 What is your major and why did you decide to join BAP?
"I am pursuing an M.S. in Accounting. I joined BAP back in Fall 2015 to develop the necessary soft skills to grow my network. I also wanted to surround myself with the brightest individuals within the University and among professionals." What events or people influenced you to run for chapter president? "To list things off, I was influenced by my experiences with Best Practices, Project Run with It, and various BAP conferences. However, I was influenced the most by my involvement in our chapter’s Gold Challenge video submission. Being behind the camera, I got to see first-hand all of our major accomplishments under former chapter president Cass Chopek. She’s been a great role model for me, and I wanted to lead our members to success as she did." What do you plan to do in your professional career? "After graduation, I plan to work in public accounting and complete the CPA certification. I hope to eventually go back to school and earn an MBA. LONG-term goal is to be either the managing partner at a public accounting firm or the CEO of a Fortune 500 company." Outside of BAP and schoolwork, what do you enjoy doing? "On weekends, I work with children on the Autism spectrum. I’ve worked with the same group of kids for almost 4 years, and they are practically family to me. During my free time, I also enjoy cruising around the neighborhood on my OneWheel, working on my truck and planning for upcoming project cars, traveling the globe and experiencing new adventures, and catching up on Netflix shows with my dogs." What advice would you give to new members and candidates? "Something I always tell our members and candidates is that what you get out of BAP depends on what you put in. Don’t hesitate to volunteer and put yourself out there. People higher up on the totem pole notice active involvement and will reach out to you with greater opportunities. If you feel that you don’t see any opportunities to be more involved, reach out to an officer or director. Taking the initiative is always noticed and keeps that person in mind for bigger and better things."  When and why did you join BAP?
"I joined BAP in the fall of 2016. I became a member because I wanted to surround myself with people who shared and strived for the same goals and successes as I did. I wanted to build and expand my connections and BAP has really helped me take that first step in the professional world." What are you majoring in and what do you plan to do after graduating? "I am majoring in Accounting and Business Analytics. After I graduate, I plan to gain more experience in the public accounting world while working towards becoming a certified public accountant." What has been the most fun thing you've done through BAP? "BAP formed an intramural volleyball and soccer team this semester and it was super fun! There’s a power in a group working together as a team and I’m glad I was able to participate in it." Outside of BAP, what extracurricular activities are you involved in? "I am a student advisor for the Asian Pacific American Student Union. You can find me playing intramural volleyball during the semester. I dedicate many hours volunteering for the Norfolk Botanical Gardens throughout the year." Outside of school, what are you interested in? "In my free time I enjoy playing volleyball, badminton, and racquetball. For stress relief, I turn to yoga and painting." What advice would you give to new members and candidates? "I think success is directly proportional to the effort you put in, so the best way to thrive as a BAP member or candidate is to get involved. Meet new people, gain experience, and just have fun!" |