Brian Wickstrom at St. John Bosco: Making Financial Literacy a Graduation Requirement

During my tenure as President and CEO of St. John Bosco High School, one of the initiatives I was especially proud to support was strengthening the practical preparation students received for life beyond high school.

That included expanding Financial Literacy from an educational offering into a graduation requirement.

A Catholic education should prepare students not only academically and spiritually, but also to become responsible adults who can make thoughtful decisions about their families, careers, resources and futures. Financial literacy is an important part of that preparation.

Preparing Students for Real Life

The Financial Literacy curriculum at St. John Bosco focused on practical concepts students would use throughout adulthood, including budgeting, saving, debt, investing, wealth creation and protection, negotiation, professionalism and long-term financial planning.

These are skills that affect nearly every young person's future.

Students may leave high school prepared for college academically, but they also need to understand how to manage a budget, evaluate financial decisions, build savings and plan responsibly for the future.

Making Financial Literacy part of the graduation experience was one way of ensuring those lessons reached students throughout the school rather than remaining limited to a specialized pathway or elective.

Leadership Means Building Sustainable Programs

One of my core beliefs as an educational leader is that meaningful innovation needs to become part of an institution rather than depend upon one person.

At St. John Bosco, my leadership focused on developing programs that could continue serving students well into the future.

Financial Literacy is a good example.

The program continues to be part of St. John Bosco's academic curriculum today, demonstrating how an initiative can become embedded within a school's educational model.

Catholic Education and Stewardship

There is also a natural connection between financial literacy and Catholic education.

Students should learn that money is a tool rather than an end in itself. Responsible stewardship requires discipline, prudence, generosity and an understanding of one's obligations to family and community.

Teaching young people how to manage resources responsibly can therefore support both practical preparation and character formation.

Looking Ahead

As technology and artificial intelligence transform the workforce, schools have an even greater responsibility to prepare students for a rapidly changing world.

That preparation should include rigorous academics, strong values, communication skills, critical thinking and practical knowledge students can carry into adulthood.

Financial literacy is one example of how schools can connect education to the realities students will face after graduation.

My experience at St. John Bosco reinforced something I continue to believe deeply: the strongest educational institutions preserve their mission while continually asking how they can better prepare the next generation to lead, serve and thrive.