Today we’d like to introduce you to Anna Mathews.
Hi Anna, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Sure, thank you for this opportunity! Growing up, I always wondered when and if we would learn about the various responsibilities of being an adult, from doing taxes to investing. But as the years passed, I came to realize that we teenagers were going to have to learn how to do these things on our own.
In one of my high school classes, my teacher asked us what we wished we could learn about before graduating high school. I, along with an overwhelming majority of my classmates, answered, “personal finance.” Considering that most teenagers have access to public education, why is it that students still do not feel confident about their financial future and managing their finances on their own? The main reason is the limited financial literacy resources and programs provided to students in schools due to the time and money they require.
When the pandemic hit, I took the extra time at home to begin doing research and learning as much as I could about personal finance. But one thing I noticed while researching was that without some outside/background knowledge of finance, it was very difficult to quickly get the hang of these concepts from resources already online.
I began working on my own lesson plans and developing methods to teach and explain personal financial concepts in quick, easy to grasp ways. I wanted teenagers to see how the concepts could be applied to their life both in the present and in the future. A few months later, my organization, Not Tomorrow, began.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Starting an organization amidst a pandemic, I have definitely experienced some ups and downs. In the beginning, I received good feedback about my ideas but had trouble hosting events around the area due to COVID restrictions. Most places I reached out to were not able to host my events due to safety precautions and the limited turnout they had for virtual events. But with the help of kind individuals who believed in Not Tomorrow and enthusiastic members in the community, I have been able to come this far and share the importance of financial literacy with a wide audience of teenagers.
As our communities start to open up, I hope to expand Not Tomorrow to include both virtual and in-person events. I love connecting with other teenagers in the community and hope to grow and share the mission of Not Tomorrow to an even wider audience in the future.
We’ve been impressed with Not Tomorrow, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Targeted to teenagers with little to no financial literacy, Not Tomorrow’s mission is to help increase financial literacy within the community and prepare teenagers for their financial future.
Our goal is to educate and motivate teens to not worry about their future but rather prepare for it with confidence. With easy-to-understand content and unique applications of personal finance concepts, teenagers are able to expand their financial literacy in a fast and convenient way. We also share motivational content for teenagers who may be discouraged or are struggling to plan for the future.
What sets Not Tomorrow apart is our bright, aesthetic content that makes finance fun. We want to make personal finance easy and engaging for the audience so preparing for the future is more enjoyable and less stressful. Not Tomorrow began as an initiative hosting various webinars around the Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex, teaching teenagers the foundations of financial literacy. With the great turnout from these events, the organization has expanded to social media with platforms on YouTube, Instagram, and Spotify. We currently host virtual events for various organizations and continue to share personal finance content on our social media channels.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
I truly value being prepared. Throughout the process of growing Not Tomorrow, I have witnessed the importance of proper preparation. From hosting events to sharing content on social media, preparation has allowed me to put my best work forward and develop Not Tomorrow into a reputable organization.
Like Not Tomorrow’s motto says, “your future begins now.” The best thing us teenagers can do for ourselves is working towards a better today and tomorrow and not giving up. While promoting financial literacy in the community, I have seen the growing enthusiasm from fellow teenagers about planning for their future and the value of preparation in both their lives and mine.
Contact Info:
- Website: not-tomorrow.wixsite.com/not-tomorrow
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/not__tomorrow/
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/channel/UC3QfaccEXFcuaBXQmnoEsHg
- Other: open.spotify.com/show/1kGPl2r0TtjNM0g7yuw1pa?si=k_5bFNQZSJu5Vr7BqsqFkg
Image Credits
Shreya Ayela Photography Not Tomorrow
