I grew up with a lot of examples of what not to do with money. Frugality was how I survived after leaving home at 15, but that was the extent of my financial literacy. When I worked the 4 a.m. shift at Petco, I would listen to the radio. One day Suze Orman was being interviewed about something called index fund investing, and said it was the best way for anyone to build long-term wealth at any income level.

I had just turned 18 and had a few thousand dollars saved. Later that week I walked across the street to Wells Fargo, where my checking account lived, and asked them to invest my money. The banker who worked with me was really kind and explained that he was going to put it all in something called the S&P 500. Every two weeks after I got paid, I would invest 10%. Less than a year later, I lost almost 50% of my net worth when the market crashed on September 15, 2008, one day after my 19th birthday and my first week of college. I remembered what Suze said though: market crashes happen, keep investing, don't miss the recovery. So I kept going.

It took a couple years to recover, but by 2013 I was a brand new teacher with $100,000 in my brokerage account. I knew that no matter what other subject I taught, I would always make financial literacy a part of my lessons. Back then fin lit wasn't a requirement in most schools, so I was on my own. But fin lit became my ace in the hole, even with the most disadvantaged students. They loved how I was teaching, what I was teaching, and that I believed in them.

During the pandemic I started my own fin lit curriculum nonprofit. Investing consistently, not only in index funds but through The Motley Fool's recommendations, had given me the financial freedom to do that. Out of nowhere, it seemed, the Fool Community Foundation snatched me up to help them develop the Freedometer. Martine Cruise, my current mentor in life and partner in Freedometering, was the one who found me. The Freedometer is the EdTech product I wish I had when I was teaching. It's built by teachers and students for teachers and students, and I have poured my love for kids, teaching, investing, and the cause of financial freedom for all into this work.