Some students worry about tests and projects while others at Edison High are tackling a bigger challenge: money. From part-time jobs to stock investments, students’ financial choices are already building their futures.
While some approach money carefully, others admit they are still learning from their mistakes. Financial responsibility has become an increasingly relevant topic among EHS students as costs for college tuition, cars, and houses continue to increase.
Some students have taken an early interest in investing, using the stock market as a way to grow their savings over time. Instead of spending extra cash immediately, these students research companies, track industry trends, and think about long-term profit and investments.
“Whenever I get money from my parents or for any sort of reason, I usually save it for a while and look at stock market trends and where I should look to invest my money in,” Vinay Rajan ‘29 said.
By investing in stocks, students like Rajan hope to save money for college tuition and other future goals. This strategy reflects an awareness that has spread among EHS students about financial literacy and effective money management in a modern world.
Other students focus on earning a steady income through part-time jobs. Whether working in local restaurants, tutoring, or retail stores, they balance schoolwork with shifts after class or on weekends.
Ahriel Williams ‘26, who works at Raising Cane’s, said, “I get my paycheck on Tuesday. Whatever is left next Tuesday, I will put in savings.”
Having a job not only provides spending money but also teaches time management and responsibility. Students with jobs say that earning their own paycheck rather than receiving money from their parents or family makes them more mindful about how they spend that cash.
Some EHS students have a different plan for spending their money. Ryan Li ‘26, for example, said, “Managing money responsibly has been a challenge. I’ll tell myself I’ll save next time, but then when I see something I want, I just end up buying it.”
For students like Li, having easy access to online shopping and debit cards makes spending feel effortless. Because these students do not always track where their money goes, small purchases add up faster than they expect.
Overall, the way students at Edison High manage their money reflects a wide range of spending habits and priorities. But, they all demonstrate an important reality about the earnings you have, no matter how you’ve acquired it: Financial literacy is not created overnight but rather through consistency and reflection.
