Canton grad featured on new streaming series

The name Obi Nwankwo is a familiar one to many who follow CHS sports. A 2013 graduate, he was known for his track accomplishments, particularly the 400-meter dash. He excelled in that event at Boston College — breaking school records in both individual and relay events — and set his sights on running professionally.

Obi Nwankwo

But while training after his 2017 graduation, Nwankwo suffered a career-ending injury and was forced to reinvent himself. In the process, his path has become more zigzag than the straight trajectory toward success that might previously have been predicted. Currently, he’s again in the spotlight because he was selected to appear in a new video series for reasons quite different from his athletic skills.

The series, Going From Broke, focuses on college graduates who struggle with debt. Nwankwo is squarely in that category and said in contrast to a common assumption, he was not given a free ride by Boston College. He had to take out loans, which meant that he was required to start making payments after graduation. Furthermore, family obligations have increased his load of debt. Nwankwo helps his mother pay for a younger brother’s private school, which the family agreed was an “important opportunity.”

A high-end Los Angeles lifestyle also contributed to Nwankwo’s debt. In order to pursue an interest in acting and modeling, he had moved to California. This work is now his primary source of income. However, despite majoring in finance, Nwankwo admits he made critical mistakes along the way. “I wasn’t using my finance knowledge in a practical way,” he explained.

Nwankwo agreed to rent an apartment in Brentwood with a friend, having spent time there already. “It’s beautiful, so calm and peaceful,” he said. “It felt like home, like Canton. I liked walking around there and seeing people walk their dogs and kids playing.”

The cost of rent seemed reasonable, but Nwankwo was required to put up the last month’s rent and a security deposit in addition to first month’s rent. He also failed to consider the cost of utilities and the fact that California gasoline prices are among the highest in the country.

Nwankwo said he spent extravagantly on clothing and shoes, especially buying “anything designer.” Nike, Adidas, and Jordan, as well as Balenciaga and Gucci, were all represented in his collection. He owned about 60 pairs of shoes.

Luckily, Nwankwo’s LA life also led him to a turnaround. He heard that Going From Broke, co-produced by Ashton Kutcher, was choosing a cast for its reality show about young adults who need advice on managing heavy student debt. He sent off an email describing his situation but heard nothing for a month and a half. While he was brushing his teeth one day, he got a call informing him that shooting was starting the next day — was he available? Nwankwo immediately said yes, thinking, “I’ll clear my schedule for Ashton Kutcher, no doubt!”

Nwankwo reported that his experience with the show was entirely positive. He was flown to San Francisco for filming, all expenses paid, and received a small stipend for his time. During filming, he met MC Hammer, who just happened to visit the set, and former 49ers player Ronnie Lott. He developed a “great relationship” with Dan Rosensweig, Chegg CEO, who counsels participants on the show. Nwankwo said he came away with a lot of business advice. He has seen his episode and said, “I loved it — they painted me in a very good light!”

Nwankwo noted that his mother also liked the show. “The only downside is I still have student loans,” he said. But he’s working hard to pay them off and has a plan for managing his expenses, including not buying more clothes or shoes. He has sold a lot of his shoes and said, “I still like them but that doesn’t mean I buy them. Lots of shoes and fancy clothes aren’t necessary.”

Nwankwo also focuses on expanding his business. Together with an older sister, he created a social media marketing agency. Nwankwo said that in two years, they have achieved some success, with growth in revenue and their client list, which now includes brands such as Bose and Jägermeister. Currently he spends some of his time in New York and will be traveling soon to Ghana and Nigeria for business and to visit family. He enjoys occasional visits to Canton to see friends and to “get that home vibe,” but he’s not likely to move back East permanently because he’s grown “accustomed to nice sunny weather every day.”

If he could give advice to college students graduating with debt, Nwankwo would advise them, “It’s not necessarily the amount you make — it’s your expenses. It’s important to work hard and be disciplined.”

Going From Broke launched on October 17 and is available for free streaming on Crackle.

Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=61841

Posted by Candace Paris on Nov 1 2019. Filed under Features. Both comments and pings are currently closed.