Credit Scores Over Calculus: The Class We Really Need by Royal

Credit Scores Over Calculus: The Class We Really Need by Royal - June 2025 Scholarship Essay

As the authority to convert one elective into a mandatory course for all students I would choose financial literacy. People need to understand money management essentials like budgeting and saving to survive in today's world but schools fail to teach this crucial subject. Too often, students learn about money management only after they find themselves buried in student loan debt, struggling with bad credit, or dealing with financial choices they were unprepared for. That’s not education—that’s trial by fire.

Financial literacy ought to be a mandatory course as it provides practical skills that determine someone’s lifelong financial security and self-sufficiency. It’s not just about math—it’s about mindset. The goal is to learn credit operation basics and the accumulation of interest to develop lasting wealth instead of pursuing immediate financial gains. These skill sets offer pathways out of poverty while providing vital knowledge to underserved communities who typically lack this educational information in their homes.

The lessons I learned about focused preparation for future challenges came from earning two associate degrees through dual enrollment before my high school graduation. My international study experiences in East Africa and the Bahamas along with my 200+ hours of community service have revealed the widespread necessity for financial education. Following my graduation with a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a Finance specialization from Morehouse College I intend to develop financial literacy programs aimed at young people in my community.

I will require this class even if schools do not make it mandatory. My goal is to establish educational workshops along with mentorship programs that provide middle and high school students with fundamental knowledge about saving money, budgeting principles, credit building techniques, and investment strategies. My goal is to teach young people about money management before they face financial challenges without warning. Financial knowledge gives individuals the power to transform their own lives which creates positive changes in their bank accounts along with their mindset and future while strengthening their family and community.

Teaching financial literacy with the same intensity as math and science would create a transformative impact on future generations. I will join the movement for change in my community until national reforms in financial education take place. Financial literacy needs to be an essential part of education rather than an optional subject.