Tag Archives: Joel

Academics, Student Life

Farewell Candy Crush

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So the first grades of the semester are officially in the books. After a rough week last week, we finally find out how we fared on those exams. While for some it is a time to celebrate, for me, it is a time to contemplate and make necessary changes. Needless to say, I have my work cut out for me for the rest of the semester. Not getting an A is upsetting and personally disappointing. When I got my exams back and saw it littered with red ink, I almost lost it. After a night of letting this sink in, I decided it is time to make some serious adjustments.

The first thing I did was to delete Candy Crush from my iPad. I think that it may just be the culprit. After reaching level 180, it’s time for me to say goodbye to such an awesome game. I’ll admit it took me a while to press X  in order to get rid of it, but I did it anyway. My friends can’t believe I was able to overcome such a challenge, because they know how hooked I was with it. However, the time and few dollars of investment didn’t yield any effective return in brain processing power.

I may have shed a tear when I deleted the app

But all joking aside, this post is more than just Candy Crush, as amazing as it is. This is about making changes, learning from mistakes, getting back up, re-prioritizing things, and shaking off the dust. As I talk to MPAs, I’m learning that we are all experiencing the same things. It is a tough, challenging, but very rewarding program and I frankly would rather be stretched like this than taking it easy, earning A’s all the time. This is not to rationalize mediocre performance. However, I would argue that in this journey, there are potholes and those who learn to avoid them moving forward will be better prepared for the many more challenges ahead.

So as I say goodbye to Candy Crush, I am also tweaking a few things like my daily routine, study habits, and organizational system. I am hoping this will make a difference on the second round of exams. For now, I am happy to learn from my mistakes, move on and work hard to excel. As a professor told me once:

“You may think you’re already a mile deep. Remember, you still have a few miles to go to make up lost ground.”

That’s exactly what I needed to hear.

Career, Employment, Recruiting, Student Life

Recruiting and Finding One’s Match

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Matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match
Find me a find, catch me a catch 
It’s all about the fit.

It is hard not to be reminded of this classic song as recruiting season heats up. Though Fiddler on the Roof was referring to a marital arrangement, I think the analogy still holds true with recruiting. At the end of the day, it is about how a candidate fits with the firm culture and whether a relationship can blossom. This is one thing that I have noticed employers emphasize more and more during interviews. The main question is whether our values and personality align with theirs.

I like to think about this exercise as a search for our perfect match. If only there was a Match.com or E-harmony website we can use to help us in this quest, recruiting can be much easier. One only has to look at the number of personality matches and boom we have a match and a 90% chance that the relationship would end up in a lifelong state of happiness. But, there is none.

What I am finding out is that as much as I am learning about future employers, I’m also realizing things about myself, my career goals, the kinds of people I want to work with, and my passion. Just like any serious relationships, I am looking for folks I like and whose company I enjoy. In short, I am looking for my perfect match.

I am reminded of an advice I heard in a career panel once. The question many students ask in deciding which firms to apply to is how the first few years are going to look like. The representative commented on how myopic this perspective is and how much better of a question it is to ask how one sees himself/herself in the firm in 5, 10, 15, 20 years. His point is that finding the right fit, the right people, and the right match to our values can make us happier in our careers in the long run. Putting all factors aside, the crux of the matter is whether chemistry exists between us and the firms or not.

What a relief it is to realize this! Passing an opportunity becomes not so much because of inadequacies but simply a difference in nature and there’s nothing wrong with that. Ultimately, we’re looking for the firm that complements us. This takes the stress of recruiting away and encourages us to simply be at ease with who we are. After all, our personality is our greatest asset and the best matchmaker we have. Now, that is something we can definitely sing about.

Austin, Events, Student Life

Bon Qui Qui Visits Austin

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Welcome to King Burger where you can have it your way but don’t get crazy!

If you’re familiar with this snippet from a Mad TV comedy clip, then you’d be excited to know that the laugh out loud Bon Qui Qui visited Austin over the weekend. With all the hustle and bustle on campus, a comic relief is always a very welcome invitation. This past Saturday, my favorite comedienne Anjelah Johnson performed at the iconic Paramount Theater to a full house. From the opening act to the very last second she was on stage, the show was just hilarious and purely entertaining. I sure got an ab workout from all the laughter, which was a nice bonus.

I went to the show with my good friend Ruth. What’s so funny is that we didn’t even know about it until that Saturday morning. But as dedicated fans, we decided to go anyway and see the girl who has made us laugh to tears with her YouTube videos. This is another reason why Austin is such a fabulous place to live. It is a small city with a big name that it attract stars like Anjelah Johnson.. There were three back-to-back shows and I believe all of them were sold out.

With perfect timing and clean jokes, Anj (’cause we’re close) did a fabulous job of entertaining the audience! I could have stayed for a later show, but figured I’ll give other people a chance. It’s experiences like these that remind me that some things really are priceless. As I sat there and listened to the chorus of laughter, I forgot about the stresses of school and recruiting and just enjoyed the fun.

It was a wonderful experience and made for a great Saturday night. It was just what I needed as two exams, a final, and a few interviews come. I feel like I’ve gained my perspective back and I can go through all these with a new sense of excitement. All work and no play make a person go mad. So before that happened, I’m glad to have taken my mind of off school for a little bit. Thanks Anjelah!

Academics, Student Life

In High Gear

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Note: Not the actual class. We’re better looking.

Days turn to weeks and weeks turn to months. It is hard to believe that it’s been almost three months since I started the MPA program. From orientation to recruiting workshops, company info sessions, and of course, the classes and group projects, one can understand how quickly time flies. I like saying that the program is in high gear. Although, looking back now, I wonder if it ever was in any other gear. All joking aside, if you are looking for a rigorous program that is bent on educating and training future accountants committed to excellence, this is it.

One thing I love about the program is the drive and motivation that my peers have. It is contagious and encouraging at the same time. In spite of the whirlwind of events happening right now, everyone is as eager and passionate about what they do.

A good example of this is a class I have on late afternoons on Mondays and Wednesdays, which is typically the sluggish time for most people. Now, I did not pick the class section because of that, it was the only one available by the time I registered. I was disappointed because I thought this class would be such a drag. But a few weeks into the semester now, my previous assumption could not be further from the truth. I look around the classroom and everyone is engaged and focused on the professor. I think I sometimes even see actual wheels spinning on their heads. There is a lively discussion of ideas and free flow of thoughtful questions. At times, we don’t even finish the slides because of the discussion.

As much as the program is in high gear, the students are as well. I could not have asked for a better set of cohorts than the MPA Class of 2014 because they encourage and remind me of why I’m here. In an intense program like what we have, it is good to be surrounded by friends who do not accept mediocrity. That is special. So even though our journey has only begun, I am convinced that these are relationships that would go beyond the weeks and months we have in our MPA experience.