The job has been accepted, the new apartment has been chosen, the thesis has been submitted, the gong has been hit, and the coursework is slowly dwindling. I guess it’s time. Time to savor these last few days in Happy Valley. Little stands between me and graduation.
As I reflect on the past four years – all the experiences I’ve had, people I’ve met, lessons I’ve learned, places I’ve gone – I cannot help but chuckle at the initial “plan” that I predicted for myself as a freshman. Minutes after submitting my thesis this past Wednesday, I received the letter that I wrote as an incoming freshman during SHO Time, the Schreyer Honors College Orientation. In that letter, I expressed my anticipated future:
- Pursuit of the 5-year Integrated MAcc Program, obtaining both a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in accounting
- A study abroad experience in Florence, Italy
- A full-time job in New York City upon graduation
What actually transpired?
- Pursuit of a 4-year degree in Supply Chain & Information Systems
- A trip to Ghana with Global Business Brigades
- A 7-month co-op in Neenah, Wisconsin
- A summer internship in Cincinnati, Ohio
- A full-time job in Phoenix, Arizona
In other words, I followed forged an entirely different path. I discovered new interests, networked with countless individuals, met great mentors, and opened doors that I had not previously foreseen. Even though my letter spelled out an expected future, I knew, even then, that nothing was for certain. Through it all, I stayed curious. I kept an open mind, and stepped into the unknown.
In our last PLA class on Sunday night, Dean Brady took us through a 5-step exercise to formulate our own personal mission statements. The first step was to identify 4-5 individual successes from the past few years and uncover an underlying theme for these. The “common thread” uniting most of my successes has been a willingness to step out of my comfort zone, and try new things. Beginning with my trip to Ghana, this exploratory tendency compounded over my 4 years in college, leading me to new states, new employers, and new experiences. I am forever grateful for the networks and knowledge that I’ve gained from each experience, all of which have positioned me well and will continue to propel me forward in my career. Through each new endeavor, I satisfy my curiosity and learn a great deal about myself. The PLA has been instrumental in this regard, furthering my growth and heightening my maturity.
Although reality turned out to be much different than my initial plan, my predictions were not entirely inaccurate. I still met my ultimate goal. The opening sentence in my letter reads: “Hopefully by the time I read this letter I have had the best 4 or 5 years at Penn State.” That couldn’t be any truer. These have been the best 4 years I could have ever imagined at Penn State. I am truly blessed. I may have taken a different route, yet I still arrived at the sought after destination. Perhaps the greatest lesson I learned over my college career is to stay open. Had it not been for my curiosity, my exploratory drive, and my willingness to take calculated risks, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I could not be more excited for this opportunity to move out West, to discover a new part of the country, begin working at a new company, enter a new industry, and establish new friendships. I may not know what each chapter will bring, however, there’s one thing I can be sure of: I will always stay curious.
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