In the race for wealth creation, some people get a head start, while others have plenty of hurdles in their way. As a person of color and the daughter of two immigrants, I am intimately aware of the systematic barriers to generational wealth that exist for marginalized groups. Nevertheless, I refuse to let that truth discourage me. I am proud to be entering the University of Washington Medical School this summer after completing both a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience and a master’s degree in biomedical sciences. In my quest for higher education, though, I have had to take on a significant amount of student debt. While I know that I am investing in my future, it is definitely intimidating to realize that I may leave medical school with more than $200,000 in debt. It is my goal to give my future children and further descendants greater opportunities to accomplish their dreams, start their own businesses, seek higher education, and find their passions without the financial and emotional burden of debt. If it’s possible to give them an advantage in life, I want to be able to do so. Therefore, I am doing the work now to build generational wealth to achieve that vision. Reducing my student debt through scholarships and planning ahead to find programs for debt relief is a crucial part of my plan to build generational wealth. I know that even smaller scholarships can add up to help me along the way. Through the @normandiealise #GenWealth Scholarship, I can take another step towards attending medical school with minimal debt or even debt-free. However, I won’t stop there. The Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program is another path that I aim to pursue to eliminate the remainder of my student debt. By committing to ten years of service in a government or non-profit organization, the federal government will forgive the remaining balance on my loans. Because my career goals include contributing to community health in underserved areas, especially in the mental health sector, I believe this program is a worthwhile avenue to explore. Furthermore, increasing my own financial literacy and passing that knowledge to the next generation will help me to build generational wealth. Knowledge is power, and teaching my children and their children the tools that I’ve learned is key to their ability to build upon the wealth that I have created. I am currently doing the research I need to begin investing early in life and diversify my assets. Additionally, I am in the process of creating a mental health podcast and YouTube channel as a passion project that may also help me earn passive income in the long run. With more capital in the future, I would like to invest in real estate and rent properties, too. Besides assets, I think it is important to leave a wealth of knowledge, experience, and love behind me as well. Still, I hope that by passing financial resources on, I can provide a foundation of financial security for my descendants to draw on in their other endeavors -- I can break down the hurdles in our lane one by one. Money doesn't buy happiness, but I believe that it helps remove obstacles to happiness. That’s what generational wealth means to me.