How My Life Plans Have Changed in the Last 6 Months

Personal Finance Lesson 135

In this assignment, I will write how my life plans have changed in the past 6 months as a result of this course.

In the Personal Finance course so far, I have learned many important skills. My life plans have changed in a few ways:

  • Time Management: I have been managing my time more than I had been before taking this course. I use a weekly planner, a calendar, and a checklist (both paper and digital versions). I feel that this has helped me manage my time better. I hope to continue doing this.
  • Investing: I have also learned some valuable investing skills, and I want to look into different forms of investing, such as stocks, precious metals, and Bitcoin.
  • Writing skills: This isn’t really a way that my life plans have changed, but my writing skills have certainly improved. Now that I think about it, this could bring up some potential job opportunities!
  • College: I still haven’t decided whether or not I want to go to college, but this course has given me valuable insight and it will help me make a decision later.

These are all ways that my plans have changed. Hopefully I can implement the skills learned in this course, and use them to my benefit.

College Majors

Personal Finance Lesson 130 Assignment

Today’s assignment was to write a short list of college majors I’d consider. Here are my top 3, with the reasons why I would choose them.

  1. Biology: I really enjoy natural sciences, and this major could open up a lot of potential career options. It is also in fairly high demand.
  2. Computer Programming/Science: I’m also interested in coding. These types of careers are in very high demand right now, and finding a job is probably not hard.
  3. Economics: Another career option that I’m interested in.

These careers are all in fairly high demand, and they would provide a decent starting income. College is years away, so who knows? Conditions might change, and I might change my interests.

15
Apr, 2025

Sam Walton

8G History Lesson 120 Assignment

This week’s assignment was to write a short article on an entrepreneur that had not been discussed in class. I will be writing about Sam Walton.

Life and Career

Sam Walton was born on March 29, 1918. His family moved a lot, and Sam did chores to make ends meet. They settled in Columbia, Missouri where his parents bought a farm. Walton attended college, receiving a degree in economics and then served in the military from 1942 to 1945.

While in the army, he realized that he wanted to go into business and retail. He bought his first small store in 1945. He started buying up Ben Franklin stores, which are basically like a modern-day Dollar General. By 1962, he owned 16 stores.

Walton started the first Wal-Mart in 1962. It was a type of discount store, and it was located in Rogers, Arkansas. He expanded the Wal-Mart (later renamed Walmart) chain, and added new outlets. It became a one-stop shop type of store, carrying many different kinds of goods.

Walton married Helen Robson, and they had 4 kids. Walton was also a Sunday school teacher in his local church.

At the time of Walton’s death in 1992, there were almost 2,000 Walmart stores across the nation. Sam Walton’s children are among the wealthiest people in the world today.

Sam Walton is remembered as an exemplary businessman, and his mark on America will never be forgotten.

Costs of College: An Interview

Personal Finance Lesson 115 Assignment

Today I will be asking my dad a few questions about his college experience.

How much did you spend each semester on books?

“At least 300-500 dollars. It was very expensive.”

What was the biggest unexpected financial burden you faced in college?

“The debt that I had to repay later, and all the time that I lost.”

If you could start college all over again, how could you have saved money by doing things differently?

“I would live with my grandma, so that I wouldn’t have to pay for room and board. My cousin did this when he went to college. Also I would take college courses in high school, so I could get a head start on my college credits. I would also cook my own food.”

Do you have any advice for young people who are looking to go to college?

“Try to find people who are doing the jobs you are interested in, and then apprentice with them or help them. Go to college if it is necessary to get the job you want.”

Is College Worth It

Personal Finance Lesson 110 Assignment

In today’s assignment, I will look at the benefits and disadvantages of going to college, and decide if it is worth it. Then I’ll explore college alternatives.

What college provides:

  • Education: This is what most people think of when they hear the word college. It is (usually) the main function of a college.
  • Social activities: Some colleges also provide activities, events, clubs, and other entertainment options.
  • Temporary Housing: If you are paying the fee for living on-campus, you have access to a dorm.
  • Degree: This sits under the education category. Part of what you pay for going to college is the Masters or Graduates degree that you will receive if you stick with it.

Disadvantages of college:

  • Price: Colleges are notoriously expensive, even the smaller-town community colleges! You will be paying for the education of course, but also your room (if you decide to get a room on-campus), your textbooks which can be surprisingly costly, and perhaps your food. Also your TIME!! College takes A TON of time. There are some ways to avoid these high prices and the cost of your time. I’ll be discussing them later.
  • Loans: This fits under the price category. You will probably have to take out loans to go to college, and you may be paying them back for a long time!
  • Stress: College is a very stressful time, and it can take a toll on health
  • Travel: If you are in an out of state college, you must account for travel costs.

Whether you choose to go to college or not is a big decision, but there is no one-size-fits-all answer. It all depends on your circumstances. If you are thinking about going to college, think about the alternatives. You could take dual-enrollment classes while in high school. You can also take an apprenticeship, which is basically what it sounds like. You are apprenticed to someone in a particular field and learn about their job.

Overall, college offers a wide variety of benefits, and can be very fun! But it can also be expensive and stressful. Make sure to weigh your options and make your decision carefully. Personally, I think I would consider an apprenticeship or dual enrollment classes.

Thanks for reading!