Class Spotlight: Personal Finance
By Jonah S.
For many teenagers, personal finance is not something that is thought of often. Of course, some may have a job that provides them with a bit of income, but since their parents are the primary providers of their household, finances are not a primary concern. However, it is never too early to start managing money well. The sooner one starts thinking about their finances, the better prepared one is for the future. That is why here at NorthStar they offer a Personal Finance course as part of the economics program.
Mr. Beeson teaches personal finance at NSA, and he also has experience teaching the subject at the college level. In fact, it was his time teaching in college that rejuvenated his passion for the topic. He recalled, “I was shocked, I say even appalled, at the number of college students that I taught that had no concept of money.” It was apparent to him that students were making poor financial decisions due to lack of education. This is why he views it as one of the most important classes you can take in high school. In fact, this is why NorthStar Academy was one of the first schools to allow personal finance to count towards the required economics credit.
Here at NSA, the personal finance course aims to equip students to make wise decisions with their money, tackling the issue from the perspective of biblical stewardship and working through the basics of income and making money. The course also gets students to think about the future, touching on bigger expenses such as buying a car or paying for college. The curriculum also incorporates concepts from Dave Ramsey, a Christian entrepreneur and financial advisor, about managing your money and debt.
While head knowledge is important, personal finance aims to do more than just teach, but be a conversation starter. “While I feel our course is awesome,” Mr. Beeson stated, “I can’t hit on every student’s personal family financial situation.” That is why the class encourages application and family discussion.
This course is helpful in teaching students how to be good stewards of what they are given. It is a great opportunity to learn and grow in the understanding of finance and a useful way to earn your economics credit.
Columns: 🔎Informational, 📓Class Spotlight
Jonah S. has been at NorthStar Academy for the past four years, this being his fifth and final year. He currently lives in the Middle East with his parents and younger brother. Some of the things he enjoys include reading, writing, watching movies, and playing video games. He also enjoys music, viola being his primary instrument, with piano being his secondary.