Learning to be a Leader: Lauren Hammelev '17 BSBA (Accounting)
Six Questions with Lauren Hammelev
Lauren Hammelev is from Glendale, Arizona. She is the president of the Accounting Student Association. Check out her responses to our sixquestions:
Why did you choose the UA?
I chose the UA because Tucson provided a change of scenery and the campus was beautiful. I began at the UA as a pre-physiology student, which was what initially helped me choose UA, but when I realized I wanted a change for my future I chose the Eller College of Management. Eller's prestigious and competitive nature made me believe that with hard work and determination I could build a successful future for myself and that is exactly what I see happening. The opportunities for knowledge and experience are endless within the college.
What made you choose your major?
I chose accounting because it gave me a lot of opportunities for a career in business. I now know that I want to gain the experience of working for a large public accounting firm, but I also look forward to the opportunities that will be available afterwards. I can prove that I have all of the attributes Eller has instilled in me, such as being hardworking, having integrity, and always making an effort to learn more.
What type of professional experience have you had so far?
I have worked many customer service jobs that have provided me with insight of how to work well with others and how to run a business. I also had the opportunity to attend a short externship with Heinfeld Meech to gain brief auditing experience in accounting.
How have you been involved on campus so far?
I am currently the president of the Accounting Student Association, which aims to teach students of all majors and years about the opportunities within accounting. I have also been involved in Alternative Breaks, where students spend school breaks volunteering across the country. I was a site leader for spring break 2016 where I planned a trip for 10 students to Washington, D.C. working with the topics of homelessness and hunger.
What has your involvement and professional experience taught you?
My involvement and experience has taught me that you must be dynamic and receive feedback well in order to learn how to be a great leader. It is also important to use every good or bad experience as a learning opportunity and be able to reassess yourself as a leader or contributor in every situation in order to constantly improve yourself.
What are your plans for after graduation?
In summer 2017, I will be interning with PwC, a "Big Four" accounting firm, in the audit field in Phoenix. I plan to attend a master's program for accounting the following fall in order to gain more knowledge and credits to become CPA eligible. Throughout this year I will study for the CPA exams with the goal of becoming a Certified Public Accountant before I start a job full-time upon completion of the master's program.
Top photo of Washington DC courtesy Pixabay. Hammelev helped coordinate an Alternative Breaks trip there, where she and others volunteered for the Capital Area Food Bank.