Heyo there! I was asked to introduce myself but I stink at it so I will be using prompts. To start off, I found out that I’m a gen Z. HAHA! Hmm, I’m currently a financial advisor who finished a bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture. They’re different industries but one thing they have in common is that both involve planning and designing. I could’ve gotten my license in architecture if it weren’t for the lockdown but now we’re here... hoping I could get to you.
A photo of me looking at how bright my future would be. (Anytime now...)
I took up Communication Arts as my undergrad studies for pre-law but shifted to Larch bc of childhood realizations and because I also wanted to go back to Cebu at the time.
A photo of me in the office, looking like art.
I first became a financial advisor because honestly speaking, I wanted to earn money. I grew up knowing a family friend who has changed her life because of how capable and strong-minded she is, a boss woman. Little did I know, it's beautifully cruel to be able to help other people and get rejected at the same time! Two years have passed now, I learned so much about personal finance and life planning which opened my eyes to the business and investment world. Things turned out interesting and I'm still curious about what is out there for me.
A photo of me looking at what I thought is my angel teaching me how to adult.
During the pandemic, I discovered a new side of me that is so contradicting to who I really thought I am. I still have the angel-devil thoughts but I will try to look at the silver lining in getting to know M3, loving M3, and accepting M3 because I am my longest relationship ergo, I have to take care of it.
A photo of me trying to eat what I thought was my bright future.
Originally thought about podcasting for years!... Eventually launched my YT channel because mainly I wanted to see my progress. I wanted to speak up about my journey in the things I'm passionate like finances and life stuff.
We are all committing to something whether we know it or not, like it or not, so I decided to commit to things that are important to me so every week (hopefully, on Saturdays), I will be posting some of it on the channel Design your Finance. Grow with me!
A corporate photo of me. This one's my favorite! Teehee.
I’ve chosen the prompts from The New York Times’ student question titled ‘What Makes You Happy?” and I’ll put my answer here.
— What recent moments of happiness have you experienced, whether large or small? What do you think made them so satisfying?
I’ve seriously experienced happiness and definitely have listed them in my no-where-to-be-found notebook. Ironically, I still have to find them in order to validate if they still make me happy during this time - when I need it - or has it changed? That was 2 years ago. From what I can remember, it listed small things like a favorite passionfruit tea and the jamming music that just makes me feel alive. I remembered writing them as if they will be gone from my memories and as if someone’s erasing the blackboard. I do remember the feeling. It felt like pure joy but I couldn’t describe it. I’m just feeling grateful that I get to live in that moment.
— Have you figured out a “magic formula” for happiness that works for you? What are the ingredients? Do you think those ingredients will change as you get older?
I haven’t found a formula for what seems to be making me happy. It’s kinda hard to tell bc currently, I’m not. It probably has something to do with the lockdown situation... or the idea of not being able to do anything I want as of the moment even if I badly want it. Come to think of it, life hasn’t really been certain and it has all the factors as to how it’s been played out. One thing that could always give me an explanation though is the concept of perspective. Of course, things change as you grow older. For kids, happiness is easy to grasp bc everything’s novel and curiosity does really give them the upper hand. As an adult, happiness is simply overshadowed by busyness and worrisome work. So yes, right now it has definitely changed and I’m still looking for it. I hope you found yours. Even if you’re still looking for it, I don’t think you’re a bad person, much less a sad person. Figuring it out may take time for you and that’s okay.
Have I properly introduced myself through these prompts and my photos? I think so. I’m hoping you did get to know me. This was nice. Kinda like a diary. Moving onwards, I plan to take action and document what I can to share with you my progress. I’m naturally interested in a lot of things but as I said, nothing excites me for now. I’m praying that when I do, I hope you’ll be there too.
If you want to check out the short article, here is the link: What makes you happy?
