Future Adults of America (FAFA) by Briana

Future Adults of America (FAFA) by Briana - September 2019 Scholarship Essay

If I had the opportunity to create an extracurricular activity for high school students, it would be a club that offers lessons in skills need to thrive in adulthood. I would name the club the Future Adults of Americans or (FAFA) for short. Transitioning from adolescence to adulthood is extremely challenging for young people today. I can personally attest to this. After graduating from high school, there were many things that I was completely unaware of. I had no idea how to open a bank account, I didn’t understand what a W2 was, and I was confused about the process of looking for a part-time job. My mother taught me many things growing up, but these critical skills were not a part of her teachings. I don't want other young people to be at a disadvantage; I want all students to have their best foot forward. Imagine all the money I could have saved if I knew how to open a bank account before graduating high school. I would have been able to purchase my first car a lot sooner. To prevent the future class of graduating high school students from having a lack of knowledge, I would implement a club that teaches students these essential basic life skills. Each month, the club will focus on different aspects of adult life such as finance, car ownership, college admissions, basic cooking skills and, etc.

For example, in September, the club will be of focus on students owning their first vehicle. For the first club meeting, the club leaders will go through the car buying process with the entire group of members. They will discuss the pros and cons of purchasing a car with a dealership versus purchasing a vehicle with a private party. The many options in financing a car will also be addressed. The members of the club will then be given a homework assignment on researching a car they are interested in. The students will be instructed to use online tools such as Kelly Blue Books to purchase a car that is reliable and cost-effective. The following meeting would be an interactive exercise on car maintenance. The club may hire a car mechanic who teaches students how to change a tire, check the oil of a vehicle, check the pressure of a tire and have an understanding of what each light means on the dashboard. With these lessons, students will have more confidence in making important life decisions.