I have two ideas for my “This I believe” podcast. The first, and most important, is my take on the world of financial technology. In the world today, there are many people who doubt and even block the “new way of things” in the financial technology world. People doubt the effectiveness of amazing tech like artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency to be able to provide value to an age-old system. I believe the current system to be outdated and resistant to change. Which such a large amount of money in this sector, it is easy to see why change is able to be halted. However, the value that this new tech provides is unmatched. For example, a top hedge fund named Bridgewater Capital was able to provide the highest returns to its investors using artificial intelligence and new trading methods. Likewise, the world has seen the rise and fall of cryptocurrency. This is a brand-new technology that helps facilitate payments. The rise showed how truly important it is and how great it can be. The fall showed how afraid the market heads were of change. This I believe to be the wave of the future.

The second idea has to do with the ability of kids and young adults to make a heavy impact in the business world. Entrepreneurship is something that I hold very near and dear to my heart. I have been an entrepreneur since I was thirteen and the experience has absolutely changed my life. From a young age I was always told that I was too young to do what I wanted to do. I disregarded those comments and dove in head first. I started out with twenty dollars that my grandmother gave me for my birthday. Although it was a big gamble at that age, as it was all the money I had at the time, I would it say it has turned out well for me. I have had a lot of success and I have also failed along the way. I was a part of one of the best investment opportunities of all time, I have created softwares that streamline efficiencies, and most of all I have learned not to doubt myself. It takes a little bit of arrogance to go up against million-dollar corporations, especially when you are just a kid. However, “I can’t” will never be my answer if I really want it. Some may call that arrogance, but that mentality has led me to who I am today. I believe that kids and young adults can have a major impact on the business world.

I have two ideas for my civic issues blog. The first is the inability for society to accept new technology. Almost every world changing technology from the wheel to the airplane was struck down in its primal days. People seem to see change as a burden. The process of acceptance of new technology is outdated and extremely slow. In a progressive and dynamic society like today we should be collectively looking to learn the wonder that new age technology can do for us. I hope to detail the cynical view that many have on this change and give insight into my hope for change on a case to case basis.

My second idea is school violence in America and how it is combated. My mom is a third grade school teacher in one of the lowest income areas around Philadelphia. Her school has been threatened with verbal, gun, and even explosive violence. I see the hard work that my mom puts into her job. She believes in every single one of her students. The circumstances that these kids are in is already taxing enough on their ability to succeed in school. I want to detail how school violence is being combated. I want to give my take on it and how I feel it can best be changed to ensure safety for the students and staff.