Stories
What initially drew you to this field?
I had great accounting professors at USD who did a fantastic job at “selling” the profession! I also have many family members who are CPA’s and have worked in public accounting. A career in public accounting allows young professionals to understand and learn the many aspects of a business. The CPA designation is widely recognized and respected, and the skills learned while working as a CPA are highly transferable to other fields.
"My experiences as a student-athlete at USD allowed me to feel confident working on a team!"
What advice would you give to someone just starting their career in Accounting?
A very common misconception about accountants and CPA's is that you keep to yourself and often work by alone in an office. After completing my internship, I can confidently say that is far from the truth. A significant part of the job is interacting with clients, working on a team and forming relationships with the people around you. If I could give one piece of advice to someone just starting, it would be to become comfortable working on a team and being yourself. My experiences as a student-athlete at USD allowed me to feel confident working on a team!
How do you balance work and personal life?
While interning this winter, I experienced my first “busy season”, which entailed working long hours during the week and extended hours on the weekend. During this time, I prioritized taking care of my physical health and making time for family and friends. Burnout is very common in this field because of the long hours, but advocating for yourself and your personal needs is very important! Even if I was on a time crunch, I always made time to call my friends and family, even if it was only for a few minutes. Now that I am back at school, I balance academics and my personal life by taking time to be with my classmates, exercising daily and regularly calling my family! The most important thing about finding a balance is prioritizing the things that make you feel good!
What are some things you do to stay engaged with USD, fellow professionals and alumni?
I love to stay up-to-date with USD athletics and cheer them on from afar! Whether it’s tuning in on TV or following the athletics social media pages, it feels good to be connected. I am still in close contact with many of my former teammates, and that is something I’ve prioritized since moving out of the Midwest. My teammates are my best friends for life and the greatest gift that USD Volleyball brought me. I love hearing from current players whom I had the joy of playing with, as well as fellow alumni who are excelling professionally and personally.
"Being comfortable with the uncomfortable is something I learned during volleyball, but took a new form when I decided to move so far away."
What are some things you've learned in your current role, or from your mentors?
I’ve learned how to work with a team in a professional setting, engage with people from all across the countr, and to be comfortable with being uncomfortable! There is no doubt that being on a volleyball team has helped tremendously with my transition into the professional world. Basic lessons like being a team player, putting your best foot forward and prioritizing the goals of the team are skills that are so important in the accounting industry. My program at Vanderbilt has allowed me to develop friendships with students from many different states and different walks of life. Meeting so many new people has been one of my favorite parts about living in Nashville! Being comfortable with the uncomfortable is something I learned during volleyball, but it took a new form when I decided to move so far away. Moving away from my family and friends was scary and brought uncertainty, but it is one of the best decisions I have ever made. Choosing to get out of my comfort zone has allowed me to thrive!