People of Alabama: Cameron Gould of Calera

“As you get older, you have to kind of care less and less about what other people think about you. As you get older, you realize that. It’s become more important to me as I’ve gotten older, because when you’re younger, I think that you’re more of the people pleaser, and you have people you feel like you need to please and meet their expectations. But as you get older, you realize that there’s a different path for yourself, and it may not please everybody, but it’s what’s best for you. It’s hard for me to say ‘no.’ Sometimes, I even let people influence my decisions, like big important decisions about my life because I feel like I care too much about what people think. I would like to find a balance because I think that it’s important to. I feel like it’s worse for your mental health if you’re always trying to say ‘yes’ to people. I think it’s important to learn when to say ‘no,’ when to say ‘yes,’ and what’s best for you.” – Cameron Gould of Calera

Cameron Gould chose to study finance because she has seen others struggle with money issues. (Tamika Moore / People of Alabama)

Gould is 19 and studying finance at Jefferson State Community College.

“I felt like that’s one of the biggest burdens on a person. I think that’s why I chose to do finance so that I could make a better financial life path for myself and others because I feel like it’s something that’s so easy to go wrong so quick.”

These are the faces and stories of people from all walks of life who call Alabama home. People of Alabama is a Red Clay Media and Alabama NewsCenter partnership.