Need Sound Investment Advice? Ask this Douglass Freshman!

As Warren Buffett once said, “Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.” That idea is at the heart of Josephine Frimpong’s essay emphasizing the value of building financial stability through informed investing. The entry earned her top honors in Kentucky and in the country in the SIFMA Foundation’s spring 2025 InvestWrite competition. Chosen from thousands of entries, Josephine’s essay demonstrated a clear understanding of diversification, long-term investing, and risk — core concepts that define smart financial decisionmaking. 

Now a freshman at Frederick Douglass High School, Josephine was an eighth grader at Edythe J. Hayes Middle School when she wrote and submitted the essay. The SIFMA Foundation saluted her and teacher Ashlee VanHoose at an Aug. 28 ceremony. 

InvestWrite is the capstone to the foundation’s Stock Market Game, a curriculum-based simulation in which students manage a hypothetical $100,000 portfolio of stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and cash. The program has reached more than 23 million students since 1977 and is widely recognized for improving academic achievement in math, economics, and personal finance. 

Read Josephine's essay below.

“Beyond the Sky” by Josephine Frimpong

I’ve always been told that the sky is the limit. In my earlier years, this seemed nearly impossible as I was beginning to navigate life in the U.S. and adjusting to the new normal since moving from Ghana. I remember crying to my parents at times because I missed home and wanted to go back. They always reminded me that the opportunities were endless and if I dreamed, worked hard, and overcame obstacles, these aspirations would become a reality. 

Even though my story is just beginning, I can confidently say that I haven’t taken these words in vain. As I’ve gotten older, my dreams have expanded. With a passion for medicine and stewardship along with dreams of becoming a leading medical doctor, I would give back to those who have guided me. As I endeavor to make my visions a reality, I’ll use my knowledge of the stock market to enhance an official stock portfolio to include mutual funds, and tech, along with a base focus on healthcare, using the funds made from investing to begin a healthcare company that supplies medical equipment to facilities in underdeveloped countries, and lastly, by chasing my dreams and passions to leave a legacy of grit and determination. 

If you asked me a few years ago if I would be interested in investing in the stock market, my answer would be a hard no. However, my view has completely shifted since starting the Stock Market Game. Expanding my knowledge of this topic has not only allowed me to gain more confidence in my ability to invest but also my standpoint when it comes to taking risks. As an aspiring leader, accepting difficulties and finding solutions have been essential in my overall development as a “stock investor.” As someone who is often fearful to take risks, I’ve learned that they are not always bad, and they may open doors that you never even knew existed. Through our various lessons, I have learned the importance of a diversified portfolio, mutual funds, and how to cope when disappointments come. This has led to me making investments in various companies such as Boston Scientific Corporation, Fidelity Total Bond ETF, SPDR S and P Regional Banking ETF, Spotify, and Twilio Inc. As you may notice, these all range from music to healthcare. 

At the beginning of my journey, I put my money into one thing, but I realized the overall negative impact it would have on my portfolio. I have watched my placement in the region go from top to not so well, but I haven’t let that stop me from continuously pushing through. As someone who tends to look on the bright side, I have allowed this to motivate me when analyzing market trends and finalizing purchases of shares. To add, as a passion-driven person, healthcare is near and dear to my heart, and by looking to invest in Boston Scientific, I am not only expressing a side of myself but also investing in the health of society in hopes of someday being the person who fosters change and advancements in health. 

I was once told a story of a young boy who was asked about his dream job, he said he wanted to be a doctor and when asked how much he wanted to make, he said he just wanted to make people feel better. I have always strived to be the person that brings joy to others' faces every day. 

In the future, I hope to make a difference in society, and the SIFMA Foundation has made me realize that it starts now. It’s allowed me to see that no matter what the age of a person, they can still leave a lasting impact. I’ve watched as my classmates have made decisions regarding the stock market that have led them to the top group of investors and have truly highlighted that we are the future. Further along, I hope to use my investing strategies and funds made from investing to start a healthcare company that not only resources medical supplies to underdeveloped areas but also focuses on ensuring that these underdeveloped communities can secure a future of success for themselves and future generations. Specifically, I would like to start in my home country of Ghana and make sure that the medical and educational needs of all people are met. If there is anything the stock market has taught me, it's this: Take risks. As a future leader, learning what risks to take is an essential part of growth and the Stock Market Game has allowed me to see that even when things don’t go our way, a risk is better than no risk, and if it doesn’t go our way, at least we learn and know how to improve for next time. 

The Stock Market Game has been a test of resilience and patience. I’ve had to learn to overcome adversities and readjust my game plan. Even though I am just learning my way around the stock market, the lessons it has taught me are ones I hope to carry throughout my life. If I were to go back in time and tell my younger self anything, it would be this: The stock market is just like life – the greater the obstacle, the greater the glory in overcoming it. Most importantly, there is more beyond the sky and its limits are what you make it.