It’s been a while since I last blogged! With the current quarantine, I decided it was a great time to get back into journaling and blogging, using a more personal touch to keep both you and me entertained. You might feel like you’ve missed a lot—maybe even a whole season! I’ll try to catch you up as we go along. In the meantime, stay safe and remember to wash your hands.

Today marks Day 55 of the lockdown. Reflecting on the past couple of months, I realize I haven’t accomplished much. But at least I, along with my husband and dogs, have stayed healthy. I’ve made an effort to put on a bra before noon most days and have kept my alcohol intake to reasonable levels—I’d call that a win.

I recently learned that immigration might reopen in the first week of June, which got me thinking about my future plans. An exciting opportunity came my way to apply for a fellowship to train as a financial counselor. This role is similar to a health coach, but focuses on helping families create financial plans based on their goals, without pushing unnecessary products for a commission.

Military bases already have financial counselors, but I haven’t been impressed with the ones here. Instead of just complaining, I thought, why not become one myself? The fellowship covers the $2,000 study cost and requires 1,000 hours of practice, which can be either paid or unpaid.

Since I’m still waiting for my green card and don’t have a work permit yet, I’m only allowed to study for now. Once I get the work permit, I can look for a job that offers even minimal pay, which would be better than an unpaid internship.

There’s also the option to reduce the required 1,000 practice hours to 400 if you have relevant experience. With my blogging and some financial coaching I’ve done for family, friends, and readers, I hope to qualify for that reduction.

My aim with this credential is to help military families become financially stable. Financial literacy is something I’m passionate about, and it bothers me to see families struggle financially when they don’t have to. The military offers a lot of benefits—from housing and healthcare to food allowances and recreational facilities—so there’s no reason to live paycheck to paycheck, even if salaries are lower compared to the private sector.

Unfortunately, junior members often make poor financial decisions like going into debt for a new car or maxing out credit cards, which can take years to fix. My goal is to assist younger service members before they make such mistakes and to help senior members ensure a smooth transition back to civilian life with solid financial footing.

If I secure a job on base, my services would be free for families, which would be incredible. It’s similar to how the content on this blog is always free, with advertisers covering the costs. Alternatively, I could freelance with flexible hours and a higher rate. But for me, it’s not about the money; it’s about giving back to the community, meeting new people, and perhaps securing a W2 so I can qualify for a mortgage and delve into real estate here.

I’ve applied for the fellowship and will know more by early July. Fingers crossed!