@mariaelena_tejada

In middle school, I struggled with my mental health. Coming from a low-income minority family I couldn't afford therapy nor was mental health talked about openly. If as a society, we all come together and acknowledge struggling with mental health I believe those who struggle in silent will be more open with talking or even receiving help. My mom, through no fault of her own, believed mental health issues were not real, irrational even. She compared her life experiences to mine and told me there was no "reason" for me to be depressed or anxious. In reality, I felt a different way. Constant bullying in school and my irrational fear of communicating with new people made me struggle in high school. I found myself drowning in the idea that I would never be able to make friends or succeed in life. As I began getting older I was able to make new friends who I confided in my struggles with mental health. I thought I was the only one but in reality, I found they had the same if not similar struggles with mental health. Society has molded us, similar to my mother, to believe just because people seem better off or more composed they could never struggle with mental health. From experience, no one is open with their mental health struggles. For whatever reason it maybe, an open conversation can be a way to help everyone who struggles. Opening up at least to the people we are closest to could help others who struggle privately, in shame.

Just mom, brother, and me. I’ve only even known one kind of household, a single-parent household. Although it wasn't the most traditional setting, I love it. My mother encouraged my imagination and creativity growing up. She never missed graduation, birthday, or important events for neither my brother nor me. It was hard on her financially, with two children and only one income, but she managed it. My mother lived paycheck to paycheck and sometimes didn’t have enough money for the rent. Seeing her struggle financially inspired me to pursue a career in accounting. Accounting is the backbone of society whether for mortgages, savings accounts, CDs, or taxes. There is a lack of financial literacy among low-income individuals. A savings account is one of the most underrated assets. When I got to college I did not have the luxury of a college fund. With the paycheck from my first job, I opened a savings account. I love the idea that with discipline, I can help pay for my tuition and even buy my own lunch rather than placing all the burden on my mother. I hope to teach individuals about how important long-term saving is for safeguarding their own future and the future of their family. Even as little as one dollar a day can help provide financial safety. Having a savings account for me is more than saving money for a vacation or a nice car, a savings account is an investment in my future. Because I have a savings account I am able to begin paying off my student loans and it could afford me the opportunity to move out on my own after college. While growing up, I never learned about financial literacy in school. I hope to teach others about the importance of financial literacy. During my time at Pace Univerity, I want to encourage others in my community to ask me questions including about income tax, interest rates, 401ks, and CDs. During income tax season my friends ask me about their W-2 forms, 1099, and other tax forms. I am able to answer their questions and explain in a way that they retain that financial knowledge. After college, I would love to create a program to tour schools around the country. We all, no matter what class in society, deserve to have access to knowledge that protects our futures. None one is ever too old nor young to begin saving for their future.

In middle school, I struggled with my mental health. Coming from a low-income minority family I couldn't afford therapy nor was mental health talked about openly. If as a society, we all come together and acknowledge struggling with mental health I believe those who struggle in silent will be more open with talking or even receiving help. My mom, through no fault of her own, believed mental health issues were not real, irrational even. She compared her life experiences to mine and told me there was no "reason" for me to be depressed or anxious. In reality, I felt a different way. Constant bullying in school and my irrational fear of communicating with new people made me struggle in high school. I found myself drowning in the idea that I would never be able to make friends or succeed in life. As I began getting older I was able to make new friends who I confided in my struggles with mental health. I thought I was the only one but in reality, I found they had the same if not similar struggles with mental health. Society has molded us, similar to my mother, to believe just because people seem better off or more composed they could never struggle with mental health. From experience, no one is open with their mental health struggles. For whatever reason it maybe, an open conversation can be a way to help everyone who struggles. Opening up at least to the people we are closest to could help others who struggle privately, in shame.

Throughout my 20 years of life, I am grateful for all my achievements and experiences from being a start intern at PwC to passing my road test on the first try. My proudest achievement to date is opening a savings account. It may seem like something trivial but growing up I always dreamed of having my own savings account. I love the idea that with discipline, I can help pay for my tuition and even buy my own lunch rather than placing all the burden on my mother. There is a lack of financial literacy among low-income individuals. A savings account is one of the most underrated assets. In elementary school and middle school, I never learned much about interest, credit cards, or savings accounts. Living paycheck to paycheck my mother never had the luxury of placing money aside for the future. Having a savings account for me is more than saving money for a vacation or a nice car, a savings account is an investment in my future. Because I have a savings account I am able to begin paying off my student loans and it could afford me the opportunity to move out on my own after college. After receiving my accounting degree from Pace University, I hope to work full-time for PwC or Deloitte. I chose to study accounting because I want to be able to educate others in my neighborhood on any financial questions that they may have. I would like to be a full-time accountant focusing primarily on income taxes in addition to being a resource in my area year-round. Any questions they may have I hope they will come to me, even if it may not be tax-related. I dream that one day, I'll have the opportunity to present and discuss financial literacy in schools across the country. It's never too early or too late for people to learn about savings accounts, CDs, and credit cards. Having the knowledge and ability to open a savings account is my proudest achievement to date. Through this savings account, I have learned how large the disparity of financial literacy is for many individuals. If others had an equal opportunity they too could be able to invest in their future.