By Patricia Padrón
Summer Intern 2025
“The first wealth is health.” The words of Ralph Waldo Emerson capture a truth I’ve come to understand over the years: everything in life feels harder when we don’t feel well. Our energy, focus, confidence, and even creativity are all tied to how we take care of our bodies and minds.
We often think of health choices as personal, but health decisions aren’t just personal, they’re economic. The freedom to care for ourselves is shaped by the systems and incentives around us. Factors such as access, affordability, and the environment we live in, all play a role in what’s possible for our well-being.
I still remember being 14 and living like most teenagers. I’d skip breakfast, eat candy between classes, and grab whatever food was in sight. One day, without really knowing why, I decided to change. I can’t exactly pinpoint what triggered that shift, but something clicked. Eight years later, while my habits haven’t been perfect (because nothing in life is linear), I’ve never gone back on that promise I made to myself: to take care of my body through healthy eating and movement so I can reach my full potential.
Now, as a college student balancing school, work, and personal projects, I’ve experienced firsthand how my daily habits, especially around food and exercise, directly impact my ability to focus and bring my full potential to everything I do. I’ve learned that my overall performance improves when I eat intentionally and engage in regular physical activity, even if it’s just a quick 20-minute workout. I feel more centered, experience greater mental clarity, and can organize my thoughts more efficiently. My productivity doesn’t just depend on how long I work or how organized I am. It depends on whether I had a balanced meal, slept well, or gave myself time to breathe.
Economists call this human capital, the idea that our knowledge, health, and habits are productive assets. When people are free to invest in themselves, they become more resilient, skilled, and capable.Taking care of our health is an investment, not just to feel good today, but to do our best in work and life tomorrow. On the other hand, poor health leads to fatigue, brain fog, and stress, which limit performance and creativity.
There’s also the idea of opportunity cost. Every rushed meal or skipped workout may feel like a shortcut in the moment, but I’ve learned it often costs me energy, focus, and clarity later. Being intentional with my health is a trade-off that pays off in how I think, how I work, and how I show up.
As I started thinking more critically about the privilege of making healthy choices, I came across Radiografía del Consumidor 2025, a study that analyzes consumer behavior and preferences in Puerto Rico. It offers insight into what motivates people’s decisions and how economic conditions influence those choices. One of its key findings is that rising food prices are among the top concerns for the residents of Puerto Rico.
Reading that made me realize how much personal responsibility is shaped by what’s happening around us. Making healthy choices isn’t just about willpower. It also depends on access. When prices rise, people often face limited options, not because they don’t care about their well-being, but because their budget forces tough trade-offs. That’s why creating economic and social environments that reduce barriers and expand opportunity is so important.
Nevertheless, choosing to prioritize health through small, consistent actions can offer a real advantage. It helps us stay steady when things feel uncertain and life moves at full speed. For me, being healthy isn’t just about feeling good. It helps me live with purpose, stay present with the people I love, and pursue the goals I care about. That, to me, is real wealth.