At the very beginning of 2012, I joined Team LiveSTRONG. As a member of Team LiveSTRONG, I help raise awareness and raise funds to improve the lives of people affected by cancer. Although I have never personally had to battle cancer, my life as still been affected by this disease.

To summarize my history with cancer, both my beloved Grandpa Jimbo and one of by best friends in elementary school, Bailey, ran out of time in their battles with cancer. After losing them, I guess I thought that cancer was done with me. That I could no longer be affected….but of course that could never happen.

In September, my dad found out his best friend from college, Mike, was diagnosed with cancer and had a very slim chance of survival. I felt so helpless seeing the hurt my father felt while dealing with this news. My parents and I visited Mike and his family over winter break, and I suddenly became furious at the toll that battling cancer took on such an incredibly funny, bright and kind man. It was then I realized cancer would never stop affecting my life, or millions of others’ lives, until it was cured.

Now, obviously because I am a student in the MPA program, I am in no way qualified to cure cancer. But, I could take action. I decided to join Team LiveSTRONG so I could no longer feel helpless in the fight against cancer, and so I could spread hope to people like Mike and his support group.

I personally got involved in the war on cancer because I became fed up with being helpless. I know almost everyone has an issue close to their heart that they can’t stand for and we all need a way to find a sense of agency and hope.

So… What do you do about it? GET INVOLVED!

It will make you feel like you are taking part in something bigger than yourself and making a lasting difference in the world. As if this is not enough, volunteering will also help you both as a leader and as an accountant.

As a Leader:

In the management class I am currently taking, my professor had us read an article written by Karl Moore and Richard Pound called “Volunteering- A Great Way to Learn Real Executive Leadership.” The main theme from this article is that the best way for young employees to develop the leadership needed to be successful as an executive is to do volunteer work early in their careers. This is because you can’t lead people with the promise of a bonus or other extrinsic motivators. You have to get people to grasp and follow your vision. They have to earn the trust and respect of the people they are supervising. Getting actively involved in a cause you believe in with help you with your ability to intrinsically motivate the people around you, which will make you a more successful manager in your career.

As an Accountant:

In the first lesson of my audit class, we learned that auditors of public companies don’t serve their firm or the client they are currently working for. They have a higher calling as the “watchdog”: they serve the interest of the general public. They serve everyday people that depend on the accuracy of financial statements to invest their savings to provide for their future, whether it be to fund their college education or retirement.

I strongly believe all accountants, not only auditors, need to keep this in mind. I consider accounting one of the more selfless professions, a field where you place the highest priority on the needs of everyday people. With this in mind, I think every MPA and potential MPA student should actively volunteer with the community or get involved with a charity. I feel it is essential to make putting others needs in front of your own a habit. This way, accountants never forget how they fit into the big picture: to serve and protect the general public’s interests.

I would like to use one of my favorite quotes to end this post:

“Alone we can do so little; Together we can do so much” –Helen Keller