How Small Choices Can Lead to Big Futures
Authored by Shomili Ray, a Year 11 student from Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College
Published on the 05 June 2026
The Empower Her workshop hosted by UNSW Business School was a valuable and eye-opening experience that deepened my understanding of finance, decision making, and the importance of planning for the future.
Growing up, finance wasn’t a big topic of discussion. I had no clue how financial decisions worked or how they could affect my future, I only knew it was something my dad handled.
Now in high school, I realise there are so many resources available to me that allow me to gain a deeper understanding of the financial world.
I decided to attend the Empower Her: From Financial Confidence to Property Ownership workshop because I wanted to educate myself, gain new skills outside of the classroom and learn more about real life situations that younger people, including myself, will face later in the future.
I also wanted to meet other students who were interested in the same fields as me and learn from their ideas, experiences and perspectives.
Throughout the workshop, I was sorted into a group where we worked together on a case study based on a created character named Zara. The main task involved making financial decisions for Zara across six different stages of her life and presenting the choices we believed would best support her future.
These stages included major life decisions such as education, career pathways, housing, relationships, family responsibilities and retirement planning. We had to consider budgeting, income, savings, lifestyle choices, and unexpected challenges that could affect her financial wellbeing over time.
One of the most interesting parts of the experience to me was seeing how financial decisions made early in life could significantly impact future outcomes.
Even small choices such as how much Zara spent compared to how much she saved created long-term effects that influenced her future opportunities and financial stability.
This made me realise how important financial planning and responsible decision making are, especially when balancing personal goals with financial responsibilities.
The Empower Her workshop was also highly interactive, which made the learning experience much more engaging. Working in groups allowed us to discuss different perspectives and debate which choices would be the most beneficial for Zara in each stage of her life and why.
For each stage, my group members had different opinions about whether Zara should prioritise saving money, make investments, or take certain risks to improve her future career prospects.
These discussions encouraged me to think critically and showed me that financial decisions aren’t easy, often involving balancing multiple priorities and consideration of future consequences.
Another valuable aspect of this workshop was the presentation component. Every group presented their final decisions, discussing different strategies and choices that they believed were best.
Presenting helped me build confidence in communicating ideas clearly and working collaboratively under time pressure. It also gave me insight into how financial literacy connects with problem solving, teamwork, and leadership skills.
Listening to the other groups present their own approaches to Zara’s life was equally as interesting, showing how different decisions in careers, savings and lifestyles can lead to very different financial outcomes, even when starting with similar situations.
Overall, Empower Her reshaped my thinking by showing me the importance of being financially smart and prepared for the future.
Before attending, I had little knowledge about finance and mostly viewed it as something boring that adults worry about later in life.
However, this program showed me that financial habits and decisions begin developing at a young age and have lasting impacts over time. It also highlighted the importance of financial independence, confidence, and planning life decisions ahead of time.
After attending the workshop, I started to think more carefully about my own future goals and the kinds of choices that may affect them. It inspired me to become more confident in stepping outside my comfort zone and participate in opportunities that promote learning and personal growth.
For students considering Empower Her or any other future UNSW Business School workshop, I would strongly recommend attending.
Not only does the workshop provide a supportive and engaging environment, but it also allows students to develop practical life skills, collaborate with others, and gain valuable insights into real-world challenges.
It is an experience that not only teaches financial literacy but also encourages confidence, teamwork, and future-focused thinking.