The Real Exam Your Child Will Never Have in School

Good morning, my friends. Please, sit. I am Dr. Celso. Not a medical doctor, but a financial doctor from Goa. And today, I want to talk to you not as a doctor, but as a teacher. Imagine I am standing in a classroom, looking at all your bright, hopeful faces. I have a question for you, for every parent and child here.

What is the most important subject for your child's future? Is it Mathematics, Science, or English?

Let me tell you a story. I once met a brilliant young man, a top-rank holder in engineering. He came to me with a problem. He had a high-paying job in a big city, but he was drowning. Drowning in credit card bills, EMIs for a car he barely drove, and loans he took for the latest phone. His marks were perfect, but his financial life was failing. He passed every exam in school, but he was failing the most important test of his life.

The Syllabus They Forgot to Teach

Our schools are wonderful. They teach our children to memorize formulas, historical dates, and chemical equations. They prepare them to get marks. But who prepares them for life? Who teaches them what to do when that first salary arrives? The thrill is real! And without guidance, that salary disappears faster than ice-cream in Goa's sun.

Think of it like this: We send our children into the ocean of life with a strong boat (their degree), but we forget to teach them how to swim (manage money). What happens when the boat faces a storm? A medical emergency? A job loss? Without knowing how to swim—financial swimming—they can sink.

The Two Students: A Tale of Two Futures

Let me tell you about two of my favourite students from my "financial classroom."

Student A: She focused only on her 95% and above. She got a fantastic job. She bought a big car, rented a luxurious apartment, and lived a "showcase" life on Instagram. Every rupee was spent to show the world she had arrived. Today, at 35, she is stressed, with no real savings, trapped in a job she dislikes because the EMIs won't let her breathe.

Student B: He got decent marks, maybe 75%. But his father taught him a simple game: the "Pay-Yourself-First" game. From his very first internship stipend of ₹5000, he saved ₹1000 first. He learned about needs vs. wants. He made small mistakes with small amounts. Today, at 35, he has peace of mind. His money works for him. He has choices. He can take care of his parents without panic.

Which student do you think truly passed?

Your Family's Practical Lesson

This is not about complex stock markets or scary terms. It is about simple, daily lessons. It starts with you, the parent. The most powerful financial classroom is your home.

Start the Conversation: Talk about money openly at the dinner table. Discuss the monthly budget. "This month, we saved for our holiday by cutting down on eating out." Make it normal.
Give Them Responsibility: Give your child a small amount for weekly expenses. Let them manage it. If they spend it all on chips on Monday, let them face the consequence of no money till Sunday. This lesson is worth more than 100 marks.
Show Them 'Invisible Money': Use a simple jar. Label it "Dream." Want a new cricket bat? Put money in the jar. Let them see the money grow. This is the foundation of investing—a dream growing slowly, surely.
Differentiate Between Assets & Liabilities: In simple terms: An asset puts money in your pocket (like a savings account with interest). A liability takes money out (like a video game you play once). Help them spot the difference.
Celebrate Saving, Not Just Spending: When they save for something and buy it, celebrate that discipline! "Wow! You did it with your own saved money!" This feeling is more powerful than any gift you buy them.

Financial literacy is not about getting rich. It is about gaining freedom. The freedom to choose, to help, to live without fear.

My dear families, the world will test your child's financial intelligence every single day. That test has no syllabus, no final date, and no re-exam. But you can be their guide. Start today. Open that piggy bank and start talking.

The greatest mark you can help your child achieve is the mark of financial confidence.