I feel within the current climate of America and especially the black community, there is a disconnect of wants and needs, and due to said disconnect there is a sense of equal if not greater confusion and misplaced value. Growing up, I lived in a middle class household where there wasn’t any struggles, but definitely some things that were desired while admittedly lacking of need. Due to my background and roots being a member of the black community, I’ve been apart of and around a lot of conversations regarding wealth and the lifestyles of others that many covet. When these conversations end, usually I come out of it just hearing my peers rant and rave about materialistic, and gaudy items rather than wealth building assets and capital. I feel I became more in tune and curious with the in’s and out’s of finances once sophomore year of high school came cause that’s when I truly realized the wasted attention I’d been giving these designer and luxury brands for the majority of my life. And now that I’m in college, with multiple stocks invested and lining up job opportunities, the role of financial literacy/responsibility is something I’d be greatly interested communicating to my community. Now regarding what I’d do to instill the financial responsibility within my community, I would first point out how cheap and invaluable these luxury cars, clothes, and items really are. Show them that the percentage of consumption of these brands are actually higher by middle and lower class people rather than the image of the wealthy and rich these brands portray. Then teach people about depreciation and the volatility of high expenses such as cars, Mega-mansions and other extravagant unnecessary purchases. Once teaching and evaluating these “luxury” brands and items, I would then teach people the value of real estate, The S&P 500, and other funds and things along those lines. Personally, the value of stocks seem a lot more enticing to me than any Gucci sweater, Louis Vuitton jacket, or Lamborghini Truck. The most important stocks at least for impatient people like myself are dividend stocks such as Home Depot since they pay quarterly or during a certain time period like every couple months. And as far as real estate I would teach people about commercial real estate such as mall property, sporting facilities, and multi purpose buildings for multiple streams of revenue through passive income

Within my 17 years of life, I’ve had moments where mental health has seemed to be nothing more than an optional side quest that in the grand scheme of things didn’t matter if completed or attended to. But as I grow and become more in tune with my surroundings and peers the importance and underlying detail of mental health awareness is becoming more magnified and apparent. Admittedly, I never paid my mental health and well being any thought, as at least within my experience as a member of the black community getting help or attention to it was seen as weak and stuff only white people do. Yet, once high school started and peers who were around me started committed suicide more, communicated less, and began traveling down darker paths, the initiative to better talk about and monitor mental health skyrocketed. Especially growing up in the age of social media where influencers and content creators are committing suicide and in a dark, twisted way unintentionally advertising it, the importance of mental health is the highest it possibly could be. Now when regarding what I’d do to better afford opportunities to those who need help and care for their mental wellbeing, I would partner with multiple psychologists, psychiatrists, and media network organizations to provide a safe, affordable, and comprehensive space where those who are struggling with depression, anxiety or any other difficult situations can contact a professional. Whether through text, or video chat, the victim in question would have ample choices!