I want to explain my journey through life – from childhood to university to the start of my career – and how I ended up in the position I am today.
Pay close attention, because every small step you take in life, no matter how insignificant it may seem at the moment, can have a profound impact on your future path.
The Early Years
I grew up in a small rural town in the Pacific Northwest. 3 hours away from the nearest city with >200,000 people. My parent’s jobs relied on government contracts. They worked hard, and taught my siblings and me the value of honesty and doing your best. They lived below their means and were aggressive savers. My siblings and I were able to attend the only private Catholic school in town and we went on a family trip each year. It was a luxury that I did not fully appreciate at the time, but those experiences traveling allowed me to understand that there is more in this world than the small town I grew up in.
From a young age, we would have talks around the dinner table about investing and different ways to make money. Unlike many families, my parents did not shy away from talking about money. They understood that having money makes life easier, and the earlier you understand it the better.
I received my first paycheck when I was 13 years old after working as a Little League umpire. It was for right around $400 and I was hooked. I spent the rest of high school umpiring, and working as a retail clothing salesman and a pizza delivery driver.
I would often ride my bicycle to see the nice houses in my town on the river. Dreaming one day of having a house there.
On to College
I began college as a biology major with plans to become a doctor. That switched almost immediately once I realized I wanted to party and not spend 8+ years in school studying. I had an interest in investing, so decided to switch to a business major. I took the basic courses (marketing, finance, operations, etc.) until landing on the accounting major. I loved my cost accounting class and the real world practicality of it. The tipping point was watching a video of Warren Buffet recommending accounting to young investors.
My junior year of college, I began to interview with the sole intention of landing an internship at one of the Big 4s. I went to all the recruiting events, polished my resume, and did my best to network with recruiters. I landed interviews with 2 firms, and was lucky to receive an offer from PwC in mid-October. It was such a relief to have that behind me and a position lined up for the Summer. I did my internship (fully remote due to Covid) and received my full-time offer with a Fall 2022 start date.
Starting at a Big 4
I enjoyed my senior year of college knowing I had a job locked up. After graduation, I traveled around Europe, and then moved to a brand new city in October 2022 to start my job as an Audit Associate. Despite the grueling hours and learning curve, I enjoyed the challenges faced with the job and the satisfaction of performing work well received by my managers. Throughout my 1st year, I was also able to pass all 4 sections of the CPA, and receive a $6,000 bonus for early completion. It was a great feeling.
I worked hard and raised my hand for new opportunities as an Associate, and was promoted to Senior after my 2nd busy season. I jumped into the new Senior role, and am now at the S2 level. I lead teams and have additional face time with clients and partners.
