Student Starts Early, Lands Internship at the Firm of His Dreams

But isn’t accounting boring?

I think there’s a misconception about what accounting is. A lot of people get accounting confused with bookkeeping, which is pretty repetitive data entry. In accounting, you’re looking more at a company’s whole financial position, and that’s a lot more in-depth than just numbers in a ledger. When you’re an accountant you can go to a company anywhere in the world, look over the books, and really understand how that company works. Also, in tax accounting the laws are always changing so you’re always learning something new.

When did you realize accounting was the major for you? 

I started out in computer science at a community college, but then I took a business class and I just really connected with it. I thought business fit my personality and thought accounting was a stable career path, so when I transferred to USF in 2024, I made accounting my major. 

What’s your advice to students just starting at USF?

Connect with your professors. A lot of professors at USF have real-world experience and industry connections, and if you stay after class, they’ll advise you on the best path to take. Diane Roberts helped me with everything accounting. Kelly Weidner helped me learn not only how brands market themselves, but how I can market myself. There’s a lot that goes into a company’s image, and when you graduate you also want to have an idea of who you are and the image you want to project. Also, go to the career center early, like in your first semester at USF. Get started on your cover letter and resume. Working on my resume helped me realize that I actually have skills that I bring to the table and that I’m capable. Starting early made it feel more natural when I had to speak about myself in interviews.

How many interviews did you have at Deloitte?

Three. The first interview you do is with yourself. You’re looking at yourself in a camera and you answer questions that come up on the screen. Later I found out that you’re actually being reviewed by AI that tracks your facial expressions. After that I interviewed with a senior person who’s been there at least three years, and then with a partner who’s been there 20 years. It was pretty rigorous. 

What’s next for you?

Do this internship. Learn everything I can. Hope that Deloitte offers me a full-time position starting in 2026.