Meet the team
Smart Start Econ is powered by a team of passionate high school students from three different schools across three different cities. United by a shared mission to make economics more accessible, we bring together diverse perspectives, experiences, and strengths.
Meet the president
Hi, I’m Haejin! I started Smart Start Economics because I believe many students enter their adulthood without understanding basic economic and financial concepts they’ll need in the real world. Schools often overlook topics like budgeting, saving, taxes, and how the economy actually affects our lives. As a result, this leaves many students vulnerable to making poor financial decisions.
My goal is to make economics accessible, practical, and engaging for teens. Through free, in-person classes and events, I want to help students feel more confident managing money, thinking critically, and understanding how the world works around them. Everyone deserves a strong foundation in economics . I’m here to help with that.
Meet the vice President
Hi, I’m Eugene! I joined Smart Start Economics because I believe every student should have the tools to make smart financial choices from an early age. I believe knowing how to budget, save, or understand how economics shapes our everyday lives.
I’m passionate about breaking down complicated financial ideas into simple, relatable lessons. Through Smart Start, I help lead in-person classes and support events that empower teens to be financially confident and informed. I'm excited to make economics feel real and relevant for students in our community.
Meet the treasurer
Hi, I’m Christian! I joined Smart Start Economics because I want to help close the gap between what students learn in school and what they need to know in real life. Too many teens graduate without understanding how credit, inflation, or even basic budgeting works. I believe financial knowledge should be accessible to everyone, and I'm proud to be part of a team working to make that happen.
At Smart Start, I help organize lessons and events that make economic concepts easy to understand and apply. I enjoy helping students connect real-world scenarios to what we teach, whether it's through hands-on activities or open discussions.
Our goal
Our goal
At Smart Start Economics, our mission is to close the gap between what students learn in school and what they actually need to thrive in the real world. We believe that every young person deserves access to foundational economic knowledge, not only to prepare for future careers but also to make informed decisions in their everyday lives.
Our goal is to equip students under 18 with the tools to make smart, informed choices about money, value, and the systems around them. Through free, in-person classes and events, we aim to build financial confidence early and prevent the costly mistakes that come from a lack of economic education.
We hope to see a generation that understands how the world works and knows how to make it better.