Q: How did your family and culture influence who you are today?
The constant goal of “improving oneself” is the result of my family’s and my culture’s influence. On a practical side (for a child), I learned that the benefit of improving oneself makes me an example among my peers. That in turn allowed me to join the adult’s table and listen to their discussion about world events instead of being assigned to the children’s table. As I got older, it meant that I always had a certain level of self-awareness that allowed to me to make rational decisions and live as close to a life without regret as possible.
Q: Why is ACEE important to you?
I learned about ACEE when I was a high school student participating in their economic challenge. As a student, it was a fun avenue to apply the economic knowledge learned in class. Now as an adult, I wholeheartedly cheer on ACEE’s expansion of other economic competitions for students and training programs for teachers that make learning about economic principles even more fun in the classroom. Much of the analytical thinking skills I learned in AP Macroeconomics and Microeconomics became useful when I needed to make decisions about my future – What job did I want? How do I qualify for the job? How do I do my work most efficiently? So I am ecstatic that ACEE is providing Arizona’s students access to learn important life skills regardless of whether they will become an economist or work in the financial industry.
Q: Why do you care about financial and economic education?
Whereas basic principles taught in introductory economics will remind students to make rational decisions, the benefit of financial education prepares students for the rest of their lives. Unfortunately, without proper instruction, financial literacy often comes with the cost of making financial planning errors. By providing proper financial education to youths beyond the difference between a checking and savings account, I strongly believe that they will be armed with the tools to not be financially behind, whatever that may for their lifestyle choice.
