Year in Review — 2025

This year was a period of intense academic growth, leadership development, and personal maturity. Across my coursework, campus roles, and professional experiences, I learned more about my strengths, my limits, and the direction I want to take in my academic and professional life.

What I Learned This Year

1. Deeper Financial and Analytical Understanding

My courses in Financial Markets (Yale), Finance, and Business Analytics & Information Systems transformed the way I understand data-driven decision making and market behavior.

Through my EURECA research project, I explored the differences in liquidity, volatility, and credit risk between junk bonds and U.S. Treasuries using Bloomberg Terminal tools.
In my statistics and analytics coursework, I learned how data visualization, forecasting models, and probability distributions directly support financial decision-making.
In Intro to Negotiation (Yale), I gained stronger skills in communication, value creation, and conflict resolution—skills I applied throughout the year in student leadership and workplace roles.

These courses reinforced the importance of combining technical skills with interpersonal communication—something I’ve intentionally practiced through leadership positions and campus involvement.

Serving as Business Director of Mustangs Motorsports (Formula SAE) challenged me to manage real budgets, secure sponsorships, and communicate effectively with external partners.

I strengthened partnerships and brought in $7,000 in sponsorships.
I worked with a diverse engineering team, learning how to align financial needs with technical goals.
I helped double team membership by improving communication and recruitment strategies.

As an Orientation Leader, I developed stronger public speaking abilities, worked one-on-one with students and parents, and learned how to be calm, supportive, and resourceful—especially in fast-paced or unexpected situations.

2. Growth as a Leader and Team Member

3. Professional Development and Customer Focus

Working at the Office of Student Affairs and Residence Life and Housing, I handled complex student requests, responded to concerns, and provided consistent customer service.
These roles taught me:

The value of attentiveness and empathy
How to remain organized with high-volume tasks
How to communicate in a professional, service-oriented environment

Each of these experiences helped me grow into a more reliable, confident, and adaptable professional.

What I Did Not Accomplish

1. Financial Certification Prep

Data Viz

I intended to begin early preparation for the CFA Level I exam. While I strengthened my finance fundamentals through coursework and research, I did not commit to a consistent study routine. I realized that I needed more structure, time-blocking, and a clearer long-term preparation plan.

Looking ahead:
In 2026, I plan to develop a manageable, steady study schedule and focus on the foundational materials. I’ll treat it as a long-term project rather than something to rush into.

Although I kept strong grades, balancing leadership roles, research, and two campus jobs made some semesters more stressful than necessary. I occasionally overcommitted, which limited my ability to fully focus on long-term goals.

Looking ahead:
Next year, I will:

Prioritize rest and mental clarity
Protect 1–2 days a week strictly for academics
Reduce unnecessary commitments
Focus on maximizing impact in fewer roles rather than doing everything at once

2. Time Management and Academic Balance

2025 taught me that real growth requires both ambition and self-awareness. I learned that I thrive when I combine finance, analytics, leadership, and communication, and that I find purpose in helping others—whether through orientation leadership, tutoring, financial literacy initiatives, or student support roles.

In the coming year, I aim to:

Strengthen my financial expertise through internships and targeted coursework
Build healthier academic and personal habits
Continue developing as a leader on campus
Seek opportunities that align with long-term goals in corporate finance or law
Keep improving my ability to serve students and my university community
Stay focused, intentional, and adaptable

This year has been a strong foundation for where I want to go—and I’m grateful for every challenge, opportunity, and lesson.

3. Personal Wellness and Routine

I struggled to maintain consistency with gym routines, sleep, and nutrition toward the busier parts of the year. Heavy workload weeks made it easy to put health second.

Looking ahead:
I plan to incorporate smaller, more sustainable habits—daily walks, consistent sleep schedules, and structured meal planning—to maintain energy without relying on motivation alone.

Looking Forward - 2026

Gallery

Key moments from my sophomore year at Midwestern State University