My freshman year was challenging. As a first-generation American and college student, I found the college atmosphere entirely new to me. Being the eldest of four siblings, I knew that my decisions would pave the way for them and their future. Like many other first-year students on campus, I wanted to find my crowd and make friends that I would cherish for the rest of my life. Unfortunately, this desire led me to lose focus on the primary reason I was on campus, which was to earn a degree that would tell an employer that I was ready to work. This mindset consumed me during my first semester, and I spent more time hanging out with new people, neglecting my studies, missing assignments, and cramming anything class-related at the last minute. I realized how destructive this mentality was during finals week, and it was then that I understood how much damage delaying everything had done to me. I ended that semester with a 2.915 GPA.
Next semester, I noticed my mistakes but should have acted on them. Getting an internship that summer in my position was impossible, and the only goal I had was to finish the semester in good standing. My motivation to succeed was at an all-time low; I felt that anything I did to achieve something would not be repaid. The courses I was taking did not help either, as I was scrolling on YouTube to find finance courses and videos that spoke about the basics of the subject. That was why I came to school: to learn finance. I tried to fix my time management, but even then, I still found myself pushing everything to the last minute and cramming studying the day before the exam. I would finish that semester with a 3.063 GPA.
During my sophomore year, I realized that I needed to change my approach to time management and stop cramming things I needed to do. I began to take everything more seriously, especially since I knew that if I wanted to secure an internship, I needed to achieve something significant for the year. However, towards the middle of October, I found myself needing help to stay motivated and complete tasks on time. Although I paid attention during class, I would return to my room feeling demotivated, seeing all the work that needed to be done, and would often end up closing my computer.
One day, I received an email from Professor Kelly Kennedy about a course called The Building Blocks of Investment Analysis and Research. The course checked all my boxes, and I immediately wanted to enroll. To my delight, the course was open to students from all years, and I could take it as soon as the next semester. Without hesitation, I emailed the professor of the course, Steve Wilson, asking him how I could join. He responded by asking me to send my resume and transcript. However, upon reading the word “transcript,” I knew I might not be accepted, regardless of my understanding of finance.
Professor Wilson responded that I needed a 3.25 GPA to enroll; to achieve that, I would need to get a 3.7 GPA. I knew I couldn’t let this opportunity slip away, so I
worked harder than ever for the remaining semester to reach that 3.7 GPA. Ultimately, my hard work paid off, and I finished that semester with a 3.738 GPA.
In the second semester of sophomore year, I finally began taking my major-based courses and gained admission into the Building Blocks of Investment Analysis course. The course was so much more than I had expected; it gave me everything I needed, from hearing Fortune 500 executives talk about their roles, careers, and lessons learned to financial modeling and writing my first investment recommendation detailing Yeti. The class was excellent because it was more than just a Finance class, it was a wake-up call!
Before my sophomore year, I felt disillusioned about my chances of making it in finance because I had done poorly in a history course. The course was lecture-heavy, with an overload of assignments and busy work that did not help me prepare for exams. Moreover, it took a lot of work to reach the professor. Despite my past experiences, Professor Wilson allowed me to make all the difference by being a part of this class. Listening to the stories of the executives and investors who spoke to us in class made me think about other students who might be struggling to find their footing in finance. They might be unable to take a course that could open their eyes to new possibilities. The Building Blocks of Investment Analysis course was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. As part of The Opportunity Fund, I can use my motivation and newfound knowledge to gain more experience and improve my GPA.
As a young student, it isn’t easy to understand what it takes to become a great investor. The discipline required can only be attained by seeing and learning from someone who has done it before, as we do with Professor Wilson. I want to see more students take
this course and be challenged like I was, surrounded by other hard-working students striving towards the same goals. This one-of-a-kind program is designed to introduce students to investing. The rigorous course covers finance, economics, capital markets, and accounting. Students who pass the course then become eligible to participate in the Opportunity Fund course and invest real money in the stock market. Something I never thought would be possible for me a year ago.
Some students may struggle to adjust to college life, while others excel immediately. Everyone is different, and these differences should not be a hindrance. Instead, they should be turned into strengths by allowing students to showcase their abilities and potential. I am so excited to see where I am now. As a student who may have experienced setbacks early on at UConn, knowing that I can still have access to such a special course and continue to build on my knowledge and skills is amazing. Because of this course, I have been able to turn my GPA around, along with finishing Spring 2024 with a 3.94 GPA and now having a Fixed Income Research Internship lined up at State Street Global Advisors this summer. All it takes is a chance!