Youth reveal money fears through poetry

Everything from rhythmic rap to thoughtful self-reflection to heartfelt revelation emerged from the winning essays submitted by Canadian youth for the second annual Brandes Scholarship Program (to be renamed Bridgehouse Scholarship Program in 2014).

Applicants had to describe their unique money personalities in the essays, and more than 3,000 were submitted. Most compelling about this year’s entries was the broad range of attitudes, fears, hopes and even wisdom revealed in a concise and playful ways.

Highlights include:

“Brandes Investments tryin’ to get students thinkin’ smart Using a quiz to give ’em a start Learning about money and about you A few questions later and there’s the truth” —Madison, 19, Ontario

“As Warren Buffett once said, ‘risk comes from not knowing what you’re doing.’ I believed I was a risk taker; however, through the money personality quiz I discovered I am a ‘risk avoider’ when it came to finances. The quiz results especially about risk taking did surprise me.” —Chinmaya, 21, Ontario

“Happiness is found not in numbers or dollar signs, but in relationships, nature and inner peace, circumstances not bound by the number on your monthly bank statement. This, however, is no excuse to be irresponsible with our finances. For in responsibility we find the security to create and enjoy our happiness.” —Katie, 21, Manitoba

Bridgehouse Asset Managers’ President Carol Lynde says, “Winners get a $1,000 scholarship prize. We are thrilled with the creativity and insight all contestants demonstrated, and [think] we can all learn from what they share. There is a clear desire and need for more financial literacy and competency.”

She adds, “Many submissions, including those that won, reveal a fear and avoidance of financial risk along with an admission that students lack investment knowledge and confidence,” observes Lynde. “It underscores the need to continue to develop financial literacy among Canada’s youth, [which is] exactly what inspired us the develop the Brandes Scholarship Program.”

Read: Kids’ financial literacy? There’s an app for that

The winners were selected by a panel of investment advisors. The 2013 judges panel included: Jeremy Clark of Clark Hetherington Financial Limited,Christine Laliberte of DWM Securities Inc., Don Macfarlane of Assante Financial Management, Natalie Sears of National Bank Financial, and Rod Tyler of Tyler & Associates.

This full list of winners includes:

Madison, 19, Ontario Mikaela, 21, Alberta Darya, 17, Ontario Katie, 21, Manitoba Chinmaya, 21, Ontario Laurence, 22, Quebec Sukriti, 19, Ontario Kelsey, 18, Newfoundland Regina, 20, Ontario Sarah, 18, Ontario

Click here to get the full text versions of the winning submissions, please visit: .

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