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Thursday, March 28, 2024

When life gives you lemons: The problem with money

Money makes the world go ‘round. At least, that’s what I have always heard. I might come off as sounding a little crazy or “cliché” when I say, money is not everything, but it really isn’t. Now don’t get me wrong, it’s important, but it shouldn’t be your sole rationale when making decisions.

Greed is a human’s worst enemy. It is a sickness that eats away at you. Greed ruins marriages, friendships and, quite frankly, lives. A person can go from sitting in the penthouse office to sleeping on the street in the blink of an eye. That’s just the way the world works; it likes to slap you in the face every now and then. A woman once told me, “Remember, your wallet is your best friend.” What a fickle friend it is then! A wallet can be stolen, get lost and be emptied in one night at Midtown. The list goes on. Do you not think your life will be empty and lonely if your best friend is your wallet?

As a college student, you are probably facing the fear of debt. You know the best part? You are not alone. There are plenty of other students out there who will be spending years upon years paying off thousands of dollars in student loans. It’s just the truth tea we all have to drink. With that in mind, aim to be successful, but be wary; greed likes to make successful individuals its prey, and eventually, its victim.

Be successful, but stay humble. A great way to ensure this is by doing something you are passionate about. Do not become a surgeon just because you see dollar signs. That will never make you content. You will constantly want more and more but never reach the fulfillment you desire. Doing a job you love will bring you happiness. When you are passionate and fight for what you want, you will have no choice but to be successful. Aim to make enough money to support your dreams and aspirations and to give to others and to support your families, but keep your focus away from wanting to live a life of luxury or “stacks on stacks” (unless that really is your goal in life).

In college, we have the prime opportunity to discover what we are meant to do and we also have the opportunity to budget and learn about money. Take advantage of this. Do you want to be the CEO of a Fortune 500 company? Be the CEO of a Fortune 500 company. You say you want to be famous on Broadway? Go become famous on Broadway. You want to show the author of “50 Shades of Grey” how real books are written? Please do.

Your only limitation is your mind. It is time to cross those boundaries to reach your potential. Do not let money or obligations keep you from the person you truly want to be. 

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