For scholarships or any goals in my life, I always tell myself to keep my eyes on the prize. It is so easy to get distracted, get pulled into the drama, get involved in activities or opportunities that don’t even help me reach my goals and allow other people to control my life if I don’t stay disciplined and set strict boundaries.

It’s important that you do things one step at a time and to make sure every step is going to get you closer to what you want. That is why I’ve learned to say no to a lot of opportunities because those activities really wouldn’t have given me any real long-term benefit. And now I’m conscientious about what activities I do, and I make sure it is absolutely worth my energy. I suggest that you focus on managing your energy, instead of your time, and you will achieve your goals much faster.

I’m really into investing. I like to read articles about it and watch videos. I started learning at 19 when I got my first payment. It seemed super risky at first, but once I saw the results, I immediately regretted stashing all my money into a savings account for those past years. Time is so precious. I didn’t have anyone in my family to learn from, so I heavily relied on advice from YouTubers, articles, and sometimes friends.