START THE SCHOOL YEAR OFF RIGHT!

This week marks the start of a new school year for students all over Southeast Florida. Looking back I remember always looking forward to the first day of school and wondering if I would like my teachers or make new friends. One thing about me is I'm always looking for ways to stand out from the crowd, and often I did that by finding humor in things and thinking creatively…like turning the required uniform tie, into a bow tie. 

Yes this is actually me, with my over-sized bow tie

High school can be an exciting place to experiment with your personality and if it is a new school, then it is practically a clean slate where you can recreate yourself however you see fit.

I also always loved learning so I always got excited about what kind of things I was going to learn in each class. Now that I’m out and I can look back I realize there really were no classes on how to take care of my own finances as well as be responsible with my money so that I could structure the lifestyle I wanted once I graduated. If I could go back to high school, I would have looked for ways to get a head start on finances so that I didn’t feel so panicked and out of place after graduation.

As part of the Gen Next Program, Tropical Financial CreditUnion is visiting schools across South Florida for this very reason. We are teaching students about everything from the difference between debit cards and credit cards, to budgeting basics and the difference between leasing and financing a first car. If you would like us to come visit your school, head over to www.tropicalfcu.com/GenNext to submit a request.  

High school is the best time to get a head start on skills you will need for the rest of your life.  The more you learn, the better off you will be in the next stage of life.

^Alec