By Emma Moriarty

When most people hear the word “investment,” they think of esoteric economic concepts and terms which the public should not readily comprehend. However, senior Gyllian Gaylor now has a different interpretation of how menacing Tempe Prep’s “Investment Club” really is.

Before attending one of the Wednesday lunch sessions for the first time, Gyllian thought the club would not be accessible to Tempe Prep students who do not have prior knowledge of finance and economics. However, after she exited a 25-minute presentation on taxes and scholarships, she was able to add the terms “W-2,” “unsubsidized loan,” and “federal withholding” to her vocabulary and understanding.

Gyllian says, “I thought Investment Club was only for students who knew all about markets and stocks, but I found out that it is a club for people who want to learn about how the world works. Even though it was my first time, I felt welcomed and comfortable to ask any questions.”

Gyllian’s experience is not an outlier. Most of the students who are Investment Club members have never taken a course on the topics covered. In fact, the only regular members who have formal education in these matters are the advisor, Dr. Evans, and the founder, Aimee Cheng.

When students have questions about a certain subject or would like to go more in-depth about something, Dr. Evans makes sure to research it thoroughly or even bring in an expert on the topic. For example, participants have requested to learn about Social Security, Bitcoin, how scholarships are taxed, and how to buy stocks.

Dr. Evans explains why knowledge about these topics is important, especially for high school students: “Money is important in any culture. It can be the cause of both great good and great harm, which is a good reason to learn how to handle money. It is a powerful force in determining how happy you will end up. Not only because of fiscal gain, but also because of the freedom it gives a person.”

Investment Club meets every Wednesday at high school lunch in 406. Bring any topics or questions. We hope to see you there!