Maine students learn best through hands-on experience. Student tellers prove it

By Abby Leavitt

Maine students, like most Americans, are well aware of the challenges in our economic landscape. From rising prices to AI’s impact on the entry-level job market, high school and college students are understandably wondering what the future may hold.

Despite this, students aren’t usually taught budgeting or investing in their classrooms — key tools for our long-term success. Back-to-school season is another reminder that financial education remains a missing piece of the puzzle.

From my experience, hands-on opportunities are the best way to learn. Whether it’s a lemonade stand or a first job, when kids and students proactively connect with the real world or seek out on-the-job training in local communities, they increase their chances of success.

I see the benefits firsthand. My current employer, Sebasticook Valley Federal Credit Union, runs a unique student teller program at Nokomis Regional High School in Newport. We train high schoolers at Sebasticook Valley FCU locations during the summer, preparing them to handle everyday member transactions, manage cash drawers and focus on top-tier service. Then, during the school year, the Nokomis student tellers work at a school branch during lunch or a free period every day of the week.

The branch is open to students and staff, allowing tellers to experience member service on the ground floor. As students assist members with their withdrawals and deposits, financial fitness becomes a tangible concept rather than a skill reserved for adults. They see the importance of keeping track of monthly income, expenses, and making saving goals.

I was a student teller myself. I wasn’t involved in sports and other extracurricular activities, but I seized this unique opportunity to experience a “real job.” In high school, money is just a fun thing — extra cash for a trip to the convenience store or gas money for the weekend. It is more theoretical than practical, but real-world experiences show people the importance of budgeting based on the situation at hand.

Budgeting early in life establishes a strong vision for what a financial future may become. Even setting aside $25 a week makes a difference. It lays a strong foundation for financial responsibility as income rises over time.

Even aside from personal finances, hands-on work experiences put people skills on full display. Proper training can turn introverts into successful networkers and relationship managers. It can instill confidence and discipline. Only by working directly with members and clients can that become a strong suit. I was always a shy person, but stepping into “the real world” pushed me to step out of my comfort zone in the best possible way.

As our economy continues to change, it benefits us to make an extra effort to invest in the future. Every sector of the economy has a role to play, especially employers who have jobs to fill and businesses to grow. For Maine’s employers, offering hands-on training for our next generation yields short- and long-term benefits, strengthening the workforce that will determine our prosperity in the years ahead. Whether it means becoming a student teller or training at the local grocery store, these initial job experiences shape the next generation, helping make today better than yesterday.

In Maine, the most powerful tool in our toolbox is the next generation. The student teller program is just one example; imagine the impact of other programs across our communities.

We are fortunate to have many young minds who are eager to learn, train, and contribute to the economy. With our support, there is no limit to what they — and we — can accomplish together.

Leavitt is a loan officer at Sebasticook Valley Federal Credit Union and a former student teller.