I paid off my student loans by the age of 25 and I’m gonna tell you how I did
of 25 and I’m gonna tell you how I did
of 25 and I’m gonna tell you how I did it
it
it my mother is one of 14 children and she
my mother is one of 14 children and she
my mother is one of 14 children and she grew up in the great island of Jamaica
grew up in the great island of Jamaica
grew up in the great island of Jamaica by the age of 13 she came here to the
by the age of 13 she came here to the
by the age of 13 she came here to the land of opportunities Rochester New York
land of opportunities Rochester New York
land of opportunities Rochester New York and by age 25
and by age 25
and by age 25 she had me my mother works as a mental
she had me my mother works as a mental
she had me my mother works as a mental hygiene assistant at the write to
hygiene assistant at the write to
hygiene assistant at the write to Rochester Psychiatric Center and she
Rochester Psychiatric Center and she
Rochester Psychiatric Center and she still currently is employed there by the
still currently is employed there by the
still currently is employed there by the age of 9 my mother instilled in me lots
age of 9 my mother instilled in me lots
age of 9 my mother instilled in me lots of important values that I would take
of important values that I would take
of important values that I would take with me as I grew up hard work financial
with me as I grew up hard work financial
with me as I grew up hard work financial literacy and to be a person of integrity
literacy and to be a person of integrity
literacy and to be a person of integrity during that age my mother told me we’re
during that age my mother told me we’re
during that age my mother told me we’re gonna round up all your birthday money
gonna round up all your birthday money
gonna round up all your birthday money and I’m taking you to the bank and we’re
and I’m taking you to the bank and we’re
and I’m taking you to the bank and we’re gonna open up what’s called a
gonna open up what’s called a
gonna open up what’s called a certificate of deposit now back in the
certificate of deposit now back in the
certificate of deposit now back in the mid-1990s they had a higher interest
mid-1990s they had a higher interest
mid-1990s they had a higher interest rate now not so much so I was grateful
rate now not so much so I was grateful
rate now not so much so I was grateful my mother my mother also taught me how
my mother my mother also taught me how
my mother my mother also taught me how to write text she thought that it was
to write text she thought that it was
to write text she thought that it was important that whenever we got billed
important that whenever we got billed
important that whenever we got billed she was gonna sit me down and have me
she was gonna sit me down and have me
she was gonna sit me down and have me write out the checks she would tell me
write out the checks she would tell me
write out the checks she would tell me things like you know you wants to pay
things like you know you wants to pay
things like you know you wants to pay what the amount is that’s on the cheque
what the amount is that’s on the cheque
what the amount is that’s on the cheque and never pay late fees it will affect a
and never pay late fees it will affect a
and never pay late fees it will affect a thing called credit credit can affect a
thing called credit credit can affect a
thing called credit credit can affect a thing called purchasing power also I
thing called purchasing power also I
thing called purchasing power also I wanted to explore what it was like to be
wanted to explore what it was like to be
wanted to explore what it was like to be an entrepreneur yeah it’s at the young
an entrepreneur yeah it’s at the young
an entrepreneur yeah it’s at the young age of nine I made what’s called juleps
age of nine I made what’s called juleps
age of nine I made what’s called juleps juleps you you put it you put cool wage
juleps you you put it you put cool wage
juleps you you put it you put cool wage to guys these are people laughing I
to guys these are people laughing I
to guys these are people laughing I guess you know what that is
guess you know what that is
guess you know what that is kool-aid sugar water you stir it all up
kool-aid sugar water you stir it all up
kool-aid sugar water you stir it all up you put him in a Styrofoam cup and you
you put him in a Styrofoam cup and you
you put him in a Styrofoam cup and you put him in the freezer in the inner city
put him in the freezer in the inner city
put him in the freezer in the inner city of Rochester I would sell them for a
of Rochester I would sell them for a
of Rochester I would sell them for a quarter my only problem is I had a sweet
quarter my only problem is I had a sweet
quarter my only problem is I had a sweet tooth so that meant I was eating a lot
tooth so that meant I was eating a lot
tooth so that meant I was eating a lot of money
of money
of money so the profit that I did make my mom
so the profit that I did make my mom
so the profit that I did make my mom would quickly tell me okay set aside the
would quickly tell me okay set aside the
would quickly tell me okay set aside the money this side is what you spent on the
money this side is what you spent on the
money this side is what you spent on the product so you have to save this in
product so you have to save this in
product so you have to save this in order to go buy more products to sell
order to go buy more products to sell
order to go buy more products to sell some more what you made on this side is
some more what you made on this side is
some more what you made on this side is what’s known as your profit I went on to
what’s known as your profit I went on to
what’s known as your profit I went on to high school School of the Arts here in
high school School of the Arts here in
high school School of the Arts here in Rochester New York I was introduced to
Rochester New York I was introduced to
Rochester New York I was introduced to so many different programs one of them
so many different programs one of them
so many different programs one of them being the People to People Student
being the People to People Student
being the People to People Student Ambassador Program I saw with my mom you
Ambassador Program I saw with my mom you
Ambassador Program I saw with my mom you know I really want to travel abroad go
know I really want to travel abroad go
know I really want to travel abroad go to Europe for one month but the trip is
to Europe for one month but the trip is
to Europe for one month but the trip is five thousand dollars that’s when I
five thousand dollars that’s when I
five thousand dollars that’s when I enter my first crossroad well Tiffany I
enter my first crossroad well Tiffany I
enter my first crossroad well Tiffany I don’t have five thousand dollars for you
don’t have five thousand dollars for you
don’t have five thousand dollars for you to go on this trip okay what can I do to
to go on this trip okay what can I do to
to go on this trip okay what can I do to get myself on this trip so I told my mom
get myself on this trip so I told my mom
get myself on this trip so I told my mom you know mom I was a mini entrepreneur
you know mom I was a mini entrepreneur
you know mom I was a mini entrepreneur before I want to sell candy I want to
before I want to sell candy I want to
before I want to sell candy I want to sell candy okay okay Tiffany let’s go to
sell candy okay okay Tiffany let’s go to
sell candy okay okay Tiffany let’s go to Sam’s Club let’s go buy your sneakers
Sam’s Club let’s go buy your sneakers
Sam’s Club let’s go buy your sneakers your M&Ms your Twizzlers your airheads
your M&Ms your Twizzlers your airheads
your M&Ms your Twizzlers your airheads let’s go pick up these products for you
let’s go pick up these products for you
let’s go pick up these products for you to sell so I sold candy to help
to sell so I sold candy to help
to sell so I sold candy to help alleviate my mom of the cost of five
alleviate my mom of the cost of five
alleviate my mom of the cost of five thousand dollars while walking through
thousand dollars while walking through
thousand dollars while walking through the hallways of high school I was kind
the hallways of high school I was kind
the hallways of high school I was kind of like a mini corner store making my
of like a mini corner store making my
of like a mini corner store making my money in between periods yeah quarter
money in between periods yeah quarter
money in between periods yeah quarter here a dollar there I was making my
here a dollar there I was making my
here a dollar there I was making my money and you know what I got my wish I
money and you know what I got my wish I
money and you know what I got my wish I traveled to Europe for one month and I
traveled to Europe for one month and I
traveled to Europe for one month and I was one of few kids in school of the
was one of few kids in school of the
was one of few kids in school of the Arts to do so my mother would always
Arts to do so my mother would always
Arts to do so my mother would always tell me her philosophy is every
tell me her philosophy is every
tell me her philosophy is every generation should do better than the
generation should do better than the
generation should do better than the last
last
last so I come after my mother so I should be
so I come after my mother so I should be
so I come after my mother so I should be doing better than her and if I have kids
doing better than her and if I have kids
doing better than her and if I have kids my kid should be doing better than me
my kid should be doing better than me
my kid should be doing better than me she told me your parents don’t have more
she told me your parents don’t have more
she told me your parents don’t have more than a high school education you will go
than a high school education you will go
than a high school education you will go to college I’m thinking well I guess I
to college I’m thinking well I guess I
to college I’m thinking well I guess I don’t have a choice off to college I’ll
don’t have a choice off to college I’ll
don’t have a choice off to college I’ll go I applied to over 50 scholarships my
go I applied to over 50 scholarships my
go I applied to over 50 scholarships my senior year of high school
senior year of high school
senior year of high school and out of the 50 scholarships I only
and out of the 50 scholarships I only
and out of the 50 scholarships I only received seven totaling $8,000 up to the
received seven totaling $8,000 up to the
received seven totaling $8,000 up to the University of Buffalo I went to major in
University of Buffalo I went to major in
University of Buffalo I went to major in Spanish now it’s Spanish you have to
Spanish now it’s Spanish you have to
Spanish now it’s Spanish you have to become fluent and in order to become
become fluent and in order to become
become fluent and in order to become fluent I need to immerse myself in a
fluent I need to immerse myself in a
fluent I need to immerse myself in a Spanish speaking culture so mom there’s
Spanish speaking culture so mom there’s
Spanish speaking culture so mom there’s a study abroad trip to Spain here’s my
a study abroad trip to Spain here’s my
a study abroad trip to Spain here’s my other crossroad it costs $13,000 Tiffany
other crossroad it costs $13,000 Tiffany
other crossroad it costs $13,000 Tiffany I don’t have $13,000 okay what can I do
I don’t have $13,000 okay what can I do
I don’t have $13,000 okay what can I do to give myself to Spain for a semester I
to give myself to Spain for a semester I
to give myself to Spain for a semester I think I could sell candy I won the
think I could sell candy I won the
think I could sell candy I won the University of Buffalo campus selling
University of Buffalo campus selling
University of Buffalo campus selling candy first semester the help alleviate
candy first semester the help alleviate
candy first semester the help alleviate my mother the expense of $13,000 off to
my mother the expense of $13,000 off to
my mother the expense of $13,000 off to Spain I went in the year 2010 I
Spain I went in the year 2010 I
Spain I went in the year 2010 I graduated from the University of Buffalo
graduated from the University of Buffalo
graduated from the University of Buffalo mom I’d like to go to grad pool I’d like
mom I’d like to go to grad pool I’d like
mom I’d like to go to grad pool I’d like to go to grad school in Miami Florida
to go to grad school in Miami Florida
to go to grad school in Miami Florida International University so I got my BA
International University so I got my BA
International University so I got my BA in Spanish Miami is perfect to keep it
in Spanish Miami is perfect to keep it
in Spanish Miami is perfect to keep it up and also study okay Tiffany you know
up and also study okay Tiffany you know
up and also study okay Tiffany you know I helped you out throughout your
I helped you out throughout your
I helped you out throughout your undergraduate career and she was so
undergraduate career and she was so
undergraduate career and she was so generous to do it and I thank my mother
generous to do it and I thank my mother
generous to do it and I thank my mother so much for doing that
so much for doing that
so much for doing that but Tiffany I can’t help you with grad
but Tiffany I can’t help you with grad
but Tiffany I can’t help you with grad school okay what can I do to get myself
school okay what can I do to get myself
school okay what can I do to get myself to grad school well I have to go on the
to grad school well I have to go on the
to grad school well I have to go on the website called fast but I’m sure a lot
website called fast but I’m sure a lot
website called fast but I’m sure a lot of us are familiar with it and start
of us are familiar with it and start
of us are familiar with it and start taking out the student loans $42,000 to
taking out the student loans $42,000 to
taking out the student loans $42,000 to be exact
be exact
be exact for grad school in Miami while there I
for grad school in Miami while there I
for grad school in Miami while there I was looking feverishly for a job that
was looking feverishly for a job that
was looking feverishly for a job that paid $7.25 working at the front desk of
paid $7.25 working at the front desk of
paid $7.25 working at the front desk of a resident hall while there I met a
a resident hall while there I met a
a resident hall while there I met a colleague who said to me yeah I’m from
colleague who said to me yeah I’m from
colleague who said to me yeah I’m from Philadelphia
Philadelphia
Philadelphia I’m working too I’m working to save up
I’m working too I’m working to save up
I’m working too I’m working to save up to pay for my flight back to it from
to pay for my flight back to it from
to pay for my flight back to it from Philly I’m doing the same thing to an
Philly I’m doing the same thing to an
Philly I’m doing the same thing to an Miami back to New York and so forth but
Miami back to New York and so forth but
Miami back to New York and so forth but I’m also saving my money towards my
I’m also saving my money towards my
I’m also saving my money towards my student loans I’m gonna start paying on
student loans I’m gonna start paying on
student loans I’m gonna start paying on them while I’m in grad school I look at
them while I’m in grad school I look at
them while I’m in grad school I look at him like you crazy
him like you crazy
him like you crazy you want to start paying your student
you want to start paying your student
you want to start paying your student loans now wiring grad school no no way
loans now wiring grad school no no way
loans now wiring grad school no no way we have a six month grace period there
we have a six month grace period there
we have a six month grace period there is no way I’m gonna start paying my
is no way I’m gonna start paying my
is no way I’m gonna start paying my student loans now but it made sense if I
student loans now but it made sense if I
student loans now but it made sense if I started now I’d be hitting the principal
started now I’d be hitting the principal
started now I’d be hitting the principal immediately and I would not be paying
immediately and I would not be paying
immediately and I would not be paying interest upon interest so the first
interest upon interest so the first
interest upon interest so the first check I got Department of Education they
check I got Department of Education they
check I got Department of Education they weren’t gonna get that check so I
weren’t gonna get that check so I
weren’t gonna get that check so I pocketed that back and check I’m like
pocketed that back and check I’m like
pocketed that back and check I’m like okay what can I do to start paying
okay what can I do to start paying
okay what can I do to start paying towards my student loans any little bit
towards my student loans any little bit
towards my student loans any little bit helps I started paying as little as
helps I started paying as little as
helps I started paying as little as fifty dollars a month by the time I
fifty dollars a month by the time I
fifty dollars a month by the time I graduated from Florida International
graduated from Florida International
graduated from Florida International University I had already paid leave me
University I had already paid leave me
University I had already paid leave me about a thousand dollars on my phones
about a thousand dollars on my phones
about a thousand dollars on my phones from that forty two thousand but that’s
from that forty two thousand but that’s
from that forty two thousand but that’s okay because then I landed my first job
okay because then I landed my first job
okay because then I landed my first job and I think it’s important to note I’ve
and I think it’s important to note I’ve
and I think it’s important to note I’ve never made over thirty five thousand
never made over thirty five thousand
never made over thirty five thousand dollars a day in my life in order to pay
dollars a day in my life in order to pay
dollars a day in my life in order to pay off my student loans but I did things to
off my student loans but I did things to
off my student loans but I did things to help alleviate the cost that I might
help alleviate the cost that I might
help alleviate the cost that I might have of living on my own so instead of
have of living on my own so instead of
have of living on my own so instead of renting out my apartment for a long time
renting out my apartment for a long time
renting out my apartment for a long time because you know I’m a graduate I need
because you know I’m a graduate I need
because you know I’m a graduate I need to have my own apartment I end up moving
to have my own apartment I end up moving
to have my own apartment I end up moving back home with my mother while living at
back home with my mother while living at
back home with my mother while living at home with my mother I started taking a
home with my mother I started taking a
home with my mother I started taking a closer look at my bill how much more
closer look at my bill how much more
closer look at my bill how much more money can i allocate to my student loans
money can i allocate to my student loans
money can i allocate to my student loans rather than paying the landlord rather
rather than paying the landlord rather
rather than paying the landlord rather than paying a cable company or Internet
than paying a cable company or Internet
than paying a cable company or Internet company bills from my own apartment and
company bills from my own apartment and
company bills from my own apartment and all these essentials that you’d have to
all these essentials that you’d have to
all these essentials that you’d have to pay for I started with seven hundred
pay for I started with seven hundred
pay for I started with seven hundred then it got to the point where I can pay
then it got to the point where I can pay
then it got to the point where I can pay a thousand dollars a month then it got
a thousand dollars a month then it got
a thousand dollars a month then it got to the point where I can pay fifteen
to the point where I can pay fifteen
to the point where I can pay fifteen hundred dollars a month now I understand
hundred dollars a month now I understand
hundred dollars a month now I understand that this amount may not be realistic
that this amount may not be realistic
that this amount may not be realistic for some of us in
for some of us in
for some of us in the audience however my message is to
the audience however my message is to
the audience however my message is to motivate you and to empower you all that
motivate you and to empower you all that
motivate you and to empower you all that you can do this you can live a life that
you can do this you can live a life that
you can do this you can live a life that is debt-free when I graduated FIU
is debt-free when I graduated FIU
is debt-free when I graduated FIU this is how I felt I didn’t go to school
this is how I felt I didn’t go to school
this is how I felt I didn’t go to school for art so please don’t laugh over
for art so please don’t laugh over
for art so please don’t laugh over picture but I hope you understand that I
picture but I hope you understand that I
picture but I hope you understand that I felt chapeau
felt chapeau
felt chapeau at the time okay I had 42,000 dollars I
at the time okay I had 42,000 dollars I
at the time okay I had 42,000 dollars I would always have a friend coming to me
would always have a friend coming to me
would always have a friend coming to me asking me if I want to go on a cruise
asking me if I want to go on a cruise
asking me if I want to go on a cruise and I deny them I made those sacrifices
and I deny them I made those sacrifices
and I deny them I made those sacrifices no because when I earn money I don’t
no because when I earn money I don’t
no because when I earn money I don’t feel like it’s my money if I own the
feel like it’s my money if I own the
feel like it’s my money if I own the Department of Education I owe them
Department of Education I owe them
Department of Education I owe them $42,000 there’s no way I’m gonna spend a
$42,000 there’s no way I’m gonna spend a
$42,000 there’s no way I’m gonna spend a thousand dollars on a trip I can’t do
thousand dollars on a trip I can’t do
thousand dollars on a trip I can’t do that right now but then came a point in
that right now but then came a point in
that right now but then came a point in time where I could do that once I
time where I could do that once I
time where I could do that once I received this email that said I wish I
received this email that said I wish I
received this email that said I wish I had a pointer but it says paid in full
had a pointer but it says paid in full
had a pointer but it says paid in full okay
okay
okay I had 12,000 dollars left in my student
I had 12,000 dollars left in my student
I had 12,000 dollars left in my student loan that CD that I started when I was
loan that CD that I started when I was
loan that CD that I started when I was nine years old had totaled up to a
nine years old had totaled up to a
nine years old had totaled up to a little over $12,000 I was able to write
little over $12,000 I was able to write
little over $12,000 I was able to write a check for $12,000 to wipe out the rest
a check for $12,000 to wipe out the rest
a check for $12,000 to wipe out the rest of my loans those shackles of student
of my loans those shackles of student
of my loans those shackles of student debt thank you
debt thank you
debt thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] those shackles that changed me we’re now
those shackles that changed me we’re now
those shackles that changed me we’re now gone debt-free and now that I’ve been
gone debt-free and now that I’ve been
gone debt-free and now that I’ve been debt-free now I’m able to enjoy life the
debt-free now I’m able to enjoy life the
debt-free now I’m able to enjoy life the way that I want to enjoy life for
way that I want to enjoy life for
way that I want to enjoy life for example when I turned 27 I took a flight
example when I turned 27 I took a flight
example when I turned 27 I took a flight lesson here at the Rochester air center
lesson here at the Rochester air center
lesson here at the Rochester air center because I like to fly I think those kind
because I like to fly I think those kind
because I like to fly I think those kind of things are interesting so I paid for
of things are interesting so I paid for
of things are interesting so I paid for my lesson to do that this past summer I
my lesson to do that this past summer I
my lesson to do that this past summer I went to Thailand I’m here riding
went to Thailand I’m here riding
went to Thailand I’m here riding elephant laying on Tigers was dangerous
elephant laying on Tigers was dangerous
elephant laying on Tigers was dangerous dangerous
dangerous
dangerous and I also competed in a bodybuilding
and I also competed in a bodybuilding
and I also competed in a bodybuilding competition all of these things cost
competition all of these things cost
competition all of these things cost money but the fact that I was no longer
money but the fact that I was no longer
money but the fact that I was no longer chained to those student loans I was
chained to those student loans I was
chained to those student loans I was able to live the life that I wanted to
able to live the life that I wanted to
able to live the life that I wanted to live I want to thank everybody for
live I want to thank everybody for
live I want to thank everybody for listening
listening
listening [Applause]
”
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