On Nov. 25, room 229 buzzed with an energy no one expected for a Wednesday afternoon. The seats filled quickly until the investing seminar — sponsored by the Elmont Business Honor Society, the Investment Club and FBLA — became a standing-room-only event.
At the front of the room, Advisers Mrs. McGarry and Mr. Teemsma greeted students. For many attendees, this was their first real introduction to the world of investing, and the excitement was mixed with a quiet nervousness. They said, Investing isn’t just for adults in suits. It’s for anyone willing to learn. Murmurs of agreement rippled through the crowd.
The seminar opened with the basics: what investments are and why they grow. Students leaned forward as charts lit up the screen, showing how small amounts could multiply over time. Gasps and wide eyes followed every graph that curved upward.
Then came the part everyone secretly worried about: fear. What if we lose money? That’s what scares most of us. Fear is normal, but knowledge reduces fear. The presenters’ message was to start small, understand what you’re investing in, and that your biggest risk is never starting at all.
The presenters then broke down simple first steps: opening a custodial account with a parent, researching index funds, tracking companies’ students already knew and setting goals. They provided resource packets filled with beginner guides, websites/apps and personal finance influencers.
When the Q&A session began, hands shot up fast. Questions ranged from “What percentage of income should be invested?” Do I have to wait until I have a job?” and How do I start?” Each answer built confidence, turning uncertainty into curiosity.
By the end of the seminar, students who had arrived timidly felt a bit more confident and had a better understanding of how investments can grow wealth. The seminar sponsors were excited. The goal had been simple — to introduce students to investing. But as they watched students exiting, they realized they had sparked something much bigger.
