From filing taxes to understanding investments, students can feel unprepared for the financial realities of adulthood. However, one club not only prepares students for the future, but goes a step further by combining financial literacy with technical skills such as Python and data analysis.

Through competitions, coding projects and collaborations, the Fintech Club, which started this school year, introduces members to real-world applications of finance and helps them explore potential career paths. The club meets on Mondays after school in the Unified Arts building, where members practice investing, learn how to code and hear from guest speakers.

Sophomore Doelle Bhattacharya, who leads the club with sophomore Madison Yu, said that while there are separate clubs for investing and computer science, there were no clubs that combined both finance and technology before the Fintech club.

“We wanted students to get the opportunity to practice general financial literacy and build deeper technical skills,” Bhattacharya said. “It’s a space to explore both career paths and gain knowledge that applies to a lot of other fields.”

Career and Technology Education Curriculum Coordinator and club adviser Britt Stevens said that the club not only highlights the importance of financial literacy but also dives deeper into specific areas of fintech.

“Some states are pushing to make personal finance mandatory, and I think it’s extremely important, because not every family teaches those skills. Many of the members already know the basics, so the club leans more toward investing, data and computing, which is also really important given how industries are changing,” Stevens said.

If it had been offered when she was in hi gh school, Stevens said that she would have been interested in joining a club similar to the Fintech.

“I would have loved something like this, especially the chance to meet mentors. For example, we had a former student, now in her 20s and working in the industry, come back and talk to the club. That kind of exposure is something I wish I’d had: seeing people doing things I could imagine myself doing one day,” Stevens said.

Freshman Ella Zubov, a member of the club, appreciates the connections she has made with older students and professionals.

“The mentors are really inspirational,” Zubov said. “People in the Fintech club know a lot of others in this field, so it’s really cool to meet guest speakers and make those connections.”

Bhattacharya said that her role in the Fintech club has taught her life skills and has inspired her to explore various career paths.

“Starting the Fintech club from scratch has been a very valuable learning experience,” Bhattacharya said. “I learned a lot about leadership and guest speakers have definitely opened my eyes to different career paths.”

As the end of the school year approaches, Bhattacharya said that members of the Fintech club are planning to study for the International Finance and AI Olympiads, as well as going on a field trip to downtown Boston.

“We hope to visit the financial district to hear from professionals during the workday and do some team bonding,” Bhattacharya said. “We’d also love to have a team dinner at the end of the year, since we’ve been working really hard and haven’t had much time to bond outside of competitions and studying.

Zubov said that she hopes the Fintech club will gain more members next school year.

“I’ve grown close with people there because it’s smaller, but having more people would be even better,” Zubov said. “I definitely recommend [the Fintech club]; because you get to connect with a lot of really cool people. I’ve learned so much from Doelle and Madison, and it has been a really awesome experience.”