COP Visits tastytrade
The Metro Achievement Center’s College Orientation Program (COP) was the first program in Chicago to host Rock the Street, Wall Street (RTSWS) financial literacy program for girls. After four sessions of budgeting, trading, and the basics of finance, the students were invited to tour tastytrade in downtown Chicago.
The students met financial traders, learned about the different positions at tastytrade, toured the building and heard a panel of three women speak about their career paths. “I thought all the people in this field went to school for it, but many of these women didn’t even study math. One of them studied communications,” said Brittany Oduro, an 11th grader at Metro.
“She told us to take risks. That things aren’t going to fall in your lap, you need to take initiative.”
But, the best advice the girls received was not about their budget. It was about their life. “She told us to take risks. That things aren’t going to fall in your lap, you need to take initiative,” recalled Berlinda Teyeson, a 12th grader.
Twelve students participated in the RTSWS class—each for their own reasons. Some because they were interested in pursuing a financial trading as a career, others because they wanted to learn to live a budget. It is clear that regardless of their reasons for choosing to participate in the program, they all left with stronger financial literacy.
“The Rock the Street, Wall Street Program has been an entirely positive experience and we are absolutely trying to incorporate it in our future curriculum,” said Erin Aldrich, the Metro director.
For more information on Rock the Street, Wall Street click here.