Dhruvi Shah was recently hired as the new teacher for the principles of finance class, a course for students to learn real-world financial issues, according to school officials. Ms. Shah wants students to have a sense of financial literacy, she said.
Principles of finance, a semester-long Career and Technical Education (CTE) course, provides students with education about the essential knowledge and skills needed for real-world financial situations like investments, credit cards, and loans, according to the course catalog.
Before coming to MHS, Shah taught math at Calaveras Hills High School, she said. Before teaching, she worked in the business world and previously taught accounting, she said.
Shah has been interested in financial literacy since a young age, she said. She always wanted others to have the opportunity that she never had, she said.
“I was always interested in lea-rning how to invest and manage my money,” Shah said. “When I was in high school, I really wish they taught us about taxes and investing, and I feel like there wasn’t an opportunity to learn or access people, so I decided that when I grew up, that’s what I’ll doinstead.”
Freshman Jason Nguyen, a student in Shah’s class, says that he recommends the class.
“(I would) one hundred per- cent (recommend this class),” Nguyen said. “You actually learn some stuff and can use it.”
Shah’s teaching style is great, freshman Savir Dillikar said.
“I like the way how she uses in- teractive games to help us learn,” Dillikar said.
This class has positively influenced his perception of finance, Savir said.
“It influenced it (the perception of finance) in a positive way, and I feel like it’s not a mystery or a black box, and I can approach it,” he said.
Shah has some financial advice to give to the readers, she said.
“Start young,” Shah said. “Don’t be afraid, jump in and do your research. Take a leap of faith.”
Shah has had a great experience at MHS so far, she said.
“It’s been really good. It’s great to see that the student body is so motivated and very welcoming,” she said. “It’s a really nice place to be.”