APPLICANT #12: Dennis Jarrard

Dennis Jarrard is an 20-year-old student from Florence.

Here is Dennis' video application:

Here is Dennis' current situation:

Hello, my name is Dennis Jarrard and I am a junior at the University of North Alabama. I am majoring in Geographic Information Systems which involves digital mapping, geodatabase management, remote sensing, and demographic studies. I am minoring in Computer Information Systems.

When I’m not at school I am usually at work, trying to make a living. I am a server at Red Lobster and have been working there for almost two months. I love the job because it is so interactive and diverse. I’ve learned many communication skills there whether it be dealing with picky, stingy customers or working with people who are going through the same struggles as I am.

When I’m not at school or work, I love going to the movies with friends or just hanging out. I enjoy tailgating at the UNA games and cheering on the Lions. I check my facebook from school about 20 times a day. I absolutely love listening to music spending time with my wonderful wife.

Here is Dennis' blog post:

Between the ages of 18 and 25 there lies a great opportunity for success or disaster. It is here that lessons are learned and foundations are built. Whether these foundations be solid or shaky is dependent on young people’s decisions.  For example, using credit cards to your advantage rather than to your detriment is a simple concept that is hard to apply. People our age may not be concerned about buying a house and paying a mortgage, but how we handle our credit cards and small loans today will affect what kind of mortgage we pay later.

Another issue is saving. It is recommended by many financial advisors to have between 3 to 6 months of living expenses set aside in a separate account for those disasters such as sickness, unemployment, or a totaled car. Having that pillow to land on will reduce some of the financial stress that adds to our already fast-paced lives, but so many young people neglect it. It really is as easy as starting today by saving 10% of our paycheck. But, many of us don’t even have a budget. We make some money and spend some money and hope that it will all work out in the end, but what happens when it doesn’t? It is so important to budget exactly how much you are going to spend on everything from food to recreation and how much you are going to save. My parents taught me an envelope system, where we had envelopes for different categories such as food, gas, fun, and household items. We would never spend more than what was in those envelopes every month. Controlling spending and saving for later couldn’t be more important than right now. As young people, we are allured every day by ads, commercials, and billboards to spend our hard-earned dollars and we sometimes neglect to stop and think before we spend. Let’s face it, we all want that new iPod, that new Camaro, or those new clothes. But in the grand scheme of things, will what we get out of purchasing these new items be greater than their cost? Not likely. Sometimes, buying used on eBay, going to a thrift shop, or even using that handful of coupons at the grocery store is what will define that month as a profit or loss. There are so many little ways to save money that add up to big bucks. And the knowledge is everywhere. But it is dispersed abroad. Different people have new and innovative ideas, and networking together and teaming up to share these ideas is one of the greatest ways to do this. We can be accountable, help each other out, and ask questions that are relevant to us!

It is my goal to use this job to network the knowledge that is everywhere. One guy may have an idea that helps him save money on his groceries every month while another young lady has a hobby that she uses to get some extra money. Gathering these ideas and helping each other out is the key. Everyone is unique and has their own needs and goals. Everyone has a separate background and different priorities. There is no one fix solves all for our problems, but with the right knowledge, you can make a plan and budget that works for you. I am 20 years old, married, and living completely independent of my parents. I’m not broke, but I’m not rich. Every month is a new challenge. I have already acquired some knowledge, but I am definitely not there yet. Vote for me, work with me, and we’ll learn this stuff together and have fun on the way.