An alumnus of the high school where I have taught for 18 years came back as a passionate advocate for personal finance education. He had attended a top-notch college and racked up $120,000 in student loan debt. Determined to pay it off, he set out on a path to be debt-free, but soon discovered how difficult it can be without a financial education. This young man never took my class, but he was back to tell the current students at my high school that this was the most important class he never took.

His experience and testimonial ring profoundly. There are too many stories like this that don't have a happy financial ending. My passion for personal finance education is simple. It is a belief that no one should leave high school without a financial education. For a high school student, life is about to get real. The lessons learned in a rigorous financial education course are lessons that apply immediately in life and into the foreseeable future. The power of a financial education is something I have witnessed first hand. 

"Your class was one of the most important classes I took in high school." 

I have heard that statement more times than I can count. As a teacher, I have witnessed first-hand the ah-ha moments in the classroom, have heard from parents the financial questions their son or daughter is now asking them, and have seen behavioral changes and shifts in mindset about money. I have experienced the eagerness of students wanting to learn more.

The student who to this day continues to email me multiple times per year to ask my opinion on buying a home, financing a vehicle, and current rates on low-risk investment options.

The student who excitedly approached me at a park to tell me about her first year of college. She had to take out some student loan debt, but worked all summer, budgeting her money to focus on paying off her loans so she could start each year fresh and debt-free. 

The parents who sat down at Parent/Teacher Conferences and were so excited to tell me that their daughter approached them to open up a Roth IRA to begin investing in her financial future. 

The student who writes to thank me for the knowledge he learned. He still uses the budgeting sheet from my class and has purchased a home and started his own business at the age of 21. 

The student who I helped step-by-step set up a Vanguard Roth IRA because she wanted to be like all of the examples I gave in class.

The parents who excitedly tell me that their son is now asking them about their credit score and thank me for teaching this information and opening the financial dialog in their household. 

The student who stays after class to ask questions in order to positively prepare for her own financial future while watching her parents go through bankruptcy. 

The reason I am passionate about financial education is because the long term impact on a student's life is incalculable. Now, as I come on board at NGPF, I am excited to work with other passionate educators to improve the financial lives of students beyond my classroom. 

About the Author

Amanda Volz

Amanda joins the NGPF Team with over 20 years of experience teaching personal finance. During that time, she led her students to hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships, won multiple awards, and most importantly, impacted the financial lives of thousands of high school students. Amanda prides herself on being an educational leader and is constantly looking for innovative ways to make the classroom relevant, rigorous, and fun. She is a passionate advocate for financial education and has been a long-time member of the NGPF community. Fun fact - Amanda was NGPF’s first teacher account! When Amanda isn’t working, she enjoys cooking, gardening, and traveling with her husband and two children.