We are excited to announce the July 2025 Financial Goals Scholarship winner is Davin! Congratulations!
"I am so excited that I have been selected for this scholarship! It has been such a struggle trying to find wats to pay for school, and this has brought so much relief to me and my family. Thank you all so much for this amazing opportunity!" - Davin W.
Everyone’s version of financial security is different. For some, it’s having the ability to afford housing, build savings, and enjoy a quiet life without debt. For others, it might mean traveling the world, owning a luxury car, and never having to check a price tag. In his essay, Davin shares what "having enough" looks like and how he's working to make his vision a reality.
"Everyone has heard the phrase ‘starving artist.’ It certainly does paint a picture; a scrawny guy on the sidewalk, with a wiry goatee and a paintbrush in his hand, proudly presenting his avant-garde masterpiece to a crowd of maybe two dozen. For as beautiful as art is, it sadly is a difficult place to find financial security. Despite that, I am determined to make my life work. I want to become a writer, actor, and composer, and am about to attend my first year of college at Viterbo University to make that dream a reality. But it does beg the question, what kind of life am I going to be able to afford?
It’s no secret that actors struggle to find work, and thus, struggle to make ends meet. I’ve been trying to picture how I’ll live my life post-college, but the question of money has always entered my mind. It reminds me of one of my high school teachers. My sophomore year history teacher had previously worked for the government, something to do with the conflict in the middle east. The job paid quite well, but the stress and mental toll were too much (Although I’m not sure if high-schoolers are much better). He began teaching, and of course got paid much less. He made adjustments, and changed his lifestyle to suit the new paycheck. When asked why he was happier in a much lower paying job, he said “You can live off of any job as long as you’re okay with the lifestyle it can afford.” Those words of wisdom are the words that are going to get me through my career.
‘Having enough’ is a relative term, but for me I know what it’ll look like. It’s unrealistic to expect to become some big shot Hollywood star or famous director, but I believe I can make money from various jobs on and off the stage. ‘Having enough’ for me would be having enough money to afford two meals a day, with a well-rounded diet. ‘Having enough’ would be having enough clothes to get through a whole week. ‘Having enough’ would be a roof over my head, even if it’s a crowded two room apartment with leaks. Is it glamorous? No. But I’ll be living the life that I want to and doing what I love most.
So what do I do to start preparing? I have started to save money in two different accounts, one of them a high-yielding savings account. I download apps to get discounts on products, and I’m learning about all the little grocery shopping secrets from my parents. I have a list of exercises I can do without equipment or a gym. I’m applying for scholarships. There are a multitude of ways I am preparing to live frugally. A future in the arts is the thing I would love most in the world. If I have to be a starving artist to have it, so be it.”
Established in the year 1910, 1st Financial Bank USA (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. View full rules and eligibility at 1fbusascholarship.com.
