Goal-Setting as a Class Officer 

As the Class of 2027 treasurer and secretary at Leland for the past two years, I’ve learned the real value of goal setting through hands-on experience. At the start of each semester, our cabinet set clear financial targets—for instance, raising at least $2,500 by January 2025. To reach that goal, we budgeted for monthly fundraisers like boba, cinnamon rolls, and pizza sales after school. Boba quickly became our most popular and profitable option with $1.75 rolling in at every cup sold, so we made it a regular event. But to keep students interested, we mixed in cinnamon rolls and pizza—especially after colder days. I remember one chilly Friday when we switched from boba to warm pizza at short notice, and it sold out in ten minutes. We learned to consider every detail: the day of the week, weather, and how recently we'd sold each item.

These thoughtful decisions paid off. Not only did we meet our goal, but we surpassed it—raising over $3,000 by the end of our sophomore year, a milestone typically reserved for senior classes. Each fundraiser became a lesson in real-world financial literacy—from setting goals and managing a budget to adapting our strategy based on what worked best. I saw firsthand how skills like planning, budgeting, and cost analysis are essential—not just for fundraising, but for life. This experience showed me how important it is for students to learn these concepts early and how helping others see how financial literacy can empower smart, confident decision-making.

Kashvi Garg

April 18, 2025