We are excited to announce the August 2024 Financial Goals Scholarship winner is Alisia! Congratulations!
"I firstly want to thank 1st Financial Bank for creating the opportunity for students like me to not only earn this scholarship, but the opportunity to share a story. ‘Does money buy happiness?’ A timeless conversation that has been had from generation to generation. With so many different viewpoints, I am honored that mine stood out amongst a pool of so many other well-qualified individuals. I am beyond thankful for this opportunity and blessing." - Alisia J.
Whether you grew up in a wealthy household, below the poverty line, or somewhere in between, your education and experiences may have sparked thoughts about the relationship between money and happiness. Financial wealth may lead directly to a fulfilling life, or other factors may play a more crucial role. In her essay, Alisia shares her perspective on the relationship between money and happiness.
"Growing up on the south side of Chicago, part of a family of 5, on the lower end of the middle class, I am all too familiar with the phrase "Money can't buy happiness." Once I got old enough to genuinely understand the various ways in which my parents were struggling to stay afloat, I decided that this exact phrase was utter garbage, coined by a wealthy person lounging by their rooftop pool with some fancy drink in their hands. How could anyone not be happy knowing where the money for their next meal is coming from? How could anyone not be happy when they don’t have to worry about their bills being paid? How could anyone not be happy when they have everything I always wished I had? I resented this complex phrase because, in a way, it not only invalidated my own feelings of insecurity due to my family's financial situation, but also the feelings of everyone else who struggles financially, and that little bit of extra money could have gone a long way and relieved multitudes of stress.
I’ve never seen anyone else who works as hard as my parents. My earliest memories of life consist of running to hug my daddy’s legs as he returned from work late at night. My mother homeschooled my siblings and I all the way to 8th grade and she still maintained her own flow of income, as small as it was. I watched my father lose his job time and time again. I can only imagine how stressful it was for my parents to care for my siblings and me. Still, alongside those memories of hardship there is an abounding sea of memories filled with joy. I remember riding bikes with my family to the library and picking up free museum passes to enjoy over the weekend. I remember going to the park to play volleyball with my family. I remember being home, doing homemade science experiments with my mama. Among all the obstacles, my parents gave us the absolute best life I could ask for.
Although we didn't always have everything we wanted, we had everything we needed. And the biggest need was love. They loved us so much that they sacrificed their time to ensure that we never felt lesser than because of our temporary financial situation. They tried to instill in us early on that money is not everything. Whether this was a conscious decision or not, they did an amazing job. Now as I read the phrase, “Money can’t buy happiness,” I can fully understand it. Happiness comes from the people around you that make you feel special. Happiness comes from the experiences you have that bring you joy. Of course, being financially stable is comforting, but you could have all the money in the world and still feel miserable. At every human being's core is the need to feel loved and that they belong. I was blessed to have had that from birth.”
Established in the year 1910, 1st Financial Bank USA (1FBUSA) provides quality community banking services in South Dakota, credit card and other financial services to college students and college graduates, and construction lending to builders, developers, and investors from coast to coast. 1FBUSA will award a $2,000 scholarship to a new winner each month. View full rules and eligibility at 1fbusascholarship.com.
