Name: Laura Fernandez
House: Badcock
Howdy, my name is Laura Fernandez, and I am a freshman at the University of Florida currently majoring in economics. A little about me, I was born in Bogota, Colombia, and moved to Orlando, FL, when I was 12-years-old. Going to a new school in a different language was very challenging. Fortunately, I had a robust support system and the necessary resources to succeed. This experience taught me the importance of perseverance and taking advantage of every resource available, two important lessons that have helped me in college.
While I was looking for colleges, I came across the post of an SSF resident that went to high school with me. After researching more about the scholarship, I knew that I wanted to be part of a community of other students looking to succeed in college despite adversity. SSF has allowed me to focus on my academic and professional success without worrying about getting into debt or working a part-time job. I am also the recipient of the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, which helps me to cover my other expenses. Not worrying about debt has allowed me to consider going to another city over the summer for an internship or a workshop and pursuing a minor or a certificate.
During my free time, I like to read, cook, play the ukelele, and watch series. Currently, I am watching reading The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo and watching the new season of Rick and Morty. Living with other girls from different cultures has allowed me to explore different cuisines and add different recipes to my repository.
After I graduate, I want to move to a financial hub, either in the United States like New York City, San Francisco, or Los Angeles, or outside the country, like London, Paris, Singapore, or Tokyo. After gaining some experience, I want to come back to Florida and work in financial literacy and help my community understand the tools to create generational wealth like saving, budgeting, and investing.
