Strobel Accountancy Honors Spotlight: Aiko
Today on DeBlogs, we meet Aiko! Aiko is a sophomore in our prestigious Strobel Accountancy Honors Program. In addition to a dedicated faculty and pre-professional opportunities, Strobel students meet an incredible community of like-minded peers who will become their college friends and future colleagues. Take it away, Aiko!
My name is Aiko Tai, I’m a current sophomore in the Strobel Accountancy Honors Program at DePaul University. When I decided to attend DePaul, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to major in, but I knew I wanted to do something related to business. When I was invited to become a part of the Strobel Honors Accounting program, I hesitated for a moment thinking about my future as an accounting major. I had taken an accounting class during high school that I loved and did well in, but being an accountant hadn’t been something that I had seriously considered going into college. I had a good understanding of the basics of accounting, but I wanted to understand where I could explore my personal interests within accounting through the Strobel program.
Meeting My Mentors
During my first week of freshman year, I ran into a scheduling conflict that kept me from attending the Strobel orientation for new students. While I missed out on this initial event, it led to a one-on-one meeting with Professor Mary Mindak, the director of the Strobel Accountancy Honors Program. She was one of the first DePaul faculty members I connected with, and I greatly appreciated the time she took to introduce me to the program and address any questions or concerns I had. Her mentorship has been incredibly valuable, and her dedication to supporting Strobel students is truly inspiring.
The Strobel Program incorporates excellent professors with a wealth of professional experience. Every accounting professor I’ve had so far has been supportive both in and out of the classroom, willing to help with everything from lecture questions to job applications and interviews.
Peer Learning and Community
Mentorship is a large focus of the Strobel Program. Whether it is through faculty, upperclassmen, or peers, the entire community is very supportive. To encourage new Strobel students to get involved at DePaul and support their transition to college life, the program assigns student mentors. Students who are new to the Strobel program are paired with students that have been in the program for at least a year. Students who volunteer to be mentors reach out to their mentees to set up a casual meeting. The Strobel Mentorship Program aims to get first-year Strobel students involved in the program by encouraging them to attend events and begin building their network at DePaul.
My Strobel student mentor was a senior who had been in the program all four years. The coffee chat that I had with him at the beginning of my fall quarter helped me immensely with adjusting to being a student at DePaul and figuring out what I wanted to do in the future with an accounting degree.
At first, the community of Strobel students felt quite large, with many people in my classes that I didn’t know or recognize. But quickly over time, I have gotten closer to many people within my Strobel cohort. One of the benefits of an academic cohort is the consistency. You find yourself in classes with familiar faces each quarter, which creates a comfortable learning environment.
Beyond Strobel, my involvement in organizations like Delta Sigma Pi, The DePaulia, and the Honors Student Government has played a huge role in my growth. Staying active on campus and expanding my network has also helped me feel even more connected to the Strobel Program.
I’m grateful to be part of a community that shares a drive for both academic and professional success. Through Strobel, I’ve made wonderful friends and found mentors, and I’m excited about the opportunities ahead to stay involved and contribute back to this program.
~Aiko