School teachs students about taxes too early by Dilan

School teachs students about taxes too early by Dilan - June 2025 Scholarship Essay

One elective I believe is ignored and underutilized to its utmost capability is financial literacy. Financial literacy introduces the fundamentals of personal finance including tax management, salary comprehension, effective budgeting, and preparation for important financial duties such savings accounts and loans. It addresses significant issues including establishing a retirement account, obtaining financial aid, and credit building. Financial literacy courses are sometimes only offered as elective courses even while many believe this information is critical for every rising senior.

In my experience, the importance of this class was clear, but the timing and availability were not helpful. I was offered financial literacy in my sophomore year of high school. At that time, I had not applied for a job, a college, or even a driving permit. Much of the information, though valuable, felt out of place and was difficult to apply to my life. Much of what I had learned had faded from recollection by the time I was really required use of it. Many students face this typical problem. Often without appropriate direction or encouragement, we are first exposed to these real-world issues long before we could utilize them.

This is why I strongly believe financial literacy should be a required class, especially for juniors and seniors. It should be placed at a point in a student’s life where the lessons can immediately be used, such as when filling out financial aid applications, planning for college expenses, or starting part time jobs. These are not just school lessons; they are life lessons that affect long term success and stability.

Many students come from families where financial planning is not explicitly addressed, hence they are not ready to manage money on their own. Making this class mandatory would help close that gap and create more confident, informed young adults.

In the end, preparing students for the real world should be one of the main goals of education. Teaching financial literacy as a required class, and at the right time, is a simple but powerful step toward achieving that goal.