major love

I'm 3.5 weeks into my life as an official accounting student and I have found so many things to love about it.

1. I get to spend hours every day reading (frequently accompanied by intermittent dozing) about real people things in my massive textbooks. I love being finished with GE's and being able to focus solely on a subject that I care about. It's exciting to learn more about auditing, principles of financial accounting, and information systems all the time.

2. I love that studying accounting almost ensures me a job right when I graduate and whenever I need one after that. Recruiters for accounting firms have a fondness for BYU graduates, and this being the case, they regularly hook us up with free stuff. To date, I have a computer mouse, three t-shirts, a miniature supply kit, a hoodie, a water bottle, and assorted pens and flyers.

{Note the "clever" slogan on this particular t-shirt, "Accountants are always in balance."}

3. I love that I have so many opportunities to go outside of my comfort zone and have new experiences. Thanks to another recruiting tactic, my classmates and I had the chance to learn how to change the tires of a race car (and how to improve our teamwork skills).



On my team, I took on the improvised role of "nut assistant," though Jordin happily picked up one of the power tools and went to town. It was a very cool day. It was also the day we got the free hoodies.

Another set of recruiters really know my soft spot. They put on a 5K for accounting students and their families last Saturday. I opted for the service hours, standing on the side of the race path in an orange vest, pointing the way (and reading my leisure book). The breakfast afterward was pretty tasty, though!

There are a few downsides to being an accounting student. Though BYU boasts a student population of approximately 30,000, I can't seem to get away from fellow accounting students. No matter where I am on campus, I always see someone else with the same textbooks and recruiting paraphernalia. I feel like we should have a secret greeting to recognize each other, like the Free Masons.

Yesterday was an especially suffocating day. Jordin and I reserved a series of study rooms in the library, and every single one we occupied waas either previously or subsequently inhabited by other accounting study groups. The guys we traded rooms with were always nice, but a little creepy. Social skills are not the norm for this particular group of academics. When Jordin and I took over a study room from one pair, one guy had his shoes off and socked feet up on the table, and made no motion to move from this position for a full minute after Jordin and I claimed the room for our time slot. As soon as we left the room 1.5 hours later, the same guy appeared from among the bookshelves closest to the room and went right back in, telling us that it smelled much better after we had been in it.

4. What I love the most is that just two years ago I was a freshman, learning how to study and be a college student. I have gone from wanting to be a piano major to a choral conducting major to a business student. I love seeing how I've been guided to this point. Now, I'm a junior in a fantastic program, with just 2-3 years left!

{Moving-in weekend, freshman year}

I love that I learning how to be a professional and that the work I'm doing right now means stability in the future and endless opportunities. And more free t-shirts.

{My business face. It needs a little work.}