So You Made It Huh?

The last few weeks I have been watching lots of my friends and fraternity Brothers posting on Facebook about how well life is going now... fancy business trips, new BMWs, ordering room service, concierge hook ups, valeting the whip...

I am proud of what people are accomplishing, but I want to know how wisely are you spending your money?

I get it, I was in the same spot... I was raised in a poor midwestern town, I am an immigrant, I didn't go to a fancy private high school, I didn't go to a private college... I grew up in Saginaw, MI. It is still on the FBI top ten list of dangerous places to live. It was number five in 2012! (Top Ten List)

I get it, I made bad decision when I had access to money for the first time. I used a FASFA check to buy rims once, maxed out credit cards buying crap I can't remember, and my first real paycheck I went and got a new(er) car... I worked in higher ed so luckily I never had much expendable income. I know it's nice when you get to buy dinner, or go out and TREAT YOSELF.

I get it, it feels nice to go out in your fancy car, order a ridiculously expensive steak, then avoid being seen taking a photo of it (cause you want people to think thats you daily) but post it on instagram anyways.

I get it, well I used to, but I no longer get it... we weren't raised to be like that, and we didn't work hard to come out from where we came to not give back. I don't mean do some annual community service project, or give $20 bucks to St. Jude at Christmas Time. I mean for you to make better decisions about how you spend your money, and invest it back into our neighborhoods.

I get it, you work hard, you want to enjoy the fruits of your labor. Remember though, others are struggling like you did right now. I bet you had a great family role model, an Abuelita that kicked your butt, a teacher that steered you the right way, a community leader who selflessly went without to help you. We sometimes like to say we made it on our own, but we didn't... sometimes seen or unseen, we had community angels who saw to it that we made it.

I get it, you are young and not sure what you can do... contact your local United Way, they will know the different centers and places you can go. They will match you to a Latino community center like mine, or a women's shelter, or something aligned with a purpose that matters to you.

I get it, you can't save the world, but you can make a difference to one kid. Maybe a kid that reminds you a little of yourself, and in 20 years he will be ballin' like you, and hopefully he, also, gives back. Each one of us have the power to teach others the right way. We are either part of the problem, or we are part of the solution. Like I tell students when I travel and the speak; the world will either be better cause you were here, or worse... your actions each day determine your legacy.

I get it, you are busy... so am I. I am lucky my day job is working in the neighborhood at La Casa (www.lacasadeamistad.org) so I get to help daily. I love bringing people to our local Latino places to eat, meet my children at the center and get people talking about making our community better. I don't need a pat on the back, I just need you to also find the time, we need you.

I get it, you don't have enough money to build a new community center. However, each time don't eat out it means you can donate $10-20, and driving your old car one more year means you save a couple thousand bucks... find ways to give back.

I get it, you can't quit your job and work at the local community center. Well give a few hours a week of your time, you will be surprised how personally rewarding it will be, and hey... working at a community center puts you in contact with lots of people in the community, it could even help your career...

So lets all Get It, and lets all Get In and start helping our community. We must remember where we came from, how we made it out, and why we must help others make it as well.