teacher Collaborative Committee, for example, is comprised of regional economics and personal finance teachers who provided feedback on Invest in What’s Next. Throughout the year, our Economic Education team has been involved in a variety of programs districtwide to help educate teachers and students about making this first major financial decision.

“Invest in What’s Next is a great program for students to explore career options for their future,” said Monica Van Arsdale, Monacan High School teacher and a member of the Bank’s Teacher Collaborative Committee. “I highly recommend this educational tool to all high school students.”