We all have dreams when we’re young. Some people want to become a movie star; some wish to be an Olympic champion; while others dream about becoming the Prime Minister.  When I was 14, my dream was to be happy and financially successful: to have a big job, own a big house, drive a fancy car, and the list can go on and on.

But for those who fail to plan for the future, dreams remain just that…dreams.

On March 29th, four staff from the Partnership including President and CEO Paul Kent took part in Junior Achievement’s Economics for Success Program, helping grade 9 students at Duncan MacMillan High School in Sheet Harbour plan for their future.

We shared our experience and business expertise to help them understand important concepts and explore their personal finance, education and career options.  Careful not to “burst their bubble”, we provided practical planning tips and an idea of the skills needed to have a career and be financially independent and successful. 

It was wonderful to spend a morning with dynamic and promising students. They were engaged and eager to learn how making the right choices could help them achieve their goals. Personally, I had a lot of fun. It made me think back to when I was 14 and how great it would have been to have someone share advice and information about planning for my future.
 
I’m really looking forward to participating again next year in this valuable program.

For more information about Junior Achievement’s programs and services in Nova Scotia, please visit http://nova-scotia.jacan.org/.

Jackie Guo is the Coordinator of International MBA Student Connector Program. In addition to his work at the Partnership, Jackie is an active volunteer for Halifax United Way.