"Financial anxiety isn’t just about numbers; it’s about the constant undercurrent of worry that pulls at your focus, your confidence, and sometimes even your sense of belonging." - Alex G.

First-generation student Alex shares how financial hardship shaped his resilience, gratitude, and sense of character. Through hunger, sacrifice, and perseverance, he learned to ask for help, treat himself with compassion, and manage money with integrity - lessons he hopes will guide his financial future.

"My parents have always taught me that my character is more important than any material possession or worldly success.  My grades were important, but not if I had to cheat or plagiarize to get them. Friends were important but only if they were friendships formed out of loyalty and not superficiality. Athletic success was celebrated, but only when it was hard-earned and gracious, not achieved through dishonesty or with bad sportsmanship. I point to these things to say that my financial goals are more related to my overall financial character. My primary goal financially, at this stage in life, is to learn to manage my money with good character and establish a healthy financial lifestyle so that I can live contentedly within my means, contribute to my local economy, and give graciously.

As a first-generation college student and the child of hardworking immigrants, financial stress has been a constant part of my academic journey. My parents sacrificed endlessly to see me earn a place at the University of Chicago, something we all saw as a dream realized. Yet, even with a scholarship covering most of my tuition, the day-to-day reality of living expenses quickly reminded me that access to education doesn’t erase the weight of financial insecurity.

There were days when I didn’t have enough money for a proper meal - when grocery shopping became an exercise in calculation, not nutrition. I vividly remember skipping meals so I could stretch what little I had, studying through hunger because there was no other option. It’s humbling to realize that while you’re surrounded by opportunity, something as basic as food can still feel out of reach. Those moments were some of the hardest I’ve faced - not just physically, but mentally. Financial anxiety isn’t just about numbers; it’s about the constant undercurrent of worry that pulls at your focus, your confidence, and sometimes even your sense of belonging.

What I’ve learned, though, is that while money plays a serious role in shaping life’s circumstances, how we respond to financial challenges defines us even more. My best advice to anyone facing financial anxiety in college is twofold: ask for help, and give yourself grace.

For many first-generation students like me, there’s a deep sense of pride and responsibility—not wanting to burden family, not wanting to admit when things are hard. But I learned that universities have resources for a reason. Whether it’s a campus food pantry, emergency grants, or simply talking to an advisor, reaching out doesn’t mean you’ve failed, it means you’re using every tool available to succeed.

Equally important is learning to be kind to yourself. Financial stress can make you feel like you’re constantly behind or not doing enough. But surviving (and thriving) under those conditions takes resilience. Celebrate that resilience. Recognize that balancing academics, finances, and personal well-being is no small task, and every step forward is a victory.Money will always be a factor, but it doesn’t get to define your worth or limit your potential. I’ve faced moments where I didn’t know how I’d make it through the week, but I’m still here, now a junior, continuing to chase the education my family and I dreamed of. Financial anxiety is real, but so is the strength we find in overcoming it. And that strength, once built, lasts far beyond any temporary hardship."

*The Financial Goals Scholarship is sponsored by 1st Financial Bank USA^® (1FBUSA). Established in the year 1910, 1FBUSA provides quality community banking services in South Dakota, credit card and other financial services to college students and college graduates, and construction lending to builders, developers, and investors from coast to coast. 1FBUSA will award a $2,000 scholarship to a new winner each month through the end of 2025. View full rules and eligibility at 1fbusascholarship.com. CollegeData^®, a free online college advisory service, has been provided by 1FBUSA for over 25 years.