Please give a current update on yourself (college/graduation year, major, grad school, work/career, family, other interests, service or hobbies).
I graduated this spring from Texas A&M University’s Professional Program of Accounting, which enabled me to earn both a B.S. and an M.S. in Accounting within four years. After graduation, I moved to Fort Worth and married my high school sweetheart, Chaz Garcia! I am currently working as a tax associate at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), a public accounting firm. In addition to my work responsibilities, I am studying to earn my CPA license. I successfully passed three of the four exams before graduating, and I’m currently studying for the final one.
In what ways did your Geneva education/training prepare you for the work you are doing now?
When I started my job, I joined during the busy season and had to hit the ground running to catch up with everyone else. The hours were long and intense, making it challenging to manage my life outside of work. However, I quickly adjusted to my new schedule and thrived during the busy season, thanks to the time management skills I developed at Geneva. While I might not be trying to juggle going to cheer practice, studying for a history exam, writing a paper and meeting a yearbook deadline anymore, I continue to rely on those time management skills every day to complete my work while maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
Please describe the most significant value you learned from Geneva.
Geneva fostered a love of learning in me, for which I will always be grateful. My field is one that constantly evolves, and many of my professors emphasized that success in the accounting world requires continuous learning. At Geneva, we are encouraged to be lifelong learners, and I have seen firsthand how this value can drive career growth, personal development, creativity, and the ability to adapt to any circumstance.
How would you encourage a Geneva Rhetoric School student to make the most of their Geneva years?
Embrace the opportunities! Geneva is unique in offering students the chance to participate in several extracurricular activities, unlike most high schools where students typically only get to join one or two. At Geneva, you don’t have to choose between being on the football team, participating in drama, joining yearbook, working in student government or competing in speech and debate. The opportunity to broaden your interests through many extracurriculars is something every student is encouraged to do and should take advantage of.
Describe Geneva in one word. Explain.
Supportive. Every teacher, coach and faculty member is dedicated to helping each student succeed in living a life filled with God’s love. Students receive encouragement at every stage as they learn God’s plan for their lives and develop both academically and socially.
Please share one or two of your Geneva extracurricular activities and then contrast that with one or two of your current non-work activities.
At Geneva, I signed up for every possible club and extracurricular my schedule could handle. To this day, I keep myself busy with many different hobbies, and I love discovering new outlets for my passions.
What are your future career goals and how do you feel prepared for them?
I chose to pursue a career with a Big 4 firm to gain valuable experience in the accounting world. I may continue in public accounting or leverage the knowledge and skills I gain in my current role to explore other opportunities in the business world. We’ll see what God has in store for me!
How are you impacted by your work now? What is something you have learned/are learning about yourself and God’s world?
I’ve gained valuable insights into seeking God’s presence in areas where religion is often not openly discussed. Unlike my experiences in high school and college, where I was surrounded by other Christians, professional relationships tend to avoid conversations about faith. I’ve learned to embrace my Christian worldview, finding ways to connect with God in all aspects of my career, while also learning to love and pray for my colleagues who hold different beliefs
