Whether it's at Alexian Village or pondering the dessert menu at Wally's, a common topic among seniors is retirement.
Can you? Should you? How much money do you need? The questions are daunting.
With that in mind, we decided to ask some high school seniors their thoughts on retirement, and how much they believed they would need to retire comfortably.
These five seniors are in the Class of 2017 at Baylor School, and as they approach the next chapter in their young lives, here are some of their interesting insights and hopes for down the road:
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Sydney TindallSydney Tindall
Age: 17
Hometown: Chattanooga
College: Clemson University
Major: Language (Madarin) and international trade
Dream job: Owning and running my own nonprofit for education for children in developing countries or in the inner-city Chattanooga area.
How much I'll need to retire: Approximately $2 million.
In a few sentences, what does the idea of "retirement" mean to you: To me, the idea of retirement means safety in a time where there is uncertainty in life. It is support when you get to a point in your life when you eventually must ask for help and think of yourself when all your life you've focused on others and their needs. Retirement is the safety net that all people need as they age to be able to continue to support themselves in life.
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Shaan DesaiShaan Desai
Age: 18
Hometown: Chattanooga
College: New York University
Major: psychology
Dream Job: dermatologist
How much I'll need to retire: I'll only retire when I have millions.
What does retirement mean to me: To me, retirement is a way for older people to live freely and take advantage of having worked so hard the majority of their lives. They've supported their children and worked hard to get where they, are and now have the time and money to live life to the fullest.
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Sims PettwaySims Pettway
Age: 17
Hometown: Lookout Mountain, Georgia
College: Georgia Tech
Major: mechanical engineering (minor in business)
What would be your dream job: My dream job would be to found and run my own tech startup.
How much do you think you will need to retire 45-to-50 years from now: (See next answer)
In a few sentences, what does the idea of "retirement" mean to you: Personally, I wish for an occupation that I enjoy so much that I do not wish to retire. Retirement seems to me a very unfulfilling concept - the idea that I would make as much money in my life as I can so that I might enjoy 10-15 years of spending that money on myself. I wish my "retirement" to either be a continuation of my life's work because the fulfillment and enjoyment I find in it and/or to be spent serving others. Therefore, I hope to spend my life not with my head down working a 9-5 job simply growing my retirement fund for those 15 years of "bliss" but rather with my head up pursuing that about which I am passionate in my occupation (hopefully running my own tech startup).
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Annie DetheroAge: 18
Hometown: Florence, Alabama
College: Wake Forest University
Major: Mathematical Business
Dream job: Analyzing the effectiveness of businesses and helping them utilize resources to grow successfully, especially on a international level.
How much do you think you will need to retire 45-to-50 years from now: A whole lot more than I have right now!
In a few sentences, what does the idea of "retirement" mean to you: To me, retirement means having enough money to live comfortably while being able to give back to my community and support my family.
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Diamond WadleyDiamond Wadley
Age: 17
Hometown: Chattanooga, TN
College: University of Kentucky
Major: Biology
Dream job: OB/GYN
How much do you think you will need to retire 45-to-50 years from now: In order to live comfortably I'd say $500,000?
In a few sentences, what does the idea of "retirement" mean to you: When I think of retirement I automatically think of someone older who no longer works a daily job. I think of someone who is able to live comfortably and enjoy life with their loved ones.