[00:00:03] Looking back to where my family started and where we're at today, I've come to appreciate education so much because it's transformational. It changed the legacy for my family.

That pivotal moment was me going to college. Being a first-generation student here at CSUSB, it made me appreciate the opportunity that I was given. So when I was in the classroom, I took advantage of every single learning experience that I had.

I appreciated the knowledge that I was gaining in the classroom and also always tried to figure out how can I apply it in my day-to-day life.

[00:00:41] My freshman year, I took Finance 101, which was personal finance, and I remember that that was a life-changing class for me because that was the first time learning about credit, learning about savings, learning about investments. I remember every piece of knowledge that he would give us, I tried to apply in my life.

I thank that class for being able to buy my first home at the age of 20 because as soon as I learned that, I took that class and learned the material, started applying, started building my credit, started saving. I saw it as an opportunity to better my life and change the legacy for my family.

[00:01:15] I'm very thankful to CSUSB because it's provided so much support and so many opportunities for me. If it wasn't for me going to college, I don't know where I would be at today.