When Erika H. James, the esteemed dean of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, engaged with over 90 high school students and teachers from New York City public schools during their campus visit on November 8, 2024 (as depicted above), she passionately emphasized the significance of cultivating a robust network of peers and professionals. "Build those relationships to assist you in navigating new pathways," she fervently urged.

Getting Past the Hard Part

As the day progressed, these students, all participants in the Wharton Global Youth Program's online Embedded Pre-baccalaureate Essentials of Personal Finance course, began to act upon Dean James's advice. They explored the Wharton campus during a thrilling scavenger hunt, engaged in meaningful conversations with new friends, posed questions to the team members from Wharton Global Youth and the National Education Equity Lab, and felt a newfound sense of empowerment both academically and as many of them experienced their first college visit outside their home state.During the scavenger hunt, they discovered Dr. Serguei Netessine's photo. Joley, a sophomore from Fordham High School for the Arts in the Bronx, along with her friend Kihanny, was initially hesitant about the personal finance class. She said, "I felt like I needed to have an open mind to everything. When you do, you can achieve anything. I wasn't open to the personal finance class at first as I thought it would be overly difficult. But the concepts aren't as hard as they seem. You just need to put in the effort and listen attentively to what is being taught. Finance is a fundamental knowledge that everyone should acquire."

Discovering the Power of Personal Finance

As a senior, Rehan E. from Long Island City High School in New York was particularly grateful for his newfound personal finance knowledge as he looked ahead to life after high school. He noted, "As a senior, I'm applying to colleges while also gaining insights into student loans and how to finance my college education. This is something that is directly benefiting me right now. I'm applying as an engineering major. What I love about Wharton's personal finance class is that although it primarily caters to business majors, it is applicable in our own lives as well – whether you're an engineer, pursuing law or medicine, you can take this class and utilize what you've learned." Rehan has applied to eight schools, including Penn. He also found Wharton's guardian lion during his campus visit.

Struggle as a Path to Success

High school teachers serving as chaperones for this campus visit from three schools – including Harlem Children's Promise – reflected on the various aspects of the Embedded Pre-baccalaureate opportunity for their students. Sonja Gracy, an instructor at Fordham High School for the Arts, who had co-taught in the Embedded Pre-baccalaureate program Grit Lab 101 led by Wharton and Penn professor Angela Duckworth, was impressed by her students' level of dedication. She said, "They were captivated by the notion that one can experience struggle and that this struggle can actually be a crucial component of success. I was delighted to witness my students recognize the value of the course and come to class with full investment every day. They were highly engaged with the material."Dr. James believes that exposure to different learning approaches, along with new professionals and career paths, can open one's eyes to a world of available options. As teachers and students boarded the buses to return home on November 8, they pondered the dean's message of personal growth through opportunities and experiences. Rehan reflected, "I think the Wharton Global Youth Program helps you prepare for college coursework even before you enter college. And this campus – it truly is amazing."