Career Spotlight: Accounting

I decided to enlist in the Air Force Reserve while I was still a junior in High School. I knew my mom wouldn't be able to afford to send me to school and the Air Force offers Tuition Assistance so I decided to take this detour to ensure I would have enough money to cover college tuition and expenses. So two weeks after graduation, I went to basic training at Scott, AFB in San Antonio, Texas for 8 weeks. Followed by specific job training for an additional two months, arriving back in St. Louis a few days before Thanksgiving in 2012. My original plans were to go to Penn State, I'd been accepted and I could afford it with the help of student loans but they did not accept students on a rolling basis meaning everyone starts in August. I couldn't wait that long so I just decided on UMSL. My original career goal was to be a lawyer and I planned on studying prelaw but right before I went I heard a quote from Steve Harvey that said one should pick a career path that combined their natural talents and what they were good at. I always excelled in math, the only career I could think of at the time other than being a math teacher was an accountant, so I switched majors. I never knew any accountants or even spoke to one I just decided that's what I wanted to do and have stuck with it. The job market for accountants is booming, and there will always be a need for them. Even if you don't love math or aren't so good at it I believe you could still be an accountant if you enjoy analyzing numbers. It can be tedious, but it is not very difficult. There are also many different directions one can go within the field of accounting as there are many specialties to choose from. I have been working as a financial statement accountant for the last 2 years since I graduated with my Bachelors. It is essential if you choose this career or any other you also look into higher education, which is why I am currently working towards my Masters, it offers you more opportunity and commands a higher salary. My goal is to eventually use my accounting background and transition to a Financial Analyst or Financial Planner.

The thing I most enjoy about my career field are the endless opportunities it provides as well as the flexibility with my current position.

Alexus Younger