"It’s okay; that’s the best you can do." was something my 5th grade teacher said to me repeatedly. In third grade, I was told that I had a learning disability that would challenge me and force me to work harder to succeed. I finally had an explanation why reading was so challenging for me, but math simply came so naturally. I knew that everything would be more difficult for me than for others, but that didn’t stop me from overcoming obstacles. In 5th grade, my teacher would pair me up with the brightest student in the class and give me easier material to learn in subjects like Science, Social Studies, and Reading. I was never given a chance to show my strengths in Math and I never understood why. I was hurt that my teacher did not believe in me and embarrassed that my peers thought I was incapable. She never saw my strengths and potential, only my disability. That arduous year solidified my drive to always work hard and challenge myself to far surpass those limitations. With my love of math, I discovered my other passion, money. For as long as I can remember I have been fascinated with the business of money. I would find myself following the stock market just for fun; researching particular stocks and tracking their trading trends. I was just an observer but longed for the ability to be an investor. For the past several years, I have been buying, selling, and collecting sneakers, and I needed extra capital to expand my business. I decided that a job was the solution. I learned the value of money, not just about collecting a paycheck but about business and personal finances, what I could afford to spend, versus what I needed to invest in my business. This was my introduction to the business world and I loved it! The summer before senior year I had an incredible opportunity to intern as an Accounting Clerk for a car dealership. I spent several days shadowing the Controller of the dealership personally and she introduced me to all aspects of the business. After learning about the different job functionalities within the business department, I settled in to work alongside several staff accountants and immediately got to work. Through this summer internship, I reconciled bank accounts, audited ledgers, learned to file unclaimed property, and assigned vehicle tags and titles. The greatest takeaway from this experience was that it solidified my interests in accounting and business. I always take great pride in my work and it was noticed. After the internship, I was invited to return again next summer and I am looking forward to it! Accountants are much more than just number-crunchers. Accountants are pivotal to businesses and the broader public. In business, they assume the role of guardians of fiscal responsibility as well as offer insights that guide investments. Moreover, accountants contribute to the broader public by fostering trust in financial institutions and markets. Their commitment to accuracy and ethical conduct ensures the integrity of financial reporting, which bolsters confidence in economic systems. Accountants are stewards of financial truth which enables informed financial choices for both business and the public sector. Through my experiences in 5th grade, I learned that hard work and dedication are vital to overcoming obstacles and ultimate success. As a prospective accounting student, I am eager to join this noble profession, which allows me to merge my passions for math and money.

"It’s okay; that’s the best you can do." was something my 5th grade teacher said to me repeatedly. In third grade, I was told that I had a learning disability that would challenge me and force me to work harder to succeed. I finally had an explanation why reading was so challenging for me, but math simply came so naturally. I knew that everything would be more difficult for me than for others, but that didn’t stop me from overcoming obstacles. In 5th grade, my teacher would pair me up with the brightest student in the class and give me easier material to learn in subjects like Science, Social Studies, and Reading. I was never given a chance to show my strengths in Math and I never understood why. I was hurt that my teacher did not believe in me and embarrassed that my peers thought I was incapable. She never saw my strengths and potential, only my disability. That arduous year solidified my drive to always work hard and challenge myself to far surpass those limitations. With my love of math, I discovered my other passion, money. For as long as I can remember I have been fascinated with the business of money. I would find myself following the stock market just for fun; researching particular stocks and tracking their trading trends. I was just an observer but longed for the ability to be an investor. For the past several years, I have been buying, selling, and collecting sneakers, and I needed extra capital to expand my business. I decided that a job was the solution. I learned the value of money, not just about collecting a paycheck but about business and personal finances, what I could afford to spend, versus what I needed to invest in my business. This was my introduction to the business world and I loved it! The summer before senior year I had an incredible opportunity to intern as an Accounting Clerk for a car dealership. I spent several days shadowing the Controller of the dealership personally and she introduced me to all aspects of the business. After learning about the different job functionalities within the business department, I settled in to work alongside several staff accountants and immediately got to work. Through this summer internship, I reconciled bank accounts, audited ledgers, learned to file unclaimed property, and assigned vehicle tags and titles. The greatest takeaway from this experience was that it solidified my interests in accounting and business. I always take great pride in my work and it was noticed. After the internship, I was invited to return again next summer and I am looking forward to it! Accountants are much more than just number-crunchers. Accountants are pivotal to businesses and the broader public. In business, they assume the role of guardians of fiscal responsibility as well as offer insights that guide investments. Moreover, accountants contribute to the broader public by fostering trust in financial institutions and markets. Their commitment to accuracy and ethical conduct ensures the integrity of financial reporting, which bolsters confidence in economic systems. Accountants are stewards of financial truth which enables informed financial choices for both business and the public sector. Through my experiences in 5th grade, I learned that hard work and dedication are vital to overcoming obstacles and ultimate success. As a prospective accounting student, I am eager to join this noble profession, which allows me to merge my passions for math and money.