Brody Edgson is an undergraduate at BYU with a primary major in Family Studies. As he nears his transition to graduate school, he hopes to save up enough for the BYU Jerusalem Study Abroad and be accepted in BYU's Master of Arts in Professional Language (MAPL) program where he will receive tailored instruction to become a French-speaking marriage therapist. After he graduates, he will practice therapy overseas in France. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his girlfriend, playing ice hockey, and composing songs about the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Brody Edgson
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Foreclosed Futures: How Childhood Poverty May Affect You Now
Being an emerging adult can be really tricky to navigate. No one’s telling you what to do anymore, you can choose where you steer your own future, and now you have to pay your own bills! Ugh, forgot about that last one. A lot of people are pushing off living independently, having a stable job, and starting a family because college, rent, and even food are getting a lot more expensive. Managing finances and planning for your future can be difficult, especially when you feel new to this whole “adulting” thing. But, the reality for some emerging adults is that they don’t have a choice. Emerging adults from low-income families often not only have to pay their own way but even help provide for their family.1
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“Wait for Me”: The Debt of Broken Trust
In Anaïs Mitchell’s Hadestown, Orpheus sings “wait for me” as he ventures to the underworld to save his wife Eurydice. After Orpheus proves his undying love for her in song, the ruler of the underworld (Hades) decides to let Eurydice go—on one condition. Orpheus must take her back to the world above without looking behind his shoulder to make sure she is following. Just before reaching the living world, Orpheus’ deceives himself and doubts that Eurydice would want to follow someone as imperfect as him. He turns around, essentially betraying Eurydice and condemning her to the underworld forever.
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Babies, Bills, and the Bedroom: The Hidden Cost of Medically Assisted Reproduction
In Disney’s film Up, you learn about Carl and Ellie—a young couple filled with aspirations and adventurous spirits. Shortly after getting married, they purchased a fixer-upper house because it was likely all they could afford as a newlywed couple. To save money, Carl and Ellie sawed, nailed, and polished their house until it felt more like a home. After some planning, they prepared for an addition to their home: Carl and Ellie delicately hung toy blimps over a crib and trimmed the back wall with a hand-painted stork. The next time you see this overjoyed couple, however, they’re in a dark hallway under the ominous glow of a pale-lit doctor’s office. Ellie has her face buried in her palms—they can’t have children. She isn’t alone, though; about one-tenth of all couples struggle with infertility.[1]
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Spicing Up Your Financial Discussions
Ratatouille. Have you ever tasted it? Perhaps you’ve heard of it. This humble dish dates back to the 1700s in the Southeastern region of France—Provence, specifically. Ratatouille was born out of necessity as the farmers could not let anything go to waste. Onions and tomatoes are sautéed in a pot with a drizzle of olive oil, joined by fresh chopped bell peppers, zucchini, eggplant—or any other vegetable one can scour. Once the veggies have danced around for a bit, everything in the pot is stewed together with a bundle of dried herbs to make a delicious, hearty dish. When making Ratatouille, timing and quality ingredients are vital.
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Debt and “I Do”: A Newlywed’s Nightmare
The golden glow of the setting sun warms the vibrant petals of lilies and roses of a wedding arbor, under which a couple exchanges heartfelt vows. As they gaze into each other's eyes, they ponder the most romantic thought, “How will we manage our finances together?” They both have full-time jobs, with a shared annual salary of $80,000, but like the average American household, they are likely to be $16,000—or about 20% of their annual income—in debt.[1]
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A Comfortable Home During the Recession: A Price to Pay for Relationship Quality?
Serenity glanced over her shoulder as her significant other dragged himself into the kitchen after a long day at work. His face looked tired and emotionless, and she could tell something was wrong. When Serenity gently inquired about his change in demeaner, he hesitated and then revealed the truth—he had lost his job. The job that had supported their comfortable and beautiful lives was gone. Moreover, what they thought was a small bump in the road was about to turn into a mountain of debt and financial struggle. They were about to face the full force of the Great Recession of 2007-2009.[1]
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