Affording the Unexpected by Jennifer

Affording the Unexpected by Jennifer - March 2017 Scholarship Essay

I believe financial independence is an important topic worth giving a speech to a school-wide audience. Financial planning and paying for a college education has become increasingly important in today's service driven American society.

START OUT EARLY

I remember reading a book all about the meaning of a dollar and how to save for the future before I was even the age of 10. Sure this might reflect a lot more on my parents’ choice of reading material, but I am willing to take some credit as well for becoming obsessed with the book. Now that I think about it, maybe this is where my obsession with economics and finances began to take root.

PERSEVERE THROUGH THE UNEXPECTED

Making it through an undergraduate and then master’s program in economics without any debt was an accomplishment many would strive for. It allowed me the opportunity to take low paying but rewarding work in the public sector because I was debt free. While working I saved as much as I could by putting aside rainy day funds, budgeting (thank goodness for Mint), price comparing every purchase I made, living humbly, and investing wisely. I was on the path to a perfect credit score, owning my own home, and cultivating a career for myself. But out of nowhere in 2015 my father was diagnosed with cancer. I chose to leave my job for over a year and fulfill family obligations. This unexpected and truly horrific life event left me with a sense of action as well as very little savings.

REMEMBER THE END GOAL

My father always wished for me to pursue the career of my dreams and promised to help me finance it. While caring for him I studied for and took the LSAT. I never had the chance to share with him my acceptance to many amazing law schools. Knowing my end goal is to serve the public interest and underrepresented communities, I am fully aware that going into the public sector once again will prove financially difficult. I will use the little savings I have left to work my way through school and supplement with scholarships and loans. It is also likely that because of my chosen path in public interest, my loans will eventually be forgiven. My father will no longer be helping me financially through law school. Instead he remains my source of strength and perseverance. It is because of him I decided to finally follow my dreams to further defend those without a voice. It is because of him and his choice of reading material that I have known the meaning of a dollar for decades and was able to afford to go without an income for over a year so that I could care for him in his final months.