For those of you who don't know, I am a bank teller at a local credit union in North Carolina. What I have noticed while working here is that an ALARMING number of teens/young adults know NOTHING about having a personal checking account. Let alone any other accounts they might have. My initial response is to start teaching this at an early age. I was a kid once my self (still am really) but I know that if a class was offered on how to manage money, I am certain I would have steered clear. Then I thought well why not have an assembly or something to that nature. After thinking this through its also a bad idea. We all know what we did during assemblies. This is an issue because I do believe it leads them into poor management of their finances when they are older.
When I was about 18 my father took me to a well known bank to open up a checking account with a debit card. This was a mistake. He basically just gave me the right to swipe that debit card any time I felt like it with no repercussions. That's exactly what I did. I had no clue about having to wait for my purchases to post in my account or there being a hold on my account for a gas purchase. None of it made sense to me and being a college student I didn't really care. As long as I saw money in my account it was mine to spend. Only when I started working at a bank did I really begin to understand how it all works.
This is what I propose. We need to start teaching kids about their finances as soon as they are old enough to understand how it works. I think their senior year they should have a mandatory class where they have to learn how to balance a check book, learn about debits and credits and how to properly use a debit card. I know to the adults out there who are reading this are probably thinking "well I can teach my kids that" well think again. I had to learn the hard way. I think if you give them "money" that's theirs they will care more about where it goes. This doesn't have to be real money it could be "monopoly money" that could be used to purchase goods within the school or tickets into sporting events or what not. I think the more personal you make it the more kids will pay attention to it.
All I know is that something has got to change if not these children will thrust into a world with no knowledge of how to manage their accounts which will lead to lifetimes of debt and frustration. Let's nip it in the bud now before its too late.
PREACH
Monday, January 14, 2013
Thursday, January 10, 2013
All you need is love
What is your definition of love?? I can tell you mine has changed dramatically since I was born.
For example I was certain that I was in love with my teddy bear when I was about 3 or 4. It wasn't actually a teddy bear, it was a stuffed dog with a plastic black nose. I named it Ginger, that dog went EVERYWHERE with me. At that point in my life I would say the word love went along the lines of protection and companionship. I felt lost if I didn't have that dog with me. Ginger was my security blanket, she allowed me not to feel alone in situations where I felt uncomfortable. This was my first real experience with loving something other than my family.
Family love is something completely different. That love is a surrounding mass of advice, encouragement, motivation, and guidance. I guess you could say family love is this sort of comforting hug each and everyday. Families are also good at "tough love" they know when to give you that life lesson that you don't necessarily want but you absolutely need. My family may not be the most perfect family but I am thankful that I can receive their love everyday.
Now lets keep moving with my life loves. When I was around 7 or 8 I had a deep passion for Legos. I would even be willing to say it was an obsession. I became so consumed when I started to build. It was like the world was shut off and it was just me and my legos. I just kept thinking that this would be something I would do forever. Of course when your 8 years old forever means until something else new comes along. I just felt this overwhelming sense of accomplishment when I was playing with my legos. It seems silly now but I actually did have a long fascination for those small little blocks.
When I was around 12 years old I got my first pair of basketball shoes. I will never forget them because they were the ugliest pair of shoes I ever put on my feet. I loved them because I got to pick them out. They were all black with jagged white strips coming up from the bottom. The white strips almost looked like a shark bite. They were horrendous but so flashy. That's exactly why I got them. They kind of looked like this but were black, white, and red. No picture will do those shoes any justice. They made me feel dominant and confident when I was on the court. I took good care of them too. I cleaned them after every single game to make sure the "flash" never wore off. This type of love actually turned me into a sneakerhead. Who knew at 12 I would become such a lover of shoes?
I experienced puppy love in my middle school and high school years. The definition speaks for itself. We all go through it, we get fixated on someone and basically stalk them just to get them to notice we are alive. It's a phase.
Once I reached college I started to gain a real understanding of love, well at least my definition of it. Love can be incredible, it can sweep you off your feet within a single moment. It can make you do things that you didn't think were possible. It can grow into something so large that the whole universe can see. It can warm your heart after your world has gone cold. What I enjoy most about love is that it is ever changing. The definition may be pretty cut and dry but its your interpretation of that word that makes it special to you. Its your definition that makes your love unique.
love it patient, love is kind
For example I was certain that I was in love with my teddy bear when I was about 3 or 4. It wasn't actually a teddy bear, it was a stuffed dog with a plastic black nose. I named it Ginger, that dog went EVERYWHERE with me. At that point in my life I would say the word love went along the lines of protection and companionship. I felt lost if I didn't have that dog with me. Ginger was my security blanket, she allowed me not to feel alone in situations where I felt uncomfortable. This was my first real experience with loving something other than my family.
Family love is something completely different. That love is a surrounding mass of advice, encouragement, motivation, and guidance. I guess you could say family love is this sort of comforting hug each and everyday. Families are also good at "tough love" they know when to give you that life lesson that you don't necessarily want but you absolutely need. My family may not be the most perfect family but I am thankful that I can receive their love everyday.
Now lets keep moving with my life loves. When I was around 7 or 8 I had a deep passion for Legos. I would even be willing to say it was an obsession. I became so consumed when I started to build. It was like the world was shut off and it was just me and my legos. I just kept thinking that this would be something I would do forever. Of course when your 8 years old forever means until something else new comes along. I just felt this overwhelming sense of accomplishment when I was playing with my legos. It seems silly now but I actually did have a long fascination for those small little blocks.
When I was around 12 years old I got my first pair of basketball shoes. I will never forget them because they were the ugliest pair of shoes I ever put on my feet. I loved them because I got to pick them out. They were all black with jagged white strips coming up from the bottom. The white strips almost looked like a shark bite. They were horrendous but so flashy. That's exactly why I got them. They kind of looked like this but were black, white, and red. No picture will do those shoes any justice. They made me feel dominant and confident when I was on the court. I took good care of them too. I cleaned them after every single game to make sure the "flash" never wore off. This type of love actually turned me into a sneakerhead. Who knew at 12 I would become such a lover of shoes?
I experienced puppy love in my middle school and high school years. The definition speaks for itself. We all go through it, we get fixated on someone and basically stalk them just to get them to notice we are alive. It's a phase.
Once I reached college I started to gain a real understanding of love, well at least my definition of it. Love can be incredible, it can sweep you off your feet within a single moment. It can make you do things that you didn't think were possible. It can grow into something so large that the whole universe can see. It can warm your heart after your world has gone cold. What I enjoy most about love is that it is ever changing. The definition may be pretty cut and dry but its your interpretation of that word that makes it special to you. Its your definition that makes your love unique.
love it patient, love is kind
Friday, January 4, 2013
its a new dawn, its a new day
2013
2012 you were pretty good to me...we had our share of ups and downs but overall, not to shabby. I had my share of new experiences and met some new people. I also learned some hard lessons and who to trust. When I look back on it, it feels like last year lasted a lifetime. Simply because I had a lifetime's worth of experiences last year. 2013 should be no different. Big changes are coming for me...
I went through so much last year, A very close friend/coworker moved away, I moved back to my hometown, I rekindled old friendships, coached a great group of teenagers in junior Olympic volleyball, lost some friendships, I had my back stabbed, reunited with lost family members, and got the joy of learning that some of my closest friends are expanding their families by having children.
It is wonderful to reflect on last years good fortunes but I can't help but focus on the present/future. I see so many possibilities for me ahead and I can't help but want to reach right out and grab them! I just know this, my 2013 is a year for ME. It's a time for change people and I am the front runner, leading the pack to victory!
2012 you were pretty good to me...we had our share of ups and downs but overall, not to shabby. I had my share of new experiences and met some new people. I also learned some hard lessons and who to trust. When I look back on it, it feels like last year lasted a lifetime. Simply because I had a lifetime's worth of experiences last year. 2013 should be no different. Big changes are coming for me...
I went through so much last year, A very close friend/coworker moved away, I moved back to my hometown, I rekindled old friendships, coached a great group of teenagers in junior Olympic volleyball, lost some friendships, I had my back stabbed, reunited with lost family members, and got the joy of learning that some of my closest friends are expanding their families by having children.
It is wonderful to reflect on last years good fortunes but I can't help but focus on the present/future. I see so many possibilities for me ahead and I can't help but want to reach right out and grab them! I just know this, my 2013 is a year for ME. It's a time for change people and I am the front runner, leading the pack to victory!
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