from Beks

OK, that’s a joke. I don’t wear swimsuits. Before you step in to say we should “normalize” mothers’ bodies (and I would agree with you), I’ve never worn swimsuits. I’ve never been the guy who’s comfortable exposing so much skin … and I’m insanely jealous of those who are.

Regardless of that, I keep starting my training game in the summer. The feeling of warm sunshine and the smell of sunscreen has something that makes me want to get active. I kept getting gym memberships, but I’ve found that I can work out more effectively when I’m super comfortable. Lately it’s the FREE stuff that has been working for me like:

TELEPHONE APPS

This is by no means an endorsement (and they aren’t paying me anyway!) But I enjoyed the Nike Training Club. I can choose the length of my workout, intensity, and gear (including the no-gear option) and boom. The races are off. I don’t do well with phone app workouts over 15 minutes (I get so bored!), So I usually do 1-3 during the day to break things up.

When I feel particularly motivated, I do thenx training. The trainers are HEAVY and some of them are slowly teaching you how to do a handstand push-up. Honestly, I enjoy the laugh when I fall and fall and keep falling. I have the perfect “safe space” in my home to practice. It’s in my tiny hallway. If I fall I just bump into the other wall and don’t hurt myself (little house for victory!). One day I’ll be able to do one!

The Nike Run Club is a great way for me to see my running (or walking) improve. I’m insanely competitive even when it’s against myself. I am obsessed with hitting my own times. This app keeps all of my records in a safe place so I know when and how I beat them.

GO OUTSIDE

When the land warms up, it’s time to go outside! I have three training sessions outside:

Walk! I put the dog on a leash and take a quick walk around our neighborhood. She loves it. I love it. I’ll get well and get a nice dose of vitamin D. I take my kids occasionally, but they are REALLY walking slowly. If I take them I usually go for another walk later to get my heart rate up or do a phone app workout.

Hike! Hiking is my other love. I just finished the Mission Trails 5 Peak Challenge. It was an 18 mile hike over 5 mountain peaks in east San Diego. It kicked my butt! But I absolutely loved it and am looking forward to when I can walk again. I have to plan this well in advance as I am usually useless for at least a day or two afterwards.

To run! I love to run. I swore I’d give it up after starting last year, but here I am … still. I know it’s bad for my joints so I limit my miles. It’s a special treat.

If you don’t move, TODAY is the day to start. I feel so much better after training. Sure, I’m not always excited before I start, but I’m always glad I did and … it’s FREE !!!

Personal loans are an incredible financial tool. They’re fast, safe, convenient, and best of all. They can be used for almost anything you can think of. Consolidate debt, make home improvements, cover unexpected expenses, pay for a special occasion, take a vacation … the list goes on.

If you’ve been considering getting a personal loan, here are some tips to help you get an interest rate that you (and your wallet!) Will appreciate. Let’s start with a quick overview of some of the personal loan requirements that you need to consider before you apply.

What is a personal loan and how do I get one?

A personal loan is a lump sum that you borrow from a lender and repay over a period of time in fixed monthly payments – or installments.

There are some general criteria for qualifying for a personal loan that you should understand before submitting your application. Note, however, that the requirements often vary from lender to lender.

If you want to qualify for a loan with a low APR, decent credit is a necessity. Generally, a credit score in the 640+ range is good enough to get you approved for a personal loan. The higher your score, the more likely it is that you will be approved for low interest rate loans.

A low debt to income ratio is another important requirement for applying for a personal loan. Does your income exceed your debt? If so, by how much? The lower your debt-to-income ratio, the better the chance that you will secure a low-interest personal loan.

Finally, you need to show the lenders that you have the means to pay back your loan. Proof of income in the form of W-2, pay slips, bank statements, or tax returns may be required for approval.

Now that you have an idea of ​​what it takes to qualify, here are some tips on how to get a better APR on your future personal loan.

What Is Debt To Income Ratio And Why Is It Important?

Your Debt-Income Ratio (DTI) is a personal financial measure that compares your total debt to your total income. Lenders use this ratio to determine a borrower’s ability to manage monthly payments and repay the money they wish to borrow from them.

When it comes to getting approved for a low APR personal loan, the lower your debt to income ratio, the better. With a low DTI, you are more likely to get the loan amount you want at a low cost because lenders can see that you are already well managing your current debt.

In other words, a low DTI rate shows lenders that you are not spending more than you can afford. As you can imagine, a higher DTI ratio says the opposite. From a lender’s perspective, borrowers with high DTI rates already have too much debt to manage effectively. They are nowhere near as willing to loan out to high DTI borrowers because they are unsure whether they can meet the additional financial obligation.

Focus on lowering your DTI ratio and your chances of getting a better APR will be much higher.

Breakdown of Debt to Income Ratio

So – what is a good debt to income ratio? The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and other experts agree on three general thresholds to consider:

Tier 1 – 36% or less: If your DTI ratio is 36% or less, you are likely to be in solid financial condition and may be a good candidate for a low APR personal loan.

Tier 2 – Less than 43%: If your DTI rate is less than 43%, you are probably in a comfortable financial position right now. However, it may be time to start thinking about ways you can reduce your debt. You may still be eligible for a personal loan, but the interest rates can be significantly higher.

Tier 3 – 43% or more: If your DTI rate is higher than 43%, you may feel that your monthly payments are a little higher than you can comfortably handle. At this level, lenders can assume that you have more debt than they can handle and you may not be approving new loans.

Calculating your DTI ratio

If you know your debt-to-income ratio beforehand, you will not encounter any unexpected surprises when applying for a new loan. To calculate yours, simply divide your recurring monthly debt payments (mortgage, credit card minimum, loans, etc.) by your total monthly income. Take a look at the following example:

Monthly expenses

Car payment: $ 350

Student Loan Payment: $ 150

Mortgage Payment: $ 1,200

Minimum payment by credit card: USD 35

Calculate DTI

Recurring Monthly Debt = $ 1,735

Total Monthly Income: $ 4,000

Calculation of the DTI ratio: 1735/4000 = 0.43375

When you’re done calculating, move the decimal point two places to the right and you have your DTI ratio in percentage form. In the example above, the borrower’s DTI ratio would be 43%.

How can I lower my DTI ratio?

Higher DTI ratio than you’d like? To lower your DTI rate, you have three options: pay off your debt, increase your income, or do both at the same time. Your rate won’t go down overnight, but if you follow these suggestions you may see a significant decrease in your DTI rate before you know it.

Try these tips to lower your DTI ratio:

• Pay more than your minimum for monthly debt payments
• Whenever possible, avoid taking on more debt than you already have
• Increase your income by getting a part-time job or finding a profitable sideline
• Keep your budget tight and cut unnecessary expenses

While your DTI is just a measure of your financial health, it’s still important to pay close attention – especially when looking for new credit.

Next, let’s go over some creditworthiness requirements that you should consider when looking for a low APR personal loan.

What credit do I need to get a personal loan?

In general, the higher your credit score, the lower the APR you will qualify for. Typically, you want a credit score of 640 or higher in order to qualify for a loan, but again, the requirements can vary significantly between lenders. If your credit score is below 640, options are likely available, but they may come with higher interest rates than you are aiming for.

To get an APR that works for you and your budget, prioritize increasing your credit score. (You can track your credit score for free in the Mint app)

How can I improve my credit rating?

Improving your credit score takes time, effort, and commitment, but the benefits that a high credit score can have on your financial health are remarkable.

To improve your credit score, focus on:

On-time payments: Your payment history drives a staggering 35% of your creditworthiness, which means that on-time payments are absolutely crucial if you are working to increase them. A single on-time payment is unlikely to improve your score much. So you need to make consistent on-time payments to get any significant increase.

Pay off credit card debts: Depending on your credit limit, Carrying large amounts of credit on your credit cards can have a negative impact on your credit score. It all depends on your credit history or how much credit you are using compared to the amount lenders have given you. VantageScore experts typically recommend using less than 30% of your available credit to improve your score. The lower your workload, the better.

Avoid opening multiple new accounts: In general, Vantage considers borrowers who open multiple new accounts in a short period of time to be riskier. So if you apply for many different credit cards and loans at the same time, your score may drop. To counter this, it is a good idea to take some time before applying to identify the options that are most suitable for you and your needs.

Note: Just opening a new account can cause your score to go down slightly. As long as you manage your new credit responsibly, it should recover quickly.

Recap

Okay, all that’s left is a quick recap to wrap things up. If you are looking for a great value financial product that will give you the money you need in just one business day, here are some things to consider:

A high credit score is your friend: The higher your credit rating, the more likely you are to be approved for a low APR personal loan. To qualify for a personal loan, aim for a credit score of at least 640. If you can get higher value, lower interest rates could come your way.

The lower your DTI ratio, the better: A low DTI rate shows that lenders are in good hands with your debt. Aim for a DTI rate of 36% or less for the best prices.

Proof of income may be required: Whether it’s a W-2 form, a payroll, a bank statement, or a tax return, lenders want to see the evidence that you can pay them back. When it is time to apply, it is a good idea to have these documents ready.

connected

by Jenny Smedra

No matter how long you spend with someone, breakups are difficult. We had spent nine years living and building a life together. Then suddenly the future that I had been working towards for almost a decade dissolved. Instead of planning a wedding, I now deconstructed a life that would never exist. While there are many of the same emotional parallels with divorce when unmarried couples split up, an entirely different financial situation emerged. While some days it was painful and almost impossible, my loved ones told me to look to my future. So I took her advice literally. I started imagining what could be and used financial planning after a breakup to move on.

Allocation of finances

You’d think our breakup would be easier than a divorce as there was no paperwork. In some ways, however, it was even more difficult to navigate without a legal timetable. Although we weren’t legally bound to each other, it was much more complicated than saying goodbye and giving each other’s things back. We’d traveled the world, supporting each other through career changes, and building significant assets and liabilities over time.

Fortunately, things ended amicably and we worked it through like mature adults. The most practical first step was to untangle our finances. We had always kept separate bank accounts, so it was just a matter of paying the outstanding debt and removing information from the accounts. First, we added up all the bills, including rent, utilities, and credit cards. We then split the cost down the middle. After we paid the balance I put everything on his name as he would be the one who would stay.

Unfortunately, our split came before the end of our rental agreement and my flight home. Although a bit awkward, we decided that financially it makes the most sense to share the apartment by then. We would avoid the cost of the penalty for breaking the contract and finding short term accommodations. In return for two months’ rent, it seemed fair for him to keep the large pieces of furniture and electronics we bought together.

With the biggest questions answered, it got surprisingly easy when we hit the line items. The decision to leave everything behind meant that there wasn’t much left to choose. He returned the shared credit card to me and deleted my personal information from any shared streaming accounts or apps. With just a few clicks of the mouse, any remaining connection we had was gone.

Financial planning after a breakup

Now that I’ve flown alone, my view of the world has changed a lot. I no longer planned for “we” since it was just me now. It took me a few months to adapt and learn the habits I had established in managing money for two. Now I lived on a single income that was half the income but only half the expenses. It also gave me the opportunity to analyze my spending habits and re-prioritize my financial goals.

budgeting

The next step in financial planning after a breakup was to create a new monthly budget based on my lifestyle changes. This transformation also brought with it a new career path and a new place of residence. When I started building my new business from scratch, I agreed to stay with my parents to help my family take care of children and the elderly. It turned out to be a good financial solution. Not only did it give me a step up as I struggled to establish myself, it also gave them much-needed relief.

to pay off a debt

When I looked at my monthly expenses, I found that I had to spend very little beyond basic necessities. I’ve lived on barebones budgets for years and the pandemic made it even easier Not go out and spend money. Since I also saved more by sharing the cost of living, I had the opportunity to focus on paying off my debts. Even with a meager monthly income, I was able to pay off all of my debts in six months! That was a big milestone in my financial planning after a breakup.

Retirement planning

One of the most important things I did for my future was to face my financial fears directly. After years of avoiding it, I finally got serious about retirement planning. Even though we’d spent nearly a decade together, my ex and I never had a clear financial plan for the future. In retrospect, this should have been a red flag. Part of its charm, however, was the ability to live in the moment. Now I knew it was time to look ahead.

While my parents taught me how to save and avoid large loans, I never learned much about investing. In all honesty, every topic related to investing and finance in general has intimidated me. But I knew I had to lay the groundwork and start saving for retirement.

As with all of my problems, I started reading when I didn’t know the answers. Thanks to Morningstar’s free resources, I trained myself in the basics and found a broker to manage my accounts. With the help of my financial advisor, I now have a diverse portfolio including IRAs, mutual funds, and bonds.

Prepare for financial freedom

Looking back over the past year, there have been many personal, professional and financial changes in my life. However, it has also fueled immense growth. By focusing on financial planning after a breakup, I was able to turn one of the toughest times of my life into one that led to self-improvement. While it’s easy to kick myself for my mistakes and stupid decisions, I’m already in a better place than me.

The breakup made me look closely at my life and find out what I wanted to achieve with it. By focusing on improving my financial health, I took on the challenge and built something all of my own. It also encouraged me to try harder to see how far my ambition can take me. Part of regaining my identity was taking risks and no longer holding back out of fear. With every new success and financial milestone, I gain a little more self-confidence and come one step closer to the future I want.

Continue reading

Newly listed fintech company To confirm (NASDAQ: AFRM) reported earnings for the third quarter of the fiscal year on Tuesday and investors were not impressed. The stock was down as much as 18% in early trading but has since rebounded, down only 7% as of 12:30 p.m. EST.

This is what investors need to know about Affirm’s initial public listing.

Affirm’s headline results

Revenue for the third quarter of fiscal year increased 67% to $ 230.7 million, above the consensus estimate of $ 198.2 million in revenue. Gross Goods Volume (GMV) increased 83% to $ 2.3 billion. When excluding the effects of Peloton (NASDAQ: PTON), which recently announced a major recall of its Tread and Tread + products, Affirm’s GMV rose 100%.

It all resulted in a net loss of $ 247.2 million, or $ 1.06 per share. Wall Street analysts modeled in red ink for $ 0.31 per share. Affirm saw a $ 131.8 million increase in stock-based compensation expense related to the IPO, which is common for post-IPO companies.

The number of active merchants on the Affirm platform more than doubled to 12,000, while the number of active consumers increased by 60% to 5.4 million. The average transactions per active consumer were 2.3.

What else happened this quarter

Affirm recently started expanding its partnership with the e-commerce powerhouse Shopify (NYSE: SHOP). This partnership was originally announced last summer and will allow Shopify merchants to take advantage of Affirm’s BNPL (Buy-Now-Pay-Later) offerings. Over 10,000 Shopify merchants now have access to Affirm’s platform, and all merchants will be able to use Affirm by the end of June.

Peloton is one of Affirm’s most prominent partners, and the fitness leader announced a voluntary recall last week following safety concerns about its Tread and Tread + products. Affirm recorded a $ 3.5 million decrease in revenue for the quarter related to the recall.

Affirm has now completed the $ 300 million acquisition of Returnly announced last month. This deal will help the company streamline the returns process and improve the customer experience after the purchase.

looking ahead

Affirm noted that certain categories such as travel and ticketing are already booming due to pent-up demand. GMV in this category grew over 50% year-over-year and nearly tripled in sequence.

“We are encouraged by this momentum and believe that the strengthening economy will provide Affirm with further tailwind,” said CEO Max Levchin on the conference call with analysts. “Americans have significant purchasing power resulting from the pandemic after paying off record debts of $ 83 billion and saving $ 1.7 trillion in 2020.”

Fiscal fourth quarter guidelines put GMV in the $ 2.2 to $ 2.25 billion range, which should result in revenue of $ 215 to $ 225 million. This should bring GMV from $ 8.01 billion to $ 8.06 billion in fiscal 2021, with revenue of $ 824 million to $ 834 million for fiscal 2021. The outlook includes estimated impacts related to the above peloton recall.

We all get to know bad habits. If we keep these bad habits long enough, they will normalize. It feels normal to drink too much, to overeat, to spend too much.

Over time, many of us have normalized some bad financial habits. These habits somehow creep in on us. Before we know it, they are part of our lives.

And they cost us money. So much money. Month after month after month, our bad financial habits are costing us money.

Here are six habits that many of us have normalized, and here’s what we could all do instead.

1. Have credit card debt

Americans owe about $ 1 trillion on their credit cards. And credit card debt is the most expensive type of debt, as the only way to get your credit card company rich is by ripping you off with high interest rates.

A website called AmOne can help you fight back. When you owe your credit card company $ 50,000 or less, you can get a low-interest loan that can be used to pay back every single one of your balances.

The advantage? You have to pay an invoice every month. And because personal loans have lower interest rates (AmOne rates start at 3.49% APR), you will be out of debt The much faster. Plus: No credit card payments this month.

AmOne keeps your information confidential and secure, which is why after 20 years in business it probably still has an A + rating from the Better Business Bureau.

It takes two minutes to see if you qualify for up to $ 50,000 online. You need to give AmOne a real phone number to qualify, but don’t worry – they won’t spam you with phone calls.

2. Spend more than we make

It’s too easy to spend too much. There are too many temptations, especially with so many purchases available at the push of a button. It takes a lot of discipline not to spend too much.

We have another way to help you stop overspending: stop overpaying for things.

Wouldn’t it be nice if you received a notification when shopping online at Target and were about to overpay? This is what this free service does.

Just add it to your browser for free, and before you check out, it will check other sites including Walmart, eBay, and others to see if your item is available for a cheaper price. Plus, you can get coupon codes, set up price drop notifications, and even view the item’s price history.

For example, let’s say you buy a new TV and assume you’ve found the best price. Here you will get a pop-up window letting you know if this particular TV is available elsewhere for a cheaper price. If coupon codes are available, they will be automatically applied to your order.

Last year it saved people $ 160 million.

You can get started with just a few clicks to see if you are overpaying online.

3. “Investing is too scary.”

Ooooohhh, invest, so scary. Golly, that sounds like it intimidating.

It doesn’t have to be like that. You don’t even need a lot of cash to get started – and you can even get free shares (valued up to $ 200!) If you know where to look.

Whether you have $ 5, $ 100, or $ 800 left, Robinhood is your investment.

Yes, you’ve probably heard of Robinhood. Both beginners and professionals love it because it has no commission fees and you can buy and sell stocks for free – with no limits. Plus, it’s super easy to use.

What is the best? When you download the app and top up your account (it doesn’t take more than a few minutes), Robinhood will put some of the free shares in your account. It’s random, however, so stocks can be valued between $ 2.50 and $ 200 – a nice boost to help you build your investments.

4. Only guess beyond our budget

Don’t want to budget? Try the budget for people who hate budgets.

The 50/30/20 method is one of the easiest ways to keep your expenses in check. No need for 100-row tables or major lifestyle changes.

Here’s how it works: Take all your after-tax income every month and divide it in half. This is your most important budget (50%). Take the rest and break it down into personal expenses (30%) and financial goals (20%).

Let’s sum it up: that’s 50% for things like utilities, groceries, medicines, minimum debt payments, and other critical expenses. Then there’s 30% for fun: Thai takeaway, your Netflix subscription, a skeleton on your lawn for Halloween.

That leaves 20% for your financial goals, such as additional debt reduction payments (anything above the monthly minimum), retirement plans and investments.

5. Never change our car insurance

When was the last time you checked car insurance prices?

Never, right?

You should shop for your options roughly every six months – this could save you serious money. But let’s be real. It probably isn’t the first thing you think about when you wake up. This need not be.

A website called Insure.com makes it super easy to compare car insurance prices. All you have to do is enter your zip code and age and it will show you your options.

Insure.com saved an average of $ 540 per year.

Yup. That could be $ 500 in your pocket just to take a few minutes to consider your options.

6. Provided we never retire

Too many of us assume that retirement is a pipe dream. And there will certainly be challenges. Unless you are a teacher or a police officer, most of us no longer have pensions.

To retire in comfort, you need to steadily transfer a healthy percentage of your wages to a 401 (k) account – this is literally one of the smartest things you can do about your future. And if your employer makes every contribution, it could mean it Hundreds of thousands of extra dollars in your account when you retire. It’s free money!

However, if you can’t get this benefit because you need all of your paycheck every month, a company called Lendtable will give you the money.

We know it sounds too good to be true. However, if your employer has a 401 (k) match program, this is money they have already earmarked for you. With Lendtable you can unlock the free money.

Let’s say you make $ 50,000 per year and your employer matches your 401 (k) contribution of up to 4%. If you add $ 0 to your retirement account this year, your boss will give you $ 0. If Lendtable gives you the 4% of your salary that your employer is willing to match, your boss will give you $ 2,000 less Lendtable’s share of the profits. (This comes from the extra money you made, so there is no sacrifice on your part.)

It takes three minutes to answer some questions about your eligibility and sign up for an account.

Mike Brassfield ([email protected]) is a senior writer at The Penny Hoarder. When it comes to bad habits, he’s an expert, sort of a grandmaster, really.

Released: by Crystal paine on May 11, 2021 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

It’s been a little over a year since we brought Champ home, our first long-term internship on our nursing trip. It’s been a year of learning, growing, and riding a roller coaster ride of emotions.

On this episode of the podcast, Jesse and I sit down and share some of the most unexpected lessons – the heartache of parting, the deep sadness with our children, what we learned from reuniting, how it affected our children, thoughts about the Caring for a child with special needs and how it has strengthened and changed our faith.

We also talk about a book I read, a book Jesse finished, as well as the care group and how sometimes entering into awkward things can turn into really great relationships.

In this episode:

[00:33] It’s a Nursing Awareness Month and we share our lessons learned from the past year of Nursing.

[01:51] My care group saves my life these days.

[05:42] Jesse finished the book he read and is still recommending it to me.

[08:49] I have read I cannot steal my joy by Bekah Bowman.

[11:35] Okay, let’s talk about all of the things of nursing and the unexpected lessons we learned along the way.

[13:20] Dealing with the grief that comes with reunification has been a great lesson.

[15:30] Our children were also affected and had the opportunity to learn how to grieve.

[17:12] How our grief affected our first experiences with Baby D.

[20:04] Caring has influenced our children and we have let ourselves into it with open eyes, but it has also given them the chance to grow so much.

[23:01] It was amazing to see how our children bonded so much to the boys we sponsored.

[26:02] Fear is normal. Expect the unexpected.

[27:55] Nursing has also changed my view of hot button issues in the world.

[30:14] The past year has deepened our faith like never before.

Links and resources:

How to Hear the Crystal Paine Show

The podcast is available on iTunes, Android, Stitcher, and Spotify. You can listen online here using the direct player. OR, you can listen to the podcast a lot easier by subscribing to it through a free podcast app on your phone. (Instructions on how to subscribe to a podcast can be found here.)

Ready to dive in and listen? Hit the player above or search for “The Crystal Paine Show” on your favorite podcast app.

The more value-added services you offer your customers, the more difficult it is for them to replace you. Identifying a secure bill payment service can solve a major problem for Ultra / High Net Worth (U / HNW) customers and further deepen the advisor-customer relationship.

Discuss with April Rudin and Daniel Bernstein the possibility for RIAs to distinguish themselves through this important service offering for U / HNW families and individuals. While not prohibited, RIAs offering these services are often assumed to be “custody” of customers’ funds.

Daniel and April will demystify the offering and look for ways to offer bill payment services in compliance with industry rules and regulations, as well as suggestions for bringing those services to market and differentiating them.

Tune in to learn:

• Benefits of offering this service for existing and future customers
• Ways to communicate and market these services to differentiate them
• How to do all of this while maintaining appropriate risk controls and regulatory compliance

Sponsored by

CIMA®, CPWA®, CIMC®, RMA® and AEP® CE credits have been applied for and have yet to be approved.

April J. Rudin
Founder and CEO
The Rudin Group

Daniel Bernstein, JD
Chief Regulatory Counsel
MarketCounsel Consulting

David Armstrong – presenter
Editor-in-chief and executive director for content and user engagement
WealthManagement.com

At the Elevations Foundation, we are proud to have supported young people from the region with scholarships for over 10 years. We value keeping in touch with our scholars and seeing where their journey takes them. We recently met one of our scholars, Jacqueline Rodriguez Mora. Leaving Jacky, Jacqueline graduated from Fort Collins High School in 2017 and received an AvID grant from the Elevations Foundation in association with the Poudre School District. She is attending CU Boulder and expects to graduate in 2022.

Jacky’s plan, originally slated for this year, was adjusted as she focused on her passions at CU Boulder. She switched her major to chemistry and biotechnology and added two minor subjects: biomedical engineering and engineering management.

Prepare for college

In preparation for college, Jacky says, “I’m a first generation student, so going to college was a challenge. My mother went to high school, but my father didn’t. He has been working since he was eight. My sister and I were brought to the United States when we were around five years old. That was a challenge in itself, just learning English.

“So in school I focused on making college a reality. I’ve attended many AP courses and my Elevations Foundation scholarship was part of the Avid program. I came to Avid because I wanted to learn more about college. This program prepares you for college, which helped me a lot during my time at CU Boulder. ”

Jacky was on the Avid program in high school for three years. AVID is a non-profit college prep program for K-16 students designed to help prepare for college, career, and life. “I really appreciate this program when it comes to preparing for college. I didn’t know what college was like at all. I mean, I lived in Fort Collins and the CSU was right across the street, but I still didn’t know what college was like, ”says Jacky.

After preparing so much for college, there was a big decision she had to make in her senior year: where would she go? Jacky decided between participating in the CSU or the CU Boulder. CU was her first choice because of the school’s prestigious engineering program and the research opportunities available.

“For me as a first-generation student, funding the college was a big decision,” explains Jacky. “I started applying for scholarships and the Elevations Foundation scholarship was one of the factors that allowed me to fund my first choice to go to where I really wanted to be at CU.”

College life

The engineering program at CU isn’t easy, and a first-generation student can also present their own unique challenges – like feeling out of place. Jacky has learned a lot since her first year. “What helped was finding support groups on campus with people like me,” says Jacky. “The Society of Professional Hispanic Engineers was great because I was able to help younger freshmen, host networking events, and provide advice.”

Academic pressures can feel overwhelming too. Jacky didn’t let mistakes or challenges like a bad grade on an exam put her off course. She remembered her long-term goals and moved on. “The most satisfying part of college is my research experience. It allowed me to see what the graduate school might look like. I’ve gained so much practical experience, ”says Jacky.

future plans

Still unsure of what career path to pursue, Jacky weighs attending medical school versus working in research and development. “In 10 years I want to become a pediatrician and work in third world countries because I know that the health systems in these countries are not the best,” says Jacky. “I would go back to Mexico, open my office, help out as much as possible, and have days with free appointments where people just come in. I would also go to countries where people need medical care and don’t have access to it. ”

She is also passionate about drug research and development, including finding more effective drugs and technologies to cure diseases such as cancer and HIV.

Jacky still has time to choose her way forward while at CU and we are very honored to be part of her journey with the Elevations Foundation.

The Elevations Foundation has provided over $ 500,000 in scholarships since 2010 to support students in our community. Learn more about Elevations Foundation Scholarships and please consider Donate to our scholarship program This is how we can continue to make college a reality for promising young people like Jacqueline Rodriguez Mora.