“My decision to attend UCF was a fairly last-minute one. After visiting UCF for the first time, I fell in love with the campus and knew that it was the one for me. From the scenic areas to the modern areas, falling in love with UCF and deciding to go here is one of the best things that has happened to me. Once I decided on UCF, I knew I wanted to be in honors due to the various benefits as well as the community of scholars that I could be a part of. The BHC has brought me many of my best friends, as well as some of the best experiences of my life.
“These positive experiences extend beyond just the BHC. For instance, I have wonderful memories of attending UCF football games. From the adrenaline rush of cheering on the Knights to the excitement of experiencing college football culture firsthand, UCF football games are the reason that I even know football. The UCF campus as a whole has a special energy to it. Tower III, the Honors Living Learning Community, has brought me closer to my friends and allowed me to have a supportive friend-base within walking distance— friends with whom I’ve since developed fond memories of game nights, movie nights, and exploring campus. Whether it’s getting lost in the arboretum or kayaking in Lake Claire, the UCF campus never has a dull moment.
“Fun memories aside, I am motivated to do well in my life by the results that I can achieve. Essentially, I set goals for myself so that I can try my hardest to achieve those goals. My motivations in a way are intrinsic, since I push myself to go to the next level as I strive to achieve the best and be the best. I am always trying to better myself so I can accomplish results that I can be proud of.
“The thing that I’m most proud of thus far is achieving the designation of being a National Merit Scholar. Being a National Merit Scholar opened up many opportunities for me— the best of which was being able to go to college debt-free. Not having to worry about money in college allowed me to explore my passions and figure out what I really want to do with my life. My dream job is to eventually become a CFO of a large company. I don’t have a preference for which field the company would be in, but I would like my morals to align with their company values. Being a CFO is my dream since I will able to use both skillsets that I will grow throughout my career—finance-related skills and management-related skills.
“A quote I live by is, ‘You only live once, so live life with no regrets.’ When I was younger, I saw myself becoming a doctor, teacher, or lawyer. If I could give advice to my younger self, I would tell myself to not get discouraged by the little things that don’t go my way, but to instead keep looking at the big picture and remain positive that everything will work itself out. I have ended up in a career path that is nothing close to what I ever imagined. Never would I have imagined myself in finance or choosing a very male-dominated field. But, the best advice I’ve received is to take advantage of every opportunity that falls into my lap. Every opportunity can give an opening to learn and grow as a person."
