In a letter my brother wrote to me, he mentioned the Latin phrase “Memento mori.” That quote has stuck with me and I believe everyone should reflect on it. “Momento mori” translates to “remember death.” It reminds me time is never guaranteed, it is vital to take in everything and put our time to good use. For me, that is school, following my passion for loving others, involvement, and volunteering. With sophomore year approaching, I have put myself to the test. I work to stay continuously engaged in causes important to me. At Kansas State University, my primary goal is to learn how to impact my community positively. With school as a main value, I have decided to make my education well-versed. My major is Personal Financial Planning, with minors in Business and Gerontology and certificates in Kansas Insurance and Sales. I am eager to start my career in Personal Financial Planning for the sole reason of getting to watch clients reach their goals. It is beyond satisfying to know I get to show them how we can make their dreams happen. I plan to have my own financial advising firm. As a service to others, I would like to provide a free financial literacy workshop to low-income families throughout the United States. Outside of school, I am a proud member of Alpha Xi Delta and hold the position of Junior Panhellenic Delegate, allowing me to support other women of the Panhellenic community and get involved in leadership. I hold additional positions as our Social and Greek Week Chairwoman. Social Chairwoman is an outlet for me to plan events for the people I love, something I have always had a passion for. Greek Week Chairwoman has allowed me to encourage and empower the women in our house and our partners across Greek life to get involved too. My positions have allowed me to lay roots in a community much deeper than myself. Last summer, I was blessed with the opportunity to volunteer a month of my summer to serve and bus tables at a YoungLife camp in Texas. I saw lives change as I worked as part of a team to provide warm meals and smiling service to teen moms from low-income areas as well as their children. Providing over 21,000 place settings that month was the most challenging and rewarding work I have ever done. Showing up to a 3,000-acre camp knowing no other girls was terrifying. Within days I had found lifelong friends to serve with. Leaning on one another, we were able to build off each other's strength when the days got long. To this day, that has been my most life-altering experience and continues to impact me. I look forward to volunteering with them again this July. At Kansas State, I enjoy serving as a Financial Well-Being Ambassador, spreading free financial literacy and awareness to my peers around campus. I also volunteer at my sorority's local philanthropy, the USD 383 Fit Closet. There, I sort through clothes and provide up-to-date clothing options for Manhattan’s families in need free of charge. I am confident Margot and I could have bonded over the idea that we live for people. Any time spent indulging with others, giving back, and striving for the future is time well spent. Keeping my heart on my sleeve and values in hand, I would be proud to make a fraction of the mark Margot left on the world and will continue to strive to do so. Memento mori.

In the next decade, I envision myself making a significant impact on the finance industry. As a student at Kansas State University, currently majoring in Personal Financial Planning I am determined to use my education and passion to make financial literacy accessible to all, particularly in low-income communities. My major in Personal Financial Planning has given me a solid understanding of financial concepts and strategies while relating to others. Eager to become a personal financial planner to help people discover what they are passionate about themselves and how to finance it. Life should be filled with things you love. I am passionate about helping people finance and make room for their values in life and personal financial planning is the perfect way to do that. It is satisfying to know I’ll have a lasting impact on them throughout their whole lives and be able to watch it unfold. I believe that financial literacy is a fundamental skill that everyone should have, and I am committed to making this a reality. My idea for a sustainable development business plan begins with the concept of a small fee per financial advising meeting. The fees collected would be invested into a high-yield savings account and, at the end of the year, used to fund free financial literacy classes in low-income areas. This initiative aligns with the United Nations' values of equal education and poverty reduction. By providing these communities with the knowledge and tools they need to manage their finances effectively, we can empower them to improve their financial health and overall quality of life. Through this, the financial firm also gains a sense of fulfillment from helping others and teamwork by coming together to execute the conference. In addition to my major, my minor in Business has taught me how to develop and implement effective business plans and given me a general understanding of the behind-the-scenes aspects. Contrary to my business minor, my minor in Gerontology has made me aware of the unique financial challenges faced by the elderly, a demographic often overlooked in financial literacy efforts and a stage we will all meet one day. Outside of academics, I am actively involved in various on-campus organizations. I am proud to be a part of Financial Well-Being Ambassadors, peer financial counselors for Kansas State, a volunteer for YoungLife, and a volunteer for the FIT Closet, a local clothing donation non-profit that serves the Manhattan area. As a woman in the finance industry, I am acutely aware of the gender disparities that exist within the field. I am determined to use my position to challenge these disparities and pave the way for more women to enter and succeed in the finance industry. I believe that diversity is crucial to the industry's success, as it brings a variety of perspectives and ideas to the table. In conclusion, I am deeply committed to making a significant impact on the finance industry in the next decade. I believe that financial literacy is a right, not a privilege, and I am determined to make it accessible to all, regardless of their income level. Through my sustainable development business plan, I aim to empower low-income communities with the knowledge and tools they need to improve their financial health and overall quality of life. I am excited about the opportunity to use my education and passion to make a lasting difference in the finance industry and the lives of those it serves regardless of background.