Beyond the classroom: How Money Coach shaped their futures
“I grew up seeing money as a fear. It controlled my family. But the Money Coach program helped me shift my perspective from money controls me to I control money.”
-Nathalia
Your Two Cents brings together the voices of Money Coach alums and local business professionals who are interested in learning more about the program’s impact. At our recent event, an all-women panel of Money Coach alumnae shared how the mentoring program shaped their lives. Their stories were raw, real, and filled with gratitude for the coaches who invested their time in them.
The alumnae on the panel completed Money Coach anywhere from one to ten years ago. Some are in college. Others are launching careers. But they all share one thing in common: they still carry the lessons of Money Coach with them.
For Nathalia, Money Coach shifted a lifelong mindset:
“I grew up seeing money as a fear. It controlled my family. But the Money Coach program helped me shift my perspective from money controls me to I control money.”
While taking the Money Coach program, Claudia used Money Path, SecureFutures’ academic, career, and financial planning tool, to realize that college was an option she could actually afford. Later, at a previous Your Two Cents event, she had a flash mentoring conversation that shifted her thinking:
“It made me realize I can save for a better future. Someone at the event told me I didn’t need a four-year university to get a good education — and that’s when I decided on MATC.”
For Taleavia, who completed the program ten years ago, it was the coaches and the budgeting lessons that have stuck with her:
“It wasn’t just about financial lessons. The coaches kept checking in, reminding me of my goals. I still use my Money Coach budget sheets today. My husband and I recently bought our first home, and I was able to use the tracking sheets from the program.”
Julissa described how the program’s impact keeps showing up in her life, through mentors, opportunities, and financial independence:
“My coach Kiana still answers my questions three years later. She invited me to speak on a previous Your Two Cents panel and I was able to get an internship at Baird through networking at the event. I recently studied abroad in South Korea, without ever having to ask my parents for money because of what I learned about saving in the program.”
Anna reflected on how Money Coach helped her build practical habits for financial independence as she prepared for college:
“I’m prioritizing my money right now, and I plan to keep doing that in the future. Money Coach taught me how to stretch my skills and resources to build a secure future — even at a school as expensive as Marquette.”
For Miera, the emotional safety and encouragement from her coach made all the difference:
“My coach Marina never looked at me weird when I asked questions. She gave me details, not just quick answers. She helped me realize that money isn’t just for survival—it can help you grow.”
Now working with youth experiencing homelessness, Kat passes on the lessons she’s learned:
“I teach the young women I work with how to recognize wants versus needs. Nails, lashes, rent — what can you do yourself to save? Budgeting helped me buy my first car. That’s the kind of mindset shift I try to give others now.”
Dejah’s journey brought her back to where it all started seven years ago. A Money Coach alum from Carmen High School, she’s now Assistant Director of Career Readiness at Carmen — and a site partner for the Money Coach program:
“I get to tell students: ‘Let me show you my budget,’ the one I set up in the program. The hardest part is knowing we can’t serve everyone. There’s a limit to how many students we can accept. But I make sure every student knows this program is powerful. If they can’t join, I still walk them through budgeting, tracking, and connect them to people who can help. I know how pivotal this is, and now I get to help the next generation build that same foundation.”
From learning to budget, to buying their first cars and homes, to guiding others through financial stability, these women are proof that financial education in high school isn’t just useful — it’s transformative.
