As I look back at my life, every failure/success achieved, emotion felt and decisions made, I have no regrets. I am who I am today because of past experiences. This blog post is a reminder that in order to set yourself up for eternal success in the future, you must not only fight through obstacles in the present but also learn from the hard fought battles in the past.
If I had to do it again, I would never resist the opportunity to come outside of my comfort zone.
Over the past several years, I have learned that when you feel the most uncomfortable is when you grow and become a stronger individual. As a student, I used to be afraid of speaking in public settings; however, I ensured that I grasped onto every opportunity I was presented with to speak in front of large audiences. Although it was discomforting and nerve-wrecking at first, it is my forte and passion now solely because I came outside of my comfort zone when it mattered most. You must find out what makes you feel most uncomfortable, whether it be networking, interviewing or even expressing your thoughts, and search for opportunities to turn these “self-imposed restrictions” into personal strengths. I guarantee you that this is a step in the right direction that will lead to personal and professional triumph.
If I had to do it again, “giving up” would never, is never, and will never be an option.
Chris Bradford, author and professional ninja, has said it best: “each mistake teaches you something new about yourself. There is no failure, remember, except in no longer trying. It is the courage to continue that counts.” Everyone has faced some sort of hardship in life, whether it is personal, academic or career-related. To get to where I am today, I have had to endure a storm of uncertainty and challenges. But never once did I think of giving up. It was neither an option nor a thought but rather a distant myth. Even when I was at the lowest point in my personal life/academic career, I took advantage of all my resources to help me get back up better and stronger. I have never looked back since. What you must realize is that everyone experiences failure at one point in life, but how one deals with it is what matters most. You can either wallow in sorrow and disappointment and close the doors that might lead to greatness; or you can use it as a learning experience to fire you up and open all gates to success. To me personally, it has been a catalyst to self-fulfillment and “success” and I hope this is something everyone can learn from.
If I had to do it again, my friends would always be considered my most valuable asset.
My friends have shaped me into the person that I am today. Surrounding yourself with like-minded individuals that challenge you on a daily basis is essential but more often than not is overlooked by many. I have always made a conscious effort to surround myself with a group of people that motivate me to become a better person. Through my high school days, undergraduate career and my professional career, I have learned that friends can either lead you through the golden path of success, or the lonesome path of uncertainty. Choose your friends wisely and surround yourself with people that will always want the best for you.
If I had to do it again, my career path would always lead me to auditing/accounting.
I thrive in fostering relationships with clients and I have a passion for numbers. To me, the field of auditing/accounting bridges the gap between the two seamlessly. Having previously worked as an intern at a premier investment bank and at a leading marketing firm, I can say with complete confidence that I made the right decision in pursuing the “CA” designation. Although my experiences in the finance and marketing firms were remarkable, I was craving for more flexibility in terms of learning and growing both as an individual/professional. This is why you should never restrict yourself to an industry, especially as a student. Having worked as an intern in the finance and marketing industries led me to my quest for an internship at PwC as I knew that accounting/auditing is what was best for me only after gaining exposure to other industries.
If I had to do it again, launching my career at PwC would always be the only option.
From my clients to my colleagues, I have truly enjoyed every relationship established thus far in my career at PwC. The firm has not only given me access to learn about market leaders in the energy, construction, food/beverage, real estate, medical and technology industries, but it has given me the opportunity to learn about and express myself as an individual. To me, this is a winning characteristic in an employer of choice, especially as a young professional who is looking to launch his/her career.
Over the past several years, I have learned that when you feel the most uncomfortable is when you grow and become a stronger individual. As a student, I used to be afraid of speaking in public settings; however, I ensured that I grasped onto every opportunity I was presented with to speak in front of large audiences. Although it was discomforting and nerve-wrecking at first, it is my forte and passion now solely because I came outside of my comfort zone when it mattered most. You must find out what makes you feel most uncomfortable, whether it be networking, interviewing or even expressing your thoughts, and search for opportunities to turn these “self-imposed restrictions” into personal strengths. I guarantee you that this is a step in the right direction that will lead to personal and professional triumph.
If I had to do it again, “giving up” would never, is never, and will never be an option.
Chris Bradford, author and professional ninja, has said it best: “each mistake teaches you something new about yourself. There is no failure, remember, except in no longer trying. It is the courage to continue that counts.” Everyone has faced some sort of hardship in life, whether it is personal, academic or career-related. To get to where I am today, I have had to endure a storm of uncertainty and challenges. But never once did I think of giving up. It was neither an option nor a thought but rather a distant myth. Even when I was at the lowest point in my personal life/academic career, I took advantage of all my resources to help me get back up better and stronger. I have never looked back since. What you must realize is that everyone experiences failure at one point in life, but how one deals with it is what matters most. You can either wallow in sorrow and disappointment and close the doors that might lead to greatness; or you can use it as a learning experience to fire you up and open all gates to success. To me personally, it has been a catalyst to self-fulfillment and “success” and I hope this is something everyone can learn from.
If I had to do it again, my friends would always be considered my most valuable asset.
My friends have shaped me into the person that I am today. Surrounding yourself with like-minded individuals that challenge you on a daily basis is essential but more often than not is overlooked by many. I have always made a conscious effort to surround myself with a group of people that motivate me to become a better person. Through my high school days, undergraduate career and my professional career, I have learned that friends can either lead you through the golden path of success, or the lonesome path of uncertainty. Choose your friends wisely and surround yourself with people that will always want the best for you.
If I had to do it again, my career path would always lead me to auditing/accounting.
I thrive in fostering relationships with clients and I have a passion for numbers. To me, the field of auditing/accounting bridges the gap between the two seamlessly. Having previously worked as an intern at a premier investment bank and at a leading marketing firm, I can say with complete confidence that I made the right decision in pursuing the “CA” designation. Although my experiences in the finance and marketing firms were remarkable, I was craving for more flexibility in terms of learning and growing both as an individual/professional. This is why you should never restrict yourself to an industry, especially as a student. Having worked as an intern in the finance and marketing industries led me to my quest for an internship at PwC as I knew that accounting/auditing is what was best for me only after gaining exposure to other industries.
If I had to do it again, launching my career at PwC would always be the only option.
From my clients to my colleagues, I have truly enjoyed every relationship established thus far in my career at PwC. The firm has not only given me access to learn about market leaders in the energy, construction, food/beverage, real estate, medical and technology industries, but it has given me the opportunity to learn about and express myself as an individual. To me, this is a winning characteristic in an employer of choice, especially as a young professional who is looking to launch his/her career.
