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When I brainstormed what I would write for this blog post, I started with the title. It’s so dramatic, so YouTube entrepreneur trying to sell you an investing course. I imagined talking about how proud I was that I gave up a large amount of money to “follow my dreams,” and encouraging you to do the same. I envisioned coming back to this blog a year from now and elaborating on how quitting my job was the best decision I could have ever made for my mental health. Really, I wanted to broadcast that I was a little less capitalist-minded than I was the day before. That I was noble enough to turn my back on wealth in pursuit of more honorable endeavors.
But it’s disingenuous for me to convey that I am not money-conscious or motivated by standard measures of success. I did not free myself from the bounds of our financial system or the pressures of societal expectations. I am still very much entrenched in both, try as I might. I won’t try to convince you that I’ve shifted priorities definitively, because that will only make me look like a big ‘ole hypocrite when I run back to the corporate world upon my return to the States. What I am doing, then, is taking a break.
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This is an attempt at marketable writing, should I ever be asked to write for an audience besides my own ego. Please enjoy!
In the summer of 2019, as I headed into my final year at San Diego State University, I was selected to participate in two fully-funded study abroad experiences in Cambodia and Brazil. During my 12 weeks traveling the world, I watched the sunrise over Angkor Wat on my birthday, sipped from coconuts on the beaches of Rio de Janeiro, and gained valuable experience as a Sales and Marketing intern and social science researcher - all without spending a single dime. In fact, I actually ended up making money due to a research stipend I received. So, how did I do it? Snappy title aside, a fair bit of luck was involved in my situation. However, I believe the type of luck I experienced is fully replicable with a little bit of upfront research to make sure you’re maximizing your chances of success. The strategy that I used to win more than $12,000 in study abroad scholarships and stipends can be summed up in four words: minimize the applicant pool. |
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