This past summer, I chose to use my STEP fellowship to support my Accounting internship at RSM in Columbus, Ohio. I was an Assurance Intern for eight weeks this summer, and was tasked with learning more about the fundamentals of public accounting and working on my professional development skills.
My outlook on my career changed massively this summer, as I was able to gain first hand experience and knowledge in the world of public accounting. I plan on pursuing public accounting as a career after I graduate from the Fisher College of Business, and the insight I gained this summer has only added to my confidence in my decision. I greatly enjoyed the work I performed at my internship with RSM, as it directly intertwines with the reasons I chose Accounting as my major in the first place. The STEP Fellowship was crucial to my success at my internship, allowing me to put resources to use in the proper channels and allowing myself to participate in internship training in Chicago in June. While working this summer, I realized that I am indeed capable of learning and succeeding in a corporate environment, something that I was unsure of given my lack of experience.
As mentioned previously, I participated in a comprehensive internship training program in Chicago, Illinois at RSM’s global audit headquarters. For four days, I was tasked with absorbing a massive amount of information and instructions, followed by insightful exercises and activities that tested the skills being taught. I found that I was able to apply myself in the necessary capacities required in order to excel, and therefore solidifying my confidence throughout the week. As the training week progressed, I was also able to increase my professional and soft skills, engaging in conversations regarding career advice, technical know-how, and so much more. The leaders and fellow interns I collaborated with took the experience to another level, leaving me with a lasting impression on both RSM and for my future career goals and aspirations. The STEP fellowship was extremely helpful throughout my week in Chicago, enabling me focus on the work at hand and not on my financial situation.
After the week of training, I was confronted with a new set of problems to be solved and new relationships to build. As I familiarized myself with the Columbus team and the work that I was confronted with, I was able to use the newfound strength and perseverance I had acquired to work in sync with management and other interns to achieve our goals. Each week I was assigned a new manager with a new project, which created an environment that encouraged consistent growth and communication. Included in this growth was the connections that I was able to build with other young professionals, who laid out a blueprint for success that I carried with me throughout the eight weeks I worked at RSM. I found myself gaining the confidence necessary to ask intuitive questions, contribute effectively to strategic discussions, and collaborate with the intern team.
The culmination of my internship was a two day trip to the RSM office in Cleveland, Ohio, where the internship team and myself were tasked with giving a presentation regarding the state of the industrial manufacturing industry. I was able to participate in an engaging simulation involving mock clients, where I was tasked with being ‘partner for the day’ of an imaginary accounting firm. The purpose of this simulation was to give interns a look into the high level decisions and discussions that take place between company leadership and potential clients. I was able to use the skills built throughout the internship to engage effectively with the simulation and to take away key nuggets of information that I was not previously informed on. After this simulation, my intern group presented our project in a clear and concise manner, propelled by the insight gained throughout our internship, leading to our group being named the best presentation in the region. This accomplishment reflected directly on my ability to research, collaborate, and communicate to a group of peers in a way that others can easily digest and reflect upon.
My eight weeks at RSM have allowed me to gauge my preparedness and career trajectory as my date of graduation rapidly approaches. Throughout my time at Ohio State, there have been periods of uncertainty where I questioned what my years of schooling would amount to. I have always been a forward thinking and thoughtful person who tries to plan ahead. My experience at RSM solidified my confidence in my career goals, assuring myself of my decisions and of my competence as a professional. In a world where there are so many different paths to take and a limitless amount of decisions to make, it is comforting to have a path to follow. The support from so many different people along my journey has helped to strengthen my own internal confidence, while preparing me for life post graduation. The STEP fellowship enabled me to get a jumpstart on my career aspirations and goals, providing me with security and guidance required to make strides in many different aspects of professional and personal life.