Growing up, I was never pressured by my parents to pursue higher education, but the societal expectation was clear: college was the next step. From an early age, the question wasn’t whether I would go to college, it was “What college are you going to?” That push toward higher education may be well-intentioned, but it comes with a real problem: young people are asked to make major financial decisions before they fully understand what they’re signing up for.

In my own experience, I was never taught the basics of how loans work, how debt builds, how credit affects your future, or even how to build a real budget. That lack of financial education leaves too many young people taking on life-changing debt before they truly understand the long-term impact.

This matters because student loans now account for over $1.5 trillion in debt in the United States. According to Forbes, nearly 45 million borrowers are managing student debt, and many are learning the basics of personal finance only after it’s already too late.

We need to equip young people with the tools and knowledge to make informed financial decisions. I am advocating for the mandatory inclusion of a comprehensive personal finance course in every high school curriculum across the nation. This course should cover practical topics like budgeting, credit, debt and loans, saving, taxes, and investing. By doing so, we can give students the skills they need to navigate the financial world responsibly.

Implementing a course like this will take collaboration between educators, financial experts, and state education departments to build a curriculum that is practical, engaging, and effective. States like Ohio and Alabama have already taken steps in this direction by introducing personal finance classes with positive outcomes.

It’s time to make sure every student graduates high school with a real understanding of personal finance. This knowledge can become the foundation for smarter choices, less avoidable debt, and a stronger future.

Join me in calling on educational leaders and policymakers to prioritize financial literacy. Sign this petition to make personal finance education a requirement before young adults take on college loans and step into higher education.

This is a sponsored petition. Learn more here.