We are excited to announce the March 2025 Financial Goals Scholarship winner is Alanie! Congratulations!
"I feel honored to have been selected for the 1st Financial Bank USA Financial Goals Scholarship. To be recognized for my financial growth and learning is extremely validating. This scholarship will go towards funding my upcoming Graduate program at Colorado State University, where I will be studying conservation leadership. My goal is to support underserved communities that need resources to sustain their ways of life in a healthy way." - Alanie R.
Attending college comes with plenty of expenses. When money is tight, unexpected costs like a parking ticket or additional textbook can quickly disrupt your budget. Can you relate to money stress as a student? In her essay, Alanie shares a time when money was a challenge and gives her best advice for dealing with financial anxiety while balancing college life.
"Growing up, I was fortunate to be sheltered from my parent's constant stress around their finances and how it impacted their well-being. Despite not knowing that kind of stress at a young age, I became familiar with financial stress quickly once I left home and began my undergraduate degree. I lived off of my financial aid and my savings from summer jobs. I was poorly prepared to manage money and budget the amount I had left over from scholarships and grants. I felt the stress of being on a tight budget as a student. Entering college was the first time I could make independent choices about how I spent my money.
At the ages of 19 and 20, it was easy to spend money on what I wanted rather than prioritizing what I needed. I’ll never forget the biggest reality check for me when I was in college was a call I made to my dad one day after class. I called and asked for gas money for the week. He mentioned that he had already sent me money for gas and groceries not long before this call and asked me where my money was going. I remember feeling embarrassed and flustered because it was difficult to admit that I had been spending irresponsibly. Saying out loud that I was paying for unnecessary luxuries sounded ridiculous because we both knew my financial situation. Having to admit my immaturity with finances to my dad felt like I let him down somehow, solidified by him saying with so much gentleness and concern, “Hita (my daughter), you need to grow up.”
His words stuck with me in the following days when I began canceling online subscriptions, making a meal plan rather than eating out, and budgeting my money to prioritize what I needed first and saving second. I had to learn to say “no” to plans that would throw my budget off course and find a balance in my social life that was fulfilling but not expensive. Prioritizing my finances in this way caused me to face my anxiety but also find appreciation about money. I value my funds because I know how it feels to be without.
The best advice I can give to students who feel financial stress and are balancing their college lifestyle is to look at the big picture. Money can afford you fun things, especially when your peers around you are willingly spending. I acknowledge that saying “no” in social settings is challenging, but sometimes necessary. The bigger picture of your needs and your financial stability calls for you to look beyond small moments of instant gratification. Put yourself first. For me, once I found a system of spending that was realistic and considerate, I was less anxious about my financial situation. When my dad told me to grow up, I realized what he really meant was to take my independence seriously. Learning this was vital for bettering my relationship with money.”
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.
