Careers Blog
Supporting financial literacy through My Home Economy
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When my manager suggested volunteering for My Home Economy (MyHE), a financial literacy program that retains the same structure and core purpose as the traditional My Classroom Economy (MyCE) offering, I was very excited because of my past life as a teacher. I taught high school math for several years and then ultimately made the choice to change careers and come to Vanguard.
Even though I discovered that teaching was not for me, part of the appeal of MyHE and MyCE was being connected to the world of education again and being able to give back to students in a different capacity. Moreover, the MyHE program fascinated me as parents and children work together to create a household economy. Someone within the home is assigned to be the banker and children can earn money from completing chores — they can even get bonuses and be charged fees. Children learn money management and budgeting through this hands-on approach.
Volunteering for MyHE and MyCE has not only been enjoyable but has given me a chance to learn various technologies and explore new roles. During my time as a developer, I was offered an opportunity to serve as a Team Lead for the MyHE program. That experience helped with my decision to pursue the role of Scrum Master in my “day” job at Vanguard.
As a Team Lead for the MyHE technical team, I’ve gained tips on project management from colleagues and volunteers along the way and have learned about the importance of effective collaboration and documentation. Volunteering has been a very rewarding experience and I have appreciated seeing the team come together and learn and grow. We have come so far over the past year, and I have enjoyed working with and learning from crew who come from many different backgrounds within Vanguard.
One project that has given me great gratification has been the remaking of the MyHE interface on the web. Our team has been tasked with further digitizing and enhancing the in-home economy experience for users. To do this, we’ve organized team learning sessions on the User Interface framework and established a weekly “Study Hall” to block off time for collaboration and problem solving. We are now in the final stages of completing this user interface overhaul and I’m so proud of the work the team has done.
MyHE and MyCE are wonderful for people who want to give back and hone their skills. They are also an excellent way to connect with colleagues across Vanguard in a new and exciting way.
– Melissa R.
