Aaron Johnson – General Assignment Reporter
A group of students piled into the student center room on the second floor. Southern Connecticut State alumni Kenneth Shuler – a manager at Webster Bank in Hamden – came to discuss to students the importance of being money conscious and money smart.
“The expectations of our college students aren’t really clear,” said Shuler. “Make smart money decisions.”
Shuler gave students a ‘real world point of view’ of what students should do with their own money, refund check, and other miscellaneous things. Southern Connecticut State junior Cristian Hernandez, said that it was informational and very open to dialogue.
“I really enjoyed it. He really gave us all the information that was important and I think we did actually need it,” said Hernandez.
Shuler said that he wanted to give the students a chance to have someone come back and tell them how the world really works. Shuler continued to have an open dialogue with the students about establishing credit history and the importance of being smart with credit cards.
“Get an established credit history. Pay everything off in full and that’s how you build credit,” said Shuler. “Check your credit score once or twice a year and determine what classifies as a need and what is a want.”
Hernandez was one of several business major students to attend the event. Hernandez said that he came to help him understand the difference between short term and long terms goals.
“He really talked to us on a level that didn’t make him seem like he was lecturing to us,” said Hernandez. “Everything he talked to us about helped me realize that I have so much to learn about.”
Shuler went on to talk about several different aspect of how to understand and prevent predatory lending. Shuler said that the behaviors and decisions that students make can stick with them for the duration of their lives.
“Behaviors and decisions you’re going to make have an impact. Never sacrifice long term wants for short term wants. It’s not how much you make it’s how much you spend,” said Shuler.
All the students that were involved in the event were able to talk to Shuler and ask him different questions about whatever they wanted to know. Hernandez said that he loved that the event was so open.
“The packet he gave us and the way he talked to us really was just comfortable,” said Hernandez. “It felt like I was getting financial information from like an older family member.”
According to the money section of MSN website, the checklist for building credit closely follows what what Shuler was talking about. Checking your credit, getting the first credit reference. Making sure to use the card and but do not abuse it. Paying the bill on time each month and rounding out all references.
Shuler said that coming back to Southern and talking to students helps to give the real world point of view from someone that was in there shoes and understands how it works to come from Southern.
“Start planning what you want to do after you graduate,” said Shuler. “Figure out what you want to do. I’ve been there and I want to let you guys know for your benefit.”
