Guest Blogger Ryan Giang
In this special 'Be the Change' guest blog, Sammy Rabbit is proud to showcase the journey, lessons learned and aspirations of Ryan Giang.
Ryan Giang is a first-year chemical engineering student at UC San Diego with a strong passion for personal finance and investing. In high school, Ryan served as Vice President of Education for the Young Investors Society Chapter at Diamond Bar High School, where he helped peers develop essential financial literacy skills. He also excelled as Operations Lead for the school’s robotics team, successfully managing a $15,000 annual budget and coordinating outreach events to promote STEM engagement.
Outside academics, Ryan enjoys rock climbing and mixed martial arts, embracing the mental and physical challenges they offer.
My Journey Into Personal Finance
The COVID-19 lockdown felt like a dream come true for my 8th-grade self—no school, endless hours at home, and virtually unlimited free time. After a few weeks of indulging in gaming, sleeping, and chatting with friends, I decided to channel my time into something more productive: learning about personal finance. Khan Academy and YouTube became my go-to resources, offering countless videos on topics like budgeting and investing in stocks. I eagerly consumed this content, even during online classes.
That Christmas, I asked my parents for money instead of traditional gifts, which I invested in ETFs and stocks. This marked my first step toward financial independence and taking control of my personal finances.
In high school, my passion for personal finance inspired me to join organizations like the Young Investors Society (YIS), where I served as Vice President of Education. In this role, I led weekly lessons, teaching members a variety of personal finance topics. I was also actively involved in the business division of our robotics team, where I managed the budget and contributed to the team’s financial operations.
These extracurricular activities surrounded me with like-minded individuals, providing opportunities to deepen my knowledge and keep my passion for finance alive.
Keeping the Learning Going and Growing
My journey in personal finance is still ongoing. Turning 18 recently sparked my interest in responsibly using credit cards to earn travel points and cashback. I’ve also started tracking my income and expenses to create a budget, another key step toward financial independence.
Although I’m pursuing an engineering degree, I firmly believe personal finance is essential for everyone, regardless of their background or interests. Coming from an immigrant family, I was taught the value of financial independence early on. Money plays a significant role in shaping various aspects of life, including healthcare, the neighborhood you live in, and overall quality of life. Given its integral role in society, understanding money can unlock opportunities and advantages you may not have been aware of before.
A Few Tips on Getting Started
So, how do you get started?
The internet is an incredible resource for learning personal finance in an affordable and accessible way. I began by watching Khan Academy and YouTube videos, which helped me build a strong foundation. For more specific or nuanced topics, Investopedia is my go-to source, especially for understanding unfamiliar stock or business terms.
I have found building a community with friends, family, or classmates can also be invaluable. Engaging in discussions and sharing knowledge with others can keep you motivated and expose you to new insights and ideas.
Discover more about our featured Guest Blogger
To learn more about Ryan, connect with her on LinkedIn: Ryan Giang
Attention Young Leaders
We welcome and invite you to participate in Sammy's 'Be the Change' financial literacy initiative for college and high school students.
(1) Join peers advancing awareness on the importance of early age, youth, and family financial education by having your journey into financial literacy featured as a Sammy Rabbit Guest Blogger.
Arin Wani: Teen Leader Was Encouraged to Aim High!
Jacklin Wang: Becoming Financially Literate Since Age 9
Index of Student Blogs (Click and scroll down)
(2) Then volunteer as a Sammy Rabbit Ambassador or Intern championing financial literacy in your community and around the globe! Learn more in these blogs or by CONTACTING Team Sammy today! We welcome your questions and suggestions on Sammy Rabbit and his mission to get kids, families & communities financially literate.
