Money Lessons for Teens from Movies: 4 Powerful Takeaways from The Pursuit of Happyness

Money Lessons for Teens from Movies

Hi I'm Elhadj Toure an incoming freshman at the University of Washington and a Sammy Rabbit 'Be the Change' Financial Literacy Ambassador. Over the next several weeks I'll be writing reviews of movies with a close eye in on the money lessons high school, college students and quite frankly all of us can learn or be reminded of the films be featured. So, let's dive in!

Broke But Not Broken

What would you do if you had just $21 in your bank account, no place to sleep, and a child depending on you?

That was the harsh reality for Chris Gardner—the man whose true story inspired the movie The Pursuit of Happyness. Set in 1980s San Francisco, the film shows his incredible journey from sleeping in public restrooms to building a successful career in finance. But beyond the movie’s inspiration, Gardner’s story is packed with real-life lessons on money, mindset, and resilience which are lessons that feel especially relevant for students trying to make ends meet today.

Here are 4 money and life lessons from Chris Gardner's experience and how you can apply them to your own life.

1. Small Savings, Big Impact

Chris didn’t have much—but every single dollar mattered. Even with rent overdue and bills piling up, he found ways to care for his son and stretch every penny he had.

Student Tip: Start small. Saving just $5 a week adds up over time—that’s one less coffee or one less snack from the vending machine. Use a free budgeting app like Mint or PocketGuard to track where your money goes. Habits will compound into real and noticeable progress if sustained.

2. Bet on Yourself, Even When It’s Scary

Chris made a bold decision: he took an unpaid internship with no guarantees of a full time position. But he knew the program had the possibility of changing his life.

Student Tip: Want different results? Take risks on your future. Sign up for that free online course, post those videos you have been wanting to make, start a side hustle, apply for leadership roles even that all falls outside your comfort zone. Your biggest opportunities often come disguised as uncertainty.

3. Control What You Can

Chris couldn’t control the economy, the job market, or the obstacles life threw his way. But he could control his work ethic, his mindset, and his determination. That is what fueled his comeback.

Student Tip: You may not control your paycheck (yet), but you control your learning, your habits, and how you bounce back from setbacks. Focus on building skills, including how to manage your money so you are prepared for opportunities before they arrive

4. Understand Risk and Reward

Chris took a big financial risk by investing most of his money into medical scanners, hoping they’d bring in steady profits. But things didn’t go as planned, the demand wasn’t as strong as he expected, and it put him in a tough financial spot. His experience is a reminder that before you make big money moves, it’s essential to understand both the potential rewards and the risks. Every opportunity sounds good when you’re hopeful, but smart decision-making means asking: What could go wrong? Can I afford that risk? And nothing is riskier than putting all your eggs in one basket. For most of us, it’s a bad choice and more akin to a gamble than an investment, one that rarely, if ever, works out.

Student Tip: Before you invest your hard-earned money, do your homework. Understand your goals—are you investing to grow your money long term, or for a short-term return? Do your research, weigh the risks and rewards, and don’t be afraid to use tools like AI to help with your research and analysis. Talk to experienced investors and keep building your knowledge—investing without understanding is more like gambling. A great first step? Join a group like the Young Investors Society or The Economic Literacy Initiative to start learning and connecting with others who are like-minded.

Final Thoughts: Your Struggles Don’t Define You

One of the most powerful lines from The Pursuit of Happyness is:

Don’t ever let somebody tell you… you can’t do something.

Your bank account doesn’t determine your future. Your mindset, habits, and hustle do.

Whether you’re saving for textbooks, paying off tuition, or simply trying to survive being a student life, every small step counts. Believe in your hustle. Build good money habits. And never stop chasing your version of “happyness.”

Start building your financial confidence!

Pick one small action today; save $5, download a budgeting app, or learn a new skill. Your future self will thank you.

Connect with our Featured Guest Blogger

Learn more about Elhadj, connect with him on LinkedIn: Elhadj Toure

More Thinking from Elhadj

Attention Young Leaders

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