Jacqueline: It’s Real Life

The other day, I had the awesome opportunity to venture over to Waterloo Square and talk one-on-one with young people about what they look for in a financial institution. I thought it would really give me some perspective as to what being a Young & Free Spokesperson would really be like: approaching people, asking their thoughts about banking, etc. As I approached them, it was awesome just being able to relate with them and see them open up. They were extremely candid with me, describing how they felt about their financial institutions.

Being approachable, and receiving a great response from people, is what I believe is super important when it comes to being the Young & Free Spokesperson. People want to know that you have their best interest at heart, that you’re “one of them” and not just another number. And the biggest thing is that they don’t want to feel intimidated.

I love the fact that Libro Financial and United Communities has given us the opportunity to be the one to advocate for people our age. Who better to find out what people between the ages of 17 and 25 want than people between those ages themselves? Someone asked me the other day what I thought was beneficial about having a young spokesperson, and I said the biggest is thing is that we’re able to be relatable.

How many times have we sat down to hear a 50-year old man dressed in a business suit tell us how to save for University, pay off your debt, or how to save for your first home? Sure, they have some great advice, but when someone my own age has been through it and been successful, I find it much easier to listen to them than someone who was my age 30 years earlier. It’s great because we’re all in the same stage of life, going through similar life situations, and we have the opportunity to share some valuable lessons with the world.

So what is it about me that makes ME relatable to people between the ages of 17 and 25? Well, being 22, I’d say I’m pretty close to both age brackets. It wasn’t that long ago that I graduated from high school. I remember what it was like having my first job, saving up for those sick shoes that I needed to have so badly, and then try to figure out how I was going to put gas in my moms car after driving around the city (with my G2, of course!).

As a recent graduate from college, I know what it’s like to go to school full time while working 20-25+ hours a week, trying to figure out how to save enough money to cover tuition for the next semester. I learned to budget my time effectively (and my money), to make sure that all of my obligations were covered, then my needs and wants came next.

Finally, just over two months ago I got married, so I understand what it’s like to make sure that rent is paid each month, as well as making sure that I have what it takes to contribute to support my own family.

I get it. It’s real life for me.

Not all 20-25 year olds are students. Of course, many are, but there’s a lot of people out there who work full time, have a mortgage, are married, and some are even starting (or have started) to have families themselves. I see it everyday. It surrounds me.

It’s real life.

So, can I relate to all the different age groups out there?

I know I can.

You tell me.

Cheers.

Jacqueline