We are excited to announce the May 2026 Financial Goals Scholarship winner is Vania! Congratulations!
"My name is Vania Djomoah and I am incredibly grateful to be selected as a recipient of the 1st Financial Bank USA Financial Goals Scholarship. As a first-generation college student and a student of the humanities, I have spent a great deal of time thinking about what success looks like for me. When responding to this essay prompt, it felt only right to write about my life-long desire for more time. Due to 1st Financial Bank USA's generosity, this scholarship will help alleviate some of the financial pressure of higher education and, in turn, grant me more time to focus on my education." - Vania D.
You’ve likely heard the phrase “time is money”, but it’s not always clear which is more valuable. Having more time could allow you to pursue a passion, strengthen relationships, or volunteer for an important cause. Having more money could help you fund your education, contribute to your retirement, or explore the world through travel. In her essay, Vania shares which is more important to her and the impact it will have on her life.
"As a first-generation student and a student of the humanities, I often harp on this dilemma each time I envision where I see myself in the next five to six years. When I was younger, I used to hope for more money so I could afford my ideal lifestyle and remove my financial anxiety. However, as I get older, each year that passes makes time feel more finite, and my dreams no longer feel distant. I can only wish for a lifetime where I have more time.
I used to attribute money as the primary reason I could not pursue my hobbies. Though money played a large part, I was misconstruing the root of the problem: I wanted more money so I could limit the number of hours I worked, allowing me to have more time to invest in my sewing hobbies and recent book pick-ups. Money was not the barrier to the hobbies I already had. Instead, trying to balance my leisure and working lifestyle was the problem. In certain scenarios, some hobbies and interests have high entry costs. However, I am a firm believer that a persistent passion will find you in unexpected corners.
I experienced this phenomenon last summer when I wanted to pick up cinematography. I wrote my first short film, featuring my closest friends, and quickly ran into a few hurdles. When it came time to pick up my rental camera, I was quoted a high rental fee, which ultimately discouraged me from continuing the project. A few months went by, and I mistakenly opened my script. While reading my script, I was surprised by the quality of my work I had. I decided to tweak it and remove a few characters to repurpose the script into a memoir, which I then recorded on my iPhone and recklessly published to YouTube. In retrospect, I needed time to develop my craft and refine my perspective. If I had immediately had the money to fund the original vision, I may never have discovered a more personal way to tell my story. Sometimes time is needed to layer over a touchy feeling and reignite a burning drive for resourcefulness.
As I embark on early adulthood, all I can ask for is more time. More time to make mistakes so I can perfect my thinking framework. More time in college so I can be sure of my degree choice, whether I want a degree in STEM, the humanities, or an interdisciplinary study of both. And, most importantly, more time to pivot and discover my true purpose, whether I want to work in a nonprofit or pursue a career in advertising, which is often masked by my material wants and desires. Because I am fortunate enough to understand now that money can return, but time cannot. In the end, I would choose more time because it offers something money never truly can: the opportunity to experience the ups and downs of life rather than afford them.”
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.
