Making a Difference: Bringing Business Education to New Haven Kids
Edward Chiu ’25 joined SOM volunteers for an annual day of service teaching financial literacy skills to local elementary school students.
In this series, Karen Guzman talks to Yale SOM students about how volunteering complements their business education and connects them to their community.
Student: Edward Chiu ’25
Organization: Junior Achievement
On February 20, SOM students, faculty and staff visited New Haven’s Roberto Clemente Leadership Academy for Global Awareness Magnet School, where they spent the day teaching providing basic business education to students. The event, organized by SOM’s Education Leadership Club, has become an annual favorite for the SOM community.
Where drew you to this particular volunteer opportunity?
As a former teacher myself, I know the power that an effective lesson can have on student attitudes, motivation, and happiness.
What does a volunteer day with Junior Achievement look like?
Junior Achievement is an annual tradition at SOM. Students, staff, and faculty spend half a day teaching financial literacy and entrepreneurship skills in classrooms throughout Roberto Clemente. It gives us a chance to interact one-on-one with these young students and introduce them to the financial concepts and responsibilities that will play a part in shaping their lives.
What are the values that motivate you to volunteer?
Justice is the value that motivates me the most. I believe that the quality of a student’s education shouldn’t be dictated by the zip code in which they were born or live. Junior Achievement helps us address this issue head on.
How does volunteering complement your MBA education?
Volunteering is an excellent way to stay grounded and proximate to the issues that I care the most about. In business school, you learn about organization-wide strategy and large-scale operations, but it is so important to understand that at the end of the day, it is people who are impacted by our decisions.
What's one surprising thing you have learned through volunteering or about the City of New Haven?
It’s incredible the level of engagement that exists in New Haven. There are so many local philanthropic, nonprofit, and grassroots advocacy initiatives that are dedicated to eliminating inequities and improving opportunity.
