Senior student describes how Whittier Regional’s economics course teaches investing and retirement basics

Senior student Adam Alaw outlined the economics and stock-market investing elective before the Whittier Regional Vocational Technical School Committee, saying the course mixes economic principles with hands-on stock-market study and personal finance basics.

Adam described core lessons as the S&P 500’s role, index funds, individual stocks, bonds and retirement accounts such as Roth IRAs. "There's nothing more important than understanding what to do with your money. Everybody's got money. Money is king," he told the committee, arguing the class gives students practical skills whether they enter the workforce directly or continue to college.

The committee asked about coverage of interest rates and whether students are likely to open retirement or brokerage accounts after taking the course. Adam and presenters said interest-rate topics were covered in discrete math and other classes, and committee members noted the district already offers a half-year financial literacy elective that many students have taken.

The presentation included a letter from James Donahghue Jr., a Whittier Tech teacher, praising the initiative as a foundation for students’ financial independence and endorsing the superintendent’s efforts to expand practical classes. Committee members congratulated Adam and discussed broader financial-literacy goals for the district.

What happens next: The committee praised the course and asked staff to continue aligning it with existing financial-literacy requirements; no formal action was required.