Chaco Credit Union Essay Contest
Winning Essay by Danielle Prazynski

My name is Danielle Prazynski. I am 15 years old. I am currently training to become an American Red Cross Lifeguard. After I start working at the Fairfield YMCA, I plan to save my money for the reasons described in this essay.

One of my future goals is to go to the Art Institute in Savannah, Georgia to become an artist working with paint and photography. The reason that I want to go to that particular school is because, when I went to Savannah, Georgia, at the age of eleven, I saw the campus of the Art Institute and thought it was beautiful. Not only is it beautiful, it was also a school that offered courses that I would love to participate in. I am saving my money at Chaco Credit Union to help my parents pay tuition. My Father just finished earning his degrees at UC to become a nurse practitioner. Therefore, they will be paying off school loans for some time yet. I will most likely be depending on most of my savings to pay tuition when the time comes.

Not only would I be saving money for tuition but I would also like to buy a camera and paint so that I may have equipment to use through school. After school I hope to get a job with a nature magazine like National Geographic. I think that it would be the coolest thing to have the career of my dreams.

As for my immediate spending plans, I am saving money to travel to England and Spain this summer. I am excited to visit foreign lands, and to learn the differences and similarities of what it is like to live in different countries. My expenses will include flight tickets, food, and a little bit of "fun money" to be able to shop and bring items home as souvenirs for my family and friends. An i-Pod would be the perfect distraction on my long flights.

These are currently my plans for saving money and when to use my savings. I also plan to start a mutual fund as well, most likely in the fall. I hope you enjoyed my essay; I enjoyed telling you about myself.

Thanks!

Danielle Prazynski