From Student Engineer to Aspiring Accountant: How Curiosity Shifted My Path

When I started college, I didn’t picture myself in public accounting. In fact, I began in mechanical engineering. I was always passionate about numbers and precision, so engineering seemed like the obvious route. But as I dug deeper into that field, it just didn’t click. It wasn’t till my first accounting course that I realized how much I enjoyed understanding how businesses operate and how every number tells a story. That pivot changed everything.

For me, accounting offers a rare combination of structure and flexibility. It’s a field with long term-stability, yes; but it’s also a launching pad for so many possibilities. You can specialize in tax, dive into forensic work, become a controller, move into consulting, or even entrepreneurship. That range is exciting.

Today I’m an intern at LSWG, where I get to explore tax, auditing, and even marketing while getting to learn directly from CPA’s who’ve passed all four parts of the exam, and lived to tell the tale.

I’m constantly asking questions like: what the hardest part of the CPA exam was, how they managed to study without burning out, and how long each section really took to prepare for. These conversations have been incredibly motivating and informative. Through their advice, I’ve realized that although passing the CPA exam is difficult, it’s also manageable-especially when you approach it one piece at a time, with patience and consistency.

With technology evolving rapidly, the tools we utilize are getting smarter and faster. Cloud platforms, incorporating AI-driven analytics, and secure client portals are all part of my daily work. Seeing how these tools make accounting more efficient and collaborative, while also supporting remote work has been eye-opening. It’s not just about adapting to technology, it’s about using it to be more effective and provide better service.

What I’ve quickly come to see is that accounting is nothing like the stereotypes that surround it. A lot of people think accounting is just calculating numbers alone at a desk, but that couldn’t be further from the truth- especially in auditing. As an auditor, you’re constantly interacting with people, visiting client sites, understanding how different industries operate, and ensuring that financial statements reflect the truth. It’s investigative, detailed, and often collaborative.

Balancing college, two internships, and my personal life isn’t easy; but it’s doable with the power of sticky notes and the reminders app. One way I decompress is by playing the piano; it’s been a part of my life for 17 years. I find comfort in staying on beat and hitting the right notes. Which is a lot like accounting: timing and precision. But let’s not forget my cats- they remind(demand) me to take breaks and be present.

As I prepare to transfer to the University of Maryland, College Park, I’m more excited than ever about the future. I plan to pursue my CPA license, build my expertise in auditing, and keep growing. Having a family member who’s a CPA and managing partner has given me a clear vision of what’s possible, and I’m eager to earn my way toward that level one day.

Interning at LSWG has shown me that accounting isn’t a narrow field- it’s a gateway to understanding how the world works behind the scenes. Whether it’s learning a new Mozart piece or reconciling a balance sheet, I’ve learned that the details matter and that’s exactly where I want to be.