Applicant #13: Geoffrey Laskey

Geoffrey Laskey is a 18-year-old from Strathroy.

Geoffrey's video application:

Geoffrey online:

+ Twitter

Geoffrey's current situation:

I'm a Gr. 12 student planning to return to high school for half a year. I sing with my barbershop chapter chorus, play recreational badminton/soccer, take vocal music lessons and am currently applying for a job to work with youth who have special needs.

Geoffrey's blog post:

What does freedom mean to me? It's hard to sum it up. I guess the best way to describe it is that first time you ever drive by yourself. Yeah, you know what I mean. You, your ride, and no one else. No parents, no driving instructor, and no test examiner over your shoulder. There are few greater moments in your life than that first moment of being your own master on the open road.

That's when it hits you. It's just you in the car. No one guiding you, or looking out for you. You grip the wheel a little tighter, adjust your rear-view, and check your blind spots. You nervously take a dry gulp of air. The butterflies in your stomach have kicked in. It's here where you need to do your reality check.

You reassure yourself that the gas and brake pedals are still there. You see there is enough gas in the car. You're already turning on the wipers to clean the windshield. You breath a sigh of relief, and go on your way. What most young adults fail to realize is that this situation is very much the same as gaining full financial independance.

Now, I haven't gone through this process yet, but I know when I do, Libro will be there to support and advise me. All credit unions want to make sure that their post-secondary youth emerge into the world, fully prepared for the new financial responsibilities they will have to face.

I know that in the near future, my credit union will bring me the sigh of relief when I begin the next stage of financial responsibility. That sigh of relief, that moment of assured peace, that's the goal of the Young + Free movement. Credit unions all over North America are trying to make this instant of comfort for youth age 17-25 a possibility. And it is for this reason that I want to lend my voice to this cause, to know I helped youth my age understand, and secure, the future that awaits them.

It's been suggested that the Ontario Spokesperson should be a model example. I humbly ask whoever should read this: am I not a suitable example? I am a young adult, who will soon be acquainted with the monetary responsibilities of an individual. Who better would there be to answer questions regarding the budding individual, than that of someone who is going through the paces themselves? One of the most effective methods of education is to teach by example. allow me the privilege of learning the facts, and teaching them to others.

Geoffrey