Assignment 18A - Create a Customer Avatar

Assignment 18A – Create a Customer Avatar

            My product is sold to individuals, and my customer avatar’s name is Lea Seacotte, nineteen years old and a freshman attending college in a different city than where she grew up, but still in the same state. She has two younger siblings, one in high school and the other in middle school, and her tuition and some of her living expenses are covered by scholarships. Lea has been looking forward to seeing what it’s like to live on her own without her parents around and to be independent, and she’s adjusting to the new college life nicely, gradually making new friends and exploring campus whenever she has the chance. At heart, she is a hard-working student and has lived a life fully focused on her studies, so she’s eager to change that and work on some things that aren’t academically related.

            Lea is careful about spending money, whether its buying groceries or treating herself once in a while to her favorite bakery or boba tea place in town, since she knows her parents are also working hard to save up for her two siblings to go to college. She’s careful to stay within the monthly budget her parents put into her checking account, and even spends a lot less than what she is given, knowing that the money leftover will go into savings for her two siblings. Though she’s a frugal person and good at saving money, sometimes she forgets to record the price of something she’s bought, an occasional act that worried her more than she thinks is necessary. She’s also worried about when she gets her first part-time job and how she’ll be able to keep track of her money then, since she is forgetful to record when she buys something and where she puts the money she does earn.

            Lea drives a navy blue 2003 Honda Pilot, and it used to be her dad’s car. She doesn’t drive often since she lives off campus and takes the bus to school. She only drives when she has to buy groceries for herself and goes to hang out with friends, which she doesn’t do too often since she’s super focused on her studies. Her favorite food is anything sweet, and she loves going to the boba tea place close to campus after exam period to treat herself. She loves watching new videos her favorite Youtubers have uploaded, and she’s more of an anime and cartoon watcher. Lea also loves singing and writing, both of which are her favorite past times in addition to reading whatever books she has on hand. 

What do I have in common with her? Like Lea, I was excited to see what it was like to live away from my parents and be more independent, and also like Lea I adjusted to my new lifestyle pretty quickly. Also like Lea, I’m very devoted to my studies, but also want to explore new things that aren’t academically related. I’m also frugal like she is, and I share her love for sweets.

I don’t think what I have in common with her is a coincidence. There are a lot of college students out there who aren’t as lucky as Lea and have their tuition covered by scholarships. They have to work to earn the money to pay for that and more college expenses, and naturally, they worry about the money they make and how to keep track of it all so they’ll be able to pay everything off when the time comes. I could have chosen an older customer avatar, but I think true worries about finances start during college at the latest, since students are never eager to graduate with student debt.