The dream version of myself is a caring, selfless, and financially responsible individual who does his best to help others whenever he gets the opportunity.

To me, generational wealth is the concept of financial responsibility and flourishment carrying over from one generation to the next. It is having the ability to approach all situations from a financially cognitive standpoint, and not caving to pressure from others. Typically, this kind of security starts with one person or family, which is then upheld by their offspring for years to come. My goal is to set myself up for success by getting a college education, working hard to get a good job, and then investing a good portion of that money into passive income streams. Specifically, I aim to look into house hacking, which is the process of buying a multi-unit residential property and living in one unit while renting out the others. The best parts about this method are that it allows for incredible opportunities to grow, while also providing numerous tax benefits. Some of these include depreciation and repair costs. After living in the unit long enough to regain enough financial leverage, the owner moves on to the next property and can repeat the process as much as they desire. Being a young person, this is a great option to create passive income streams. Assuming I start soon after college, it would not be unrealistic to gain a couple of these properties before I settle down and have a family. Similarly, I would also like to acquire some commercial properties to generate additional income. Triple net properties, or NNN properties, are the best way to go because they are extremely easy to manage. After all, the tenant is responsible for paying for maintenance, insurance, and utilities. I also plan on investing my money in other, more traditional ways, such as blue-chip dividend stocks, bonds, REITs, and alternative investments. These will provide the wonderful benefits of compound interest, which is perfect for building generational wealth. Dividend stocks, in particular, are an extremely useful passive income stream. Oftentimes, Warren Buffet's buy-and-hold strategy is indeed the best way to go, and blue-chip dividend stocks are no exception. In terms of alternative investments, I plan on looking into fine wine and art. Astonishingly, both of these commodities have provided stable returns, annually yielding roughly 10.6% and 7.5% respectively. However, while all these methods are good ways of generating income, for it to be generational, my kids, and their kids, need to be knowledgeable in managing it. This is why I plan to help educate my future spouse and offspring when it comes to understanding personal finance, and how to properly invest and save. It's difficult to create a large net worth for yourself and your family, but extremely easy to lose it.

As a 2nd year undergraduate student, I have had many experiences and opportunities to create a unique path for myself. While my field of study is focused on business and engineering studies, I started music at a young age, and continue to grow that talent every chance I get. At age four, I started learning piano, and throughout my school career, I continued practicing and learning new pieces. As a freshman in high school, I started learning to play the pipe organ in churches, which was a daunting but fun experience! Now, having been playing piano for 16 years and the organ for 6, I am the assistant organist for the Cathedral of my Catholic diocese. I also enjoy doing freelance work, which mostly involves playing at various churches in the community, but can also be piano related. Needless to say, I'm extremely humbled and excited to have such a unique experience at a young age, and I find it very fun as well! This is what I believe makes me unique, and how I've carved my own path in life. No one told me I should do something with music, nor did they say to learn the piano or organ. But something about these instruments has always intrigued me, and having stuck with them, my life is drastically different from what it would be without them. I also plan on giving back to my community in multiple ways, such as through community service, volunteering, and anywhere I can use my gift of music. Specifically, I aim to continue playing in churches around my city, regardless of denomination. My philosophy is that it's important people follow their beliefs and stick to them, and by attending worship, those beliefs are renewed. Music is an important part of that worship because it puts peoples' praise in another form they aren't used to. Music elevates peoples' thoughts, and if I can provide that for my community, I will. The city I live in is considered very religious compared to others, which is how I know my work will be impactful. Everywhere you go, people are attending church or at least have an understanding of how to worship. They recognize how important it is, and even if there is no "official" service, music can still be used to elevate their praises. I know this is important not only for me, but also for the entire community I live in. Hence, I believe my work will have a lasting impact as I continue to grow in the world of worship music.

Live by example. That is perhaps the phrase I believe in the most when it comes to everyday values, as well as how I act. The reason for this is because of how little words can mean; for example, a person can claim they don't participate in certain activities, but whether they actually do or not is the real answer, and the words become void. This is why I try to encourage others around me to do what is right by being a living example of at least someone who is trying. Nobody is perfect, and that reality hits me quite often in the things I do in my daily life. However, if the effort is there, and you are really trying, that is what matters most. Working to always improve yourself and live by both word and deed is important, not just only acting a certain way to please others. Thus, I will continue to stick to my word and better myself every single day, no matter what other people think, and I encourage everyone to do that as well.