[Music] hola niihama muhabba Shalom Bonjour
hola niihama muhabba Shalom Bonjour
hola niihama muhabba Shalom Bonjour hello
hello
hello why is it we learn foreign languages
why is it we learn foreign languages
why is it we learn foreign languages well chances are we know at least one
well chances are we know at least one
well chances are we know at least one person that we can converse with and
person that we can converse with and
person that we can converse with and that was definitely the case for me as I
that was definitely the case for me as I
that was definitely the case for me as I was born in El Salvador and I was raised
was born in El Salvador and I was raised
was born in El Salvador and I was raised in Los Angeles so in LA we can find at
in Los Angeles so in LA we can find at
in Los Angeles so in LA we can find at least one person we could speak language
least one person we could speak language
least one person we could speak language with and my parents understood in order
with and my parents understood in order
with and my parents understood in order to become fluent in a language we had to
to become fluent in a language we had to
to become fluent in a language we had to practice it daily and that was the case
practice it daily and that was the case
practice it daily and that was the case for us but I’m here to talk to you about
for us but I’m here to talk to you about
for us but I’m here to talk to you about the foreign language of financial
the foreign language of financial
the foreign language of financial literacy thinking literacy doesn’t that
literacy thinking literacy doesn’t that
literacy thinking literacy doesn’t that mean to read yes and chances are if
mean to read yes and chances are if
mean to read yes and chances are if you’re literate in a language you’re
you’re literate in a language you’re
you’re literate in a language you’re most likely not fluent in it as well
most likely not fluent in it as well
most likely not fluent in it as well more than half of Americans feel they
more than half of Americans feel they
more than half of Americans feel they don’t know what financial literacy is or
don’t know what financial literacy is or
don’t know what financial literacy is or they don’t even incorporate it into
they don’t even incorporate it into
they don’t even incorporate it into their conversation and that was
their conversation and that was
their conversation and that was definitely the case for me I actually
definitely the case for me I actually
definitely the case for me I actually grew up in a poor neighborhood but I had
grew up in a poor neighborhood but I had
grew up in a poor neighborhood but I had a happy childhood
a happy childhood
a happy childhood up until the age 10 where everything
up until the age 10 where everything
up until the age 10 where everything changed not just for me and my family
changed not just for me and my family
changed not just for me and my family but the communities surrounding us when
but the communities surrounding us when
but the communities surrounding us when the LA riots hit Los Angeles it hit us
the LA riots hit Los Angeles it hit us
the LA riots hit Los Angeles it hit us in the worst way we were living in a
in the worst way we were living in a
in the worst way we were living in a community where people were already
community where people were already
community where people were already struggling to get by and I remember I
struggling to get by and I remember I
struggling to get by and I remember I could no longer play outside I remember
could no longer play outside I remember
could no longer play outside I remember my parents put bars on our windows
my parents put bars on our windows
my parents put bars on our windows because they were afraid things would be
because they were afraid things would be
because they were afraid things would be stolen and blocks from where we lived
stolen and blocks from where we lived
stolen and blocks from where we lived I remember seeing a grocery stores
I remember seeing a grocery stores
I remember seeing a grocery stores restaurants mom-and-pop shops that not
restaurants mom-and-pop shops that not
restaurants mom-and-pop shops that not aware only looted some of them were
aware only looted some of them were
aware only looted some of them were burnt to the ground seeing this as a kid
burnt to the ground seeing this as a kid
burnt to the ground seeing this as a kid had a major impact on who I was and
had a major impact on who I was and
had a major impact on who I was and trying to figure out what’s going on it
trying to figure out what’s going on it
trying to figure out what’s going on it was a very scary time but the worst part
was a very scary time but the worst part
was a very scary time but the worst part is I didn’t know how I could help
is I didn’t know how I could help
is I didn’t know how I could help so the best thing I could do was
so the best thing I could do was
so the best thing I could do was volunteer so I did at a local pantry in
volunteer so I did at a local pantry in
volunteer so I did at a local pantry in our neighborhood and I remember this day
our neighborhood and I remember this day
our neighborhood and I remember this day so clearly I was so excited because I
so clearly I was so excited because I
so clearly I was so excited because I recognized someone that was coming
recognized someone that was coming
recognized someone that was coming towards us like oh yes I can help you
towards us like oh yes I can help you
towards us like oh yes I can help you I’ll bring you your groceries but this
I’ll bring you your groceries but this
I’ll bring you your groceries but this person his face had not the same
person his face had not the same
person his face had not the same interaction I was feeling at that moment
interaction I was feeling at that moment
interaction I was feeling at that moment time I gave me a wave little smirk and
time I gave me a wave little smirk and
time I gave me a wave little smirk and his head was slightly tilted down as I
his head was slightly tilted down as I
his head was slightly tilted down as I remembered he had just lost his job
remembered he had just lost his job
remembered he had just lost his job and obviously he didn’t have financial
and obviously he didn’t have financial
and obviously he didn’t have financial planning he didn’t have emergency funds
planning he didn’t have emergency funds
planning he didn’t have emergency funds and he was there to get groceries for
and he was there to get groceries for
and he was there to get groceries for his family and he wasn’t the only person
his family and he wasn’t the only person
his family and he wasn’t the only person I saw so it was definitely something
I saw so it was definitely something
I saw so it was definitely something that shift my awareness of I need to
that shift my awareness of I need to
that shift my awareness of I need to learn about money I need to know how I
learn about money I need to know how I
learn about money I need to know how I can help my community the best thing I
can help my community the best thing I
can help my community the best thing I could think of is I need to go to
could think of is I need to go to
could think of is I need to go to college so I did I decided to study got
college so I did I decided to study got
college so I did I decided to study got two majors in business one in finance
two majors in business one in finance
two majors in business one in finance and one international business but
and one international business but
and one international business but unfortunate for me I wasn’t really
unfortunate for me I wasn’t really
unfortunate for me I wasn’t really taught what financial literacy was and
taught what financial literacy was and
taught what financial literacy was and unfortunate for me I learned it in the
unfortunate for me I learned it in the
unfortunate for me I learned it in the worst way so going into my second year
worst way so going into my second year
worst way so going into my second year of grad school I had just taken out
of grad school I had just taken out
of grad school I had just taken out another fifteen thousand dollars of
another fifteen thousand dollars of
another fifteen thousand dollars of student debt another loan which on top
student debt another loan which on top
student debt another loan which on top of the debt I already had on top of the
of the debt I already had on top of the
of the debt I already had on top of the credit card debt because I was heavily
credit card debt because I was heavily
credit card debt because I was heavily targeted while I was in college on top
targeted while I was in college on top
targeted while I was in college on top of a mortgage that was responsible by
of a mortgage that was responsible by
of a mortgage that was responsible by myself because I was a first-time
myself because I was a first-time
myself because I was a first-time homebuyer on top of we were going into
homebuyer on top of we were going into
homebuyer on top of we were going into our fourth year of the non profit I had
our fourth year of the non profit I had
our fourth year of the non profit I had found it and we’d helped over a thousand
found it and we’d helped over a thousand
found it and we’d helped over a thousand girls and all of a sudden I had this
girls and all of a sudden I had this
girls and all of a sudden I had this heavy responsibility that I wouldn’t be
heavy responsibility that I wouldn’t be
heavy responsibility that I wouldn’t be able to afford to keep this going and
able to afford to keep this going and
able to afford to keep this going and then I lost my job because this was two
then I lost my job because this was two
then I lost my job because this was two years after the market crash my world
years after the market crash my world
years after the market crash my world started to change drastically and you
started to change drastically and you
started to change drastically and you think that was the worst part but it
think that was the worst part but it
think that was the worst part but it wasn’t I suddenly found myself
wasn’t I suddenly found myself
wasn’t I suddenly found myself depression was an understatement not
depression was an understatement not
depression was an understatement not only was I crying all the time
only was I crying all the time
only was I crying all the time I had many sleepless nights I found
I had many sleepless nights I found
I had many sleepless nights I found myself in an acute psychiatric hospital
myself in an acute psychiatric hospital
myself in an acute psychiatric hospital a mental hospital after being there for
a mental hospital after being there for
a mental hospital after being there for 30 hours I wondered how did this happen
30 hours I wondered how did this happen
30 hours I wondered how did this happen to me oh my gosh what did my family
to me oh my gosh what did my family
to me oh my gosh what did my family thinking I felt so hopeless I felt so
thinking I felt so hopeless I felt so
thinking I felt so hopeless I felt so ashamed I felt alone I felt like I was
ashamed I felt alone I felt like I was
ashamed I felt alone I felt like I was drowning in debt and there was no way
drowning in debt and there was no way
drowning in debt and there was no way out of it and I thought I should know
out of it and I thought I should know
out of it and I thought I should know better
better
better lucky for me I was out in 36 hours and I
lucky for me I was out in 36 hours and I
lucky for me I was out in 36 hours and I had a moment of clarity
had a moment of clarity
had a moment of clarity there was a whiteboard and gave me five
there was a whiteboard and gave me five
there was a whiteboard and gave me five steps to let me know I was going to be
steps to let me know I was going to be
steps to let me know I was going to be okay which I’m going to share with you
okay which I’m going to share with you
okay which I’m going to share with you shortly but now let’s go back to
shortly but now let’s go back to
shortly but now let’s go back to financial literacy as a foreign language
financial literacy as a foreign language
financial literacy as a foreign language why I say it’s a foreign language it’s
why I say it’s a foreign language it’s
why I say it’s a foreign language it’s because we have to practice it daily
because we have to practice it daily
because we have to practice it daily over 70% of college graduates will tell
over 70% of college graduates will tell
over 70% of college graduates will tell you they don’t know what financial
you they don’t know what financial
you they don’t know what financial literacy is they don’t feel equipped to
literacy is they don’t feel equipped to
literacy is they don’t feel equipped to manage their money let alone deal with
manage their money let alone deal with
manage their money let alone deal with their student debt over 40% of married
their student debt over 40% of married
their student debt over 40% of married couples fight about money and the
couples fight about money and the
couples fight about money and the national average shows that most
national average shows that most
national average shows that most households will hold about $30,000 in
households will hold about $30,000 in
households will hold about $30,000 in debt so we’re definitely a country
debt so we’re definitely a country
debt so we’re definitely a country that’s not talking about financial
that’s not talking about financial
that’s not talking about financial literacy let alone how to manage it the
literacy let alone how to manage it the
literacy let alone how to manage it the five steps that helped me was the very
five steps that helped me was the very
five steps that helped me was the very first one that will definitely help you
first one that will definitely help you
first one that will definitely help you one is become aware that you are not
one is become aware that you are not
one is become aware that you are not alone I gave you this assistance for a
alone I gave you this assistance for a
alone I gave you this assistance for a reason we’re not alone we need to start
reason we’re not alone we need to start
reason we’re not alone we need to start having this conversation as a child it’s
having this conversation as a child it’s
having this conversation as a child it’s easier to learn a language as opposed to
easier to learn a language as opposed to
easier to learn a language as opposed to when we’re older and so we start having
when we’re older and so we start having
when we’re older and so we start having that conversation daily and when we come
that conversation daily and when we come
that conversation daily and when we come aware it’s okay I’m gonna mess up and if
aware it’s okay I’m gonna mess up and if
aware it’s okay I’m gonna mess up and if you do mess up you can turn to people
you do mess up you can turn to people
you do mess up you can turn to people number two you need to take action now
number two you need to take action now
number two you need to take action now no matter where you are financially and
no matter where you are financially and
no matter where you are financially and what that means is start taking action
what that means is start taking action
what that means is start taking action by maybe taking 20 minutes out of your
by maybe taking 20 minutes out of your
by maybe taking 20 minutes out of your day to learn something about financial
day to learn something about financial
day to learn something about financial literacy because financial literacy like
literacy because financial literacy like
literacy because financial literacy like I said as a language it’s an evolving
I said as a language it’s an evolving
I said as a language it’s an evolving language there’s acronyms there’s
language there’s acronyms there’s
language there’s acronyms there’s formulas there’s math involved so take
formulas there’s math involved so take
formulas there’s math involved so take the time to learn maybe one or two at a
the time to learn maybe one or two at a
the time to learn maybe one or two at a time 20 minutes of your day for example
time 20 minutes of your day for example
time 20 minutes of your day for example FICO score we’ve heard the
FICO score we’ve heard the
FICO score we’ve heard the many times what does it mean what does
many times what does it mean what does
many times what does it mean what does it stand for you know it sounds for the
it stand for you know it sounds for the
it stand for you know it sounds for the Fair Isaac corporation what does it mean
Fair Isaac corporation what does it mean
Fair Isaac corporation what does it mean to you as an individual well chances are
to you as an individual well chances are
to you as an individual well chances are if you have excellent credit you’re most
if you have excellent credit you’re most
if you have excellent credit you’re most like you’re going to get the job because
like you’re going to get the job because
like you’re going to get the job because they will run your credit you’re most
they will run your credit you’re most
they will run your credit you’re most likely going to get that apartment
likely going to get that apartment
likely going to get that apartment because they will run your credit if you
because they will run your credit if you
because they will run your credit if you have excellent credit most likely you’ll
have excellent credit most likely you’ll
have excellent credit most likely you’ll get a better interest rate on your home
get a better interest rate on your home
get a better interest rate on your home loan that’s exactly what I tell my
loan that’s exactly what I tell my
loan that’s exactly what I tell my students just think about it if you’re
students just think about it if you’re
students just think about it if you’re an A student and you’re an F student is
an A student and you’re an F student is
an A student and you’re an F student is there a difference definitely so taking
there a difference definitely so taking
there a difference definitely so taking the time to understand and tweak it 20
the time to understand and tweak it 20
the time to understand and tweak it 20 minutes out of your day number three
minutes out of your day number three
minutes out of your day number three incorporate new resources I love that
incorporate new resources I love that
incorporate new resources I love that right now everybody seems to be singing
right now everybody seems to be singing
right now everybody seems to be singing that hook by cardi B I know you know it
that hook by cardi B I know you know it
that hook by cardi B I know you know it if you hear me say it I don’t dance now
if you hear me say it I don’t dance now
if you hear me say it I don’t dance now I make money moves right it puts us in
I make money moves right it puts us in
I make money moves right it puts us in this mood and you’re like huh she’s
this mood and you’re like huh she’s
this mood and you’re like huh she’s talking about financial decisions she’s
talking about financial decisions she’s
talking about financial decisions she’s talking about money moves right so guess
talking about money moves right so guess
talking about money moves right so guess what if we start incorporating music
what if we start incorporating music
what if we start incorporating music something that makes us happy think
something that makes us happy think
something that makes us happy think about it when you learn the alphabet you
about it when you learn the alphabet you
about it when you learn the alphabet you sang it it was easier to remember
sang it it was easier to remember
sang it it was easier to remember ABC obviously so if we start
ABC obviously so if we start
ABC obviously so if we start incorporating music that talks about
incorporating music that talks about
incorporating music that talks about money the situations the difficulties
money the situations the difficulties
money the situations the difficulties the mistakes you might make how to avoid
the mistakes you might make how to avoid
the mistakes you might make how to avoid those can make it easier incorporating
those can make it easier incorporating
those can make it easier incorporating these new resources can be shows
these new resources can be shows
these new resources can be shows podcasts documentaries movies just doing
podcasts documentaries movies just doing
podcasts documentaries movies just doing this daily can transform everything
before I get to step four I want all of
before I get to step four I want all of you to close your eyes and I want you to
you to close your eyes and I want you to
you to close your eyes and I want you to remember the first time you saw your
remember the first time you saw your
remember the first time you saw your parents paying their bills or whoever
parents paying their bills or whoever
parents paying their bills or whoever was in charge of your bills what did
was in charge of your bills what did
was in charge of your bills what did their faces look like what expressions
their faces look like what expressions
their faces look like what expressions that they have on their face you can
that they have on their face you can
that they have on their face you can open up your eyes this is what I saw
open up your eyes this is what I saw
open up your eyes this is what I saw guess what that’s a sense of frustration
guess what that’s a sense of frustration
guess what that’s a sense of frustration and anxiety and unfortunately for most
and anxiety and unfortunately for most
and anxiety and unfortunately for most of us that’s the first interaction we
of us that’s the first interaction we
of us that’s the first interaction we have with dealing with money so we need
have with dealing with money so we need
have with dealing with money so we need to understand that we can’t do this
to understand that we can’t do this
to understand that we can’t do this alone
alone
alone so we need to get some support which is
so we need to get some support which is
so we need to get some support which is number four get support you can talk to
number four get support you can talk to
number four get support you can talk to a CPA get a financial planner get a
a CPA get a financial planner get a
a CPA get a financial planner get a financial coach attend workshops attend
financial coach attend workshops attend
financial coach attend workshops attend conferences there’s even anonymous
conferences there’s even anonymous
conferences there’s even anonymous workshops you can attend getting the
workshops you can attend getting the
workshops you can attend getting the support will not only keep you
support will not only keep you
support will not only keep you accountable and reach your goals but
accountable and reach your goals but
accountable and reach your goals but I’ll remind you you’re not alone and
I’ll remind you you’re not alone and
I’ll remind you you’re not alone and that you’re gonna make mistakes and
that you’re gonna make mistakes and
that you’re gonna make mistakes and that’s okay too because as a kid we’re
that’s okay too because as a kid we’re
that’s okay too because as a kid we’re told it’s all right you didn’t say that
told it’s all right you didn’t say that
told it’s all right you didn’t say that right or you didn’t really use it right
right or you didn’t really use it right
right or you didn’t really use it right you’ll you’ll learn eventually and just
you’ll you’ll learn eventually and just
you’ll you’ll learn eventually and just think about it when you learn the
think about it when you learn the
think about it when you learn the alphabet did we learn it all in one day
alphabet did we learn it all in one day
alphabet did we learn it all in one day no it was you learn one letter then you
no it was you learn one letter then you
no it was you learn one letter then you learn what it means you somehow
learn what it means you somehow
learn what it means you somehow implement it every day and practice it
implement it every day and practice it
implement it every day and practice it you make some mistakes and you repeat
you make some mistakes and you repeat
you make some mistakes and you repeat the process so knowing that you’re gonna
the process so knowing that you’re gonna
the process so knowing that you’re gonna not once again have someone with you and
not once again have someone with you and
not once again have someone with you and walk you through the process could feel
walk you through the process could feel
walk you through the process could feel less scary and yet we’ll learn something
less scary and yet we’ll learn something
less scary and yet we’ll learn something new the last one five is probably the
new the last one five is probably the
new the last one five is probably the hardest one for most is be patient with
hardest one for most is be patient with
hardest one for most is be patient with yourself be patient with yourself like I
yourself be patient with yourself like I
yourself be patient with yourself like I said as we’re adults learning this new
said as we’re adults learning this new
said as we’re adults learning this new language can be very frustrating and
language can be very frustrating and
language can be very frustrating and just taking those steps can get rid of
just taking those steps can get rid of
just taking those steps can get rid of the guilt some of it some of the feeling
the guilt some of it some of the feeling
the guilt some of it some of the feeling of shame having that conversation with
of shame having that conversation with
of shame having that conversation with not only your kids but in our schools as
not only your kids but in our schools as
not only your kids but in our schools as young as five years old and younger to
young as five years old and younger to
young as five years old and younger to college so we can prepare ourselves for
college so we can prepare ourselves for
college so we can prepare ourselves for a better future as I stand in here in
a better future as I stand in here in
a better future as I stand in here in this auditorium giving a TEDx talk I
this auditorium giving a TEDx talk I
this auditorium giving a TEDx talk I have to tell you I just recently lost my
have to tell you I just recently lost my
have to tell you I just recently lost my grandmother and I’m proud to say that I
grandmother and I’m proud to say that I
grandmother and I’m proud to say that I am her wildest dream come true and I
am her wildest dream come true and I
am her wildest dream come true and I would have never thought that sitting
would have never thought that sitting
would have never thought that sitting back in that hospital you’re watching
back in that hospital you’re watching
back in that hospital you’re watching you are your ancestors wildest dreams
you are your ancestors wildest dreams
you are your ancestors wildest dreams come true no matter if you’re facing
come true no matter if you’re facing
come true no matter if you’re facing financial hardship if you’re feeling
financial hardship if you’re feeling
financial hardship if you’re feeling overwhelmed or depressed
overwhelmed or depressed
overwhelmed or depressed together we are limitless together we
together we are limitless together we
together we are limitless together we can not only change ourselves
can not only change ourselves
can not only change ourselves our communities we can really change the
our communities we can really change the
our communities we can really change the system as my hopes is one day financial
system as my hopes is one day financial
system as my hopes is one day financial literacy will no longer be a foreign
literacy will no longer be a foreign
literacy will no longer be a foreign language it will be a universal language
language it will be a universal language
language it will be a universal language thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
Be First to Comment