We are excited to announce the July 2024 Financial Goals Scholarship winner is Lydia! Congratulations!
"I feel so blessed to be a recipient of the 1st Financial Bank USA Financial Goals Scholarship. I know this award is going to help me meet my goal of studying abroad in France next spring." - Lydia H.
As a student, managing your finances can be one of the most challenging aspects of your academic journey. Whether you dream about graduating college debt-free, starting your own business, or saving enough to experience a semester studying abroad, setting and achieving financial goals is important. In her essay, Lydia shares a financial goal that she hopes to accomplish in the near future and how she plans to achieve it.
"I have always been fascinated by learning about other cultures and customs throughout the world, so naturally, studying abroad was a major factor in my college search. I was able to find a college with lots of study-abroad opportunities and was even lucky enough to be selected to study abroad. My next major financial goal is to save five thousand dollars so that I am able to study abroad in Strasbourg, France in the Spring of 2025.
I am planning on attending law school post-grad, which means that my time to travel and explore is now. Once I am in law school, it would be incredibly challenging to take a semester off to go study in another country, and lawyers, especially new lawyers, are not known to have lots of vacation time. This means that the opportunities I have to study abroad right now are the best option for me. It has always been a dream of mine to live outside of the United States, at least for a little while, because I think it is important to take a step back and appreciate the vastness of the world, which is hard to do when you stay in one place your whole life. Spending a semester in Europe is a dream come true, but while I am there, I want to take advantage of every opportunity and explore as much as I can, which is why I must save $5,000.
I have already started working multiple jobs in order to save money. This summer, I am working full-time at a local park, and babysitting on the weekends to get some extra cash. I have put myself on a tight budget and am only spending on necessities. I already have a job aligned for when I get back to campus as well so that I will be able to save as much as possible for my trip. Additionally, I signed up to be an orientation leader to get a $500 stipend from my school, which I plan on putting towards study abroad.
My dream is so close to becoming a reality, and I know that if I keep working hard, applying to scholarships, and saving money, I will be able to accomplish it. Sacrificing temporary desires to achieve my long-term goals has been a major lesson that I am constantly reminded of during this process of saving, but I know it will all be worth it in the end. I am appreciative that I have been able to learn this lesson now. I know it will take me far in terms of reaching future financial goals, and it will set me up for success in the long run.”
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.
