Goal Card Program

On Friday, October 5^th, the RISE Foundation, in partnership with SunTrust Bank, hosted the Bank on Memphis On My Own financial simulation experience with graduating seniors at Booker T. Washington High School.  The event took place from 9 am to 11 am in the school’s South City Resource Center with participation from over 50 seniors and 15 volunteers. 

The On My Own program is an interactive financial simulation designed for youth ages 13-20. Each participant was given a personality test prior to the event and was assigned a job based upon their assessment score. During the simulation, students become the major income provider for their household which may include a spouse and/or child.  The goal of the On My Own program is to provide students with insight regarding their future financial health by teaching life lessons based on their choices. It is expected that young people will realize the connection between personal lifestyle choices and financial well-being and will be able to put that knowledge to practice when they become financially responsible for their own lives.

The seniors dealt well with the responsibilities of being an adult and primary provider and learned a lot about living within their means.  Several students stated that they needed to go back and rethink their housing and child care choices, while others opted out of buying a vehicle and settled on a bus pass or bicycle. “It really put into perspective some of the decisions that my mom has to make when she gets paid,” stated senior Teyanna B., “now when she refuses to buy certain things that I want, it makes more sense to me.”