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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Here's the path I took:
High School
Towson High School
Bachelor's Degree
Business and Economics
McDaniel College
Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be a Senior Financial Analyst:
Certification: Take an elective of accounting in High School if Possible
Associate's Degree: Accounting
Vocational: definitely do an internship somewhere in accounting ... major plus!
Bachelor's Degree: Accounting
Certification: CPA
Learn more about different paths to this career
Life & Career Milestones
I've taken a lot of twists and turns
1.
Strong high school backbone in academics and scholarship set me up for a good start to college
2.
Joining a sorority and trying to be "the party" animal was a huge mistake, classes were the least of my cares
3.
Applying at GE was the best move I made! Great experience early on
4.
Relocating to Cincinnati for GE Aviation HQ was the biggest, scariest, and momentous decision that ended up being a great move career wise and also built a lot of great relationships
5.
Dating someone outside of my comfort/class level; older and other side of the tracks. Not to sound biased but the difference in our background, friend groups, social understanding was very significant
6.
Trying crack cocaine for the first time led to 10+ years of a wild ride and at least $0.5MM of wasted money spent.
7.
Allowing the drug to take over my life and force me out of my job as Senior Financial Analyst, I then took 2-3 similar roles at other companies that didn't last bc i couldn't get up in the mornings
8.
Being homeless during Covid19 and living in garages or with other drug addicts; so exhausting, so tired, so dirty, I don't wish that on anyone
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Friends:
The discouragement that I have faced lately is from others that have lost faith in me and don't take me seriously. I offer suggestions and ideas too of new ways to generate income and my own fiance tells me I have no idea what I am talking about.
How I responded:
My Dad always told me and I still believe to be true: people can take your job, your money, your things and still take from you, but there are two things they cannot take. They cannot take your education and your experience. Those belong to you and no one can say different. So when I had lost my job and my boyfriend was yelling at me to stop doing whatever stupid things I was doing and come up with some money, I got so frantic and then I would remember those words from my Dad.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
I went about 30years straight, no drugs, and then I dated someone that used. And after 10 years of trying to live both ways, I resigned. I realized I went from $100k per year to homeless on the streets sleeping in a vacant garage all during the COVID
After doing drugs and then living on the streets, going back to "corporate" work was intimidating, plus I had worked for only one company. I ended up getting a remote job with Raytheon and did very well until I was let go for no reason.