In Lynbrook High School's Virtual Enterprise course, students get the chance to independently run their own simulated business. The team behind Snooze, a high-tech sleepwear company whose mission is to provide everyone with the opportunity to get the sleep they need, took a step into the real world of business during a visit to Wall Street on April 3.
The trip consisted of a tour of the New York Stock Exchange, where students witnessed the opening bell and explored the trading floor. Leading the tour was GTS Designated Market Maker Michael Pistillo, who offered insight into the history of the New York Stock Exchange, as well as the differences between the markets and the history of the building itself.
As the opening bell rang, students witnessed a historical day. The day before the trip, President Donald Trump announced his tariffs on foreign goods coming into the U.S., causing immediate declines in the stocks as the day progressed. Senior Cooper Schorr was fascinated at how hectic the stock exchange can be at a time like this: “The market was heading towards one of its lowest points in years, so watching how hard everyone was working during a time like this was very interesting,” he said.
After the opening bell, Pistillo led the class to the famed executive boardroom where he lectured about its prestigious history and how it’s used in the present day. He explained the significance and symbolism of the grandfather clock, the storied past of the boardroom ceiling and the infamous Faberge urn, a gift from Tsar Nicholas II in 1904 on behalf of the Imperial Russian Government. Students were able to take photos throughout the boardroom before heading back down to the trading floor.
Dr. Benedict Tieniber, who teaches the Virtual Enterprise class, is grateful to have the chance to give his students an experience like this. “Going to the stock exchange is one of my favorite trips of the year, he said. It’s one thing to learn about the Stock Exchange, but it’s a totally different experience being able to see it in person and it can change your perspective of the finance industry.” Tieniber hopes that the students walk away from the trip knowing that “anything is possible if you put your mind to it, and everyone should invest in their future.”
Some of the seniors in Virtual Enterprise who are going to college to pursue a career in business said that the trip changed their perspective and opened their eyes to how tough it can be. “Business is a very rewarding field, but it also takes a lot of hard work to really succeed,” said Schorr, who has committed to Lehigh University with a major in business.
Senior Coral Roditi shared their experience at the New York Stock Exchange. “This trip showed me what it really takes to be successful in the business world. Everyone there has faced challenges, and everyone I spoke to told me to not give up if you don’t succeed the first time,” said Roditi, who will study business at the University of Wisconsin this fall.
“I was able to see that everything at the stock exchange relies on accurate accounting and financial reporting, which made me think about all the possibilities with my major,” said senior Gillian Greenberg, who is committed to Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business to study accounting. “After this trip, I’m always going to be open to new things, as the business world is always changing with new technology.
Snooze’s Chief Executive Officer, senior Genevieve Dellacona, was inspired by what she saw on the trip. “The people working at the stock exchange give 110 percent every single day, and when I grow up, I hope that I can have this drive throughout my career,” she said. As CEO, Dellacona oversees day-to-day operations and is always pushing her peers to get their work done. She hopes to apply what she saw on the trip in the classroom going forward.
Some students were stunned at how fast everything moved in a matter of seconds. Junior Fabian Safsten-Suarez was particularly surprised at how quickly an investor can lose money: “Watching everything happen in person really emphasized how quickly things can change, along with how important it is to always double-check and review financial decisions before acting, especially when it comes to such high stakes like this.”
Students were also lucky enough to speak to a few floor traders before the bell rang, picking their minds with any questions they had. Junior Lilyanna Blackstone was one of these students, and said the job sounded much easier than she imagined. “The man I talked to told me that once you get a hang of it, it’s very easy,” she said. He explained his day-to-day job as Blackstone watched. “He told me that he’s in charge of buying, selling and bidding, and that with a lot of hard work, I could even take over his job.”
Overall, students left the trip with newfound knowledge about the job of a stockbroker and how to pursue a career in the field. In addition, they experienced a day on the floor of the only human-ran stock exchange in the world, and as each day passes by, Snooze looks to make use of what they learned and finish as one of the top firms to end the year. #OwlProud #OwlLearns