As a child, I was lucky enough to have parents who encouraged me to save money and spend carefully. Most of my babysitting and birthday money went into a bank account, and at the time I thought I had figured out this whole finance thing. However, as I got older it became apparent that managing one's finances was just a bit more complicated than that.When I began college and took my first class in personal financial management, I realized two important things. One, managing finances could be used as a tool to curate an enjoyable life in both the present and future. Two, unfortunately, many people have never been trained to use this tool, including some of my own friends and family.I am now committed to becoming a financial planner because I want to bridge this informational gap and empower people to use money as the tool it was meant to be. My skills in creative problem-solving, time management, and effective communication will set me aside as a financial planner who will always find the best solution for the individual.