In my middle school and high school years, teachers and faculty constantly administered career tests and pressed us to decide on our career paths as early as possible. Having no real concept of my strengths and weaknesses in different subjects or skills, I found this immensely stressful. How could I at that young age make such an important decision? I came to the conclusion that I must research. I spent most of my hours looking into law enforcement positions, specifically with the FBI. Through this process, I was able to put aside my anxious thoughts about finding my “perfect” career fit; I became excited about my future. I knew I could serve people and do justice in a law enforcement career, and I knew that doing these things would bring me joy and fulfillment. But alas, my proud excitement subsided and reality set in. The FBI physical fitness test is tough; the job is tough; I have to be tough. Though I am a firm believer in hard work, at some point, I think it is important to accept personal strengths and weaknesses, and instead find another way to reach the goal. This was one of those times. At five feet and three inches tall, weighing around one hundred pounds, I realized that perhaps I was not well equipped to be a special agent. However, I still desperately wanted to work for the FBI. So I once again began researching other positions. STEM, language, and accounting: those were my options. Afraid of all things science and impossibly pathetic at language, I quickly determined that my best choice would be accounting. As I began applying for colleges under my anticipated major, I started to question whether or not I would enjoy accounting or even be able to learn it. When the first semester of freshman year began, and I was staring up at the PowerPoint of debits and credits in my first accounting class, I was feeling very overwhelmed. It was there, however, that I learned to like accounting. My professors guided me through the material, and the satisfaction of earning A’s kept me motivated throughout the dull chapters. Now, I am halfway through my accounting coursework, ready (and even a bit excited) to take on the next classes. Learning to enjoy accounting in my schooling has prepared me to anticipate my career goal of becoming a forensic accountant with eagerness. Accounting will allow me to serve my community from a law enforcement perspective with one of my strengths. There is no other option for me but to love it! For individuals, communities and businesses, accounting is equally important. Financial crimes are much more prevalent than most realize, with thousands of victims daily. These crimes can destroy people’s lives along with businesses. Enron, for example, left hundreds of innocent people with no retirement funds after working for their entire lives. Worst of all, most financial criminals are never caught. These victims deserve justice too, and the world needs the nerds on this one! Forensic accountants lead the fight against this type of crime, and without this practice, there would be no hope of helping victims or preventing fraud.

In my middle school and high school years, teachers and faculty constantly administered career tests and pressed us to decide on our career paths as early as possible. Having no real concept of my strengths and weaknesses in different subjects or skills, I found this immensely stressful. How could I at that young age make such an important decision? I came to the conclusion that I must research. I spent most of my hours looking into law enforcement positions, specifically with the FBI. Through this process, I was able to put aside my anxious thoughts about finding my “perfect” career fit; I became excited about my future. I knew I could serve people and do justice in a law enforcement career, and I knew that doing these things would bring me joy and fulfillment. But alas, my proud excitement subsided and reality set in. The FBI physical fitness test is tough; the job is tough; I have to be tough. Though I am a firm believer in hard work, at some point, I think it is important to accept personal strengths and weaknesses, and instead find another way to reach the goal. This was one of those times. At five feet and three inches tall, weighing around one hundred pounds, I realized that perhaps I was not well equipped to be a special agent. However, I still desperately wanted to work for the FBI. So I once again began researching other positions. STEM, language, and accounting: those were my options. Afraid of all things science and impossibly pathetic at language, I quickly determined that my best choice would be accounting. As I began applying for colleges under my anticipated major, I started to question whether or not I would enjoy accounting or even be able to learn it. When the first semester of freshman year began, and I was staring up at the PowerPoint of debits and credits in my first accounting class, I was feeling very overwhelmed. It was there, however, that I learned to like accounting. My professors guided me through the material, and the satisfaction of earning A’s kept me motivated throughout the dull chapters. Now, I am halfway through my accounting coursework, ready (and even a bit excited) to take on the next classes. Learning to enjoy accounting in my schooling has prepared me to anticipate my career goal of becoming a forensic accountant with eagerness. Accounting will allow me to serve my community from a law enforcement perspective with one of my strengths. There is no other option for me but to love it! For individuals, communities and businesses, accounting is equally important. Financial crimes are much more prevalent than most realize, with thousands of victims daily. These crimes can destroy people’s lives along with businesses. Enron, for example, left hundreds of innocent people with no retirement funds after working for their entire lives. Worst of all, most financial criminals are never caught. These victims deserve justice too, and the world needs the nerds on this one! Forensic accountants lead the fight against this type of crime, and without this practice, there would be no hope of helping victims or preventing fraud.

In my middle school and high school years, teachers and faculty constantly administered career tests and pressed us to decide on our career paths as early as possible. Having no real concept of my strengths and weaknesses in different subjects or skills, I found this immensely stressful. How could I at that young age make such an important decision? I came to the conclusion that I must research. I spent most of my hours looking into law enforcement positions, specifically with the FBI. Through this process, I was able to put aside my anxious thoughts about finding my “perfect” career fit; I became excited about my future. I knew I could serve people and do justice in a law enforcement career, and I knew that doing these things would bring me joy and fulfillment. But alas, my proud excitement subsided and reality set in. The FBI physical fitness test is tough; the job is tough; I have to be tough. Though I am a firm believer in hard work, at some point, I think it is important to accept personal strengths and weaknesses, and instead find another way to reach the goal. This was one of those times. At five feet and three inches tall, weighing around one hundred pounds, I realized that perhaps I was not well equipped to be a special agent. However, I still desperately wanted to work for the FBI. So I once again began researching other positions. STEM, language, and accounting: those were my options. Afraid of all things science and impossibly pathetic at language, I quickly determined that my best choice would be accounting. As I began applying for colleges under my anticipated major, I started to question whether or not I would enjoy accounting or even be able to learn it. When the first semester of freshman year began, and I was staring up at the PowerPoint of debits and credits in my first accounting class, I was feeling very overwhelmed. It was there, however, that I learned to like accounting. My professors guided me through the material, and the satisfaction of earning A’s kept me motivated throughout the dull chapters. Now, I am halfway through my accounting coursework, ready (and even a bit excited) to take on the next classes. Learning to enjoy accounting in my schooling has prepared me to anticipate my career goal of becoming a forensic accountant with eagerness. Accounting will allow me to serve my community from a law enforcement perspective with one of my strengths. There is no other option for me but to love it! For individuals, communities and businesses, accounting is equally important. Financial crimes are much more prevalent than most realize, with thousands of victims daily. These crimes can destroy people’s lives along with businesses. Enron, for example, left hundreds of innocent people with no retirement funds after working for their entire lives. Worst of all, most financial criminals are never caught. These victims deserve justice too, and the world needs the nerds on this one! Forensic accountants lead the fight against this type of crime, and without this practice, there would be no hope of helping victims or preventing fraud.

In my middle school and high school years, teachers and faculty constantly administered career tests and pressed us to decide on our career paths as early as possible. Having no real concept of my strengths and weaknesses in different subjects or skills, I found this immensely stressful. How could I at that young age make such an important decision? I came to the conclusion that I must research. I spent most of my hours looking into law enforcement positions, specifically with the FBI. Through this process, I was able to put aside my anxious thoughts about finding my “perfect” career fit; I became excited about my future. I knew I could serve people and do justice in a law enforcement career, and I knew that doing these things would bring me joy and fulfillment. But alas, my proud excitement subsided and reality set in. The FBI physical fitness test is tough; the job is tough; I have to be tough. Though I am a firm believer in hard work, at some point, I think it is important to accept personal strengths and weaknesses, and instead find another way to reach the goal. This was one of those times. At five feet and three inches tall, weighing around one hundred pounds, I realized that perhaps I was not well equipped to be a special agent. However, I still desperately wanted to work for the FBI. So I once again began researching other positions. STEM, language, and accounting: those were my options. Afraid of all things science and impossibly pathetic at language, I quickly determined that my best choice would be accounting. As I began applying for colleges under my anticipated major, I started to question whether or not I would enjoy accounting or even be able to learn it. When the first semester of freshman year began, and I was staring up at the PowerPoint of debits and credits in my first accounting class, I was feeling very overwhelmed. It was there, however, that I learned to like accounting. My professors guided me through the material, and the satisfaction of earning A’s kept me motivated throughout the dull chapters. Now, I am halfway through my accounting coursework, ready (and even a bit excited) to take on the next classes. Learning to enjoy accounting in my schooling has prepared me to anticipate my career goal of becoming a forensic accountant with eagerness. Accounting will allow me to serve my community from a law enforcement perspective with one of my strengths. There is no other option for me but to love it! For individuals, communities and businesses, accounting is equally important. Financial crimes are much more prevalent than most realize, with thousands of victims daily. These crimes can destroy people’s lives along with businesses. Enron, for example, left hundreds of innocent people with no retirement funds after working for their entire lives. Worst of all, most financial criminals are never caught. These victims deserve justice too, and the world needs the nerds on this one! Forensic accountants lead the fight against this type of crime, and without this practice, there would be no hope of helping victims or preventing fraud.

My favorite part of college is that I have so many unique opportunities to set new goals. So far my goals are to make all As, run a half-marathon, and complete an internship with Anderson Police Department. I am entering into my junior year, and so far, I am keeping on track with all of them! However, I often find myself feeling very stressed and overwhelmed, which can throw me off course if I am not mindful. To combat this, I have found several ways to manage my stress, keep healthy, and stay focused on the tasks at hand. Managing stress has certainly been the most difficult. As an accounting major, I frequently feel overwhelmed with exams that seemingly cover an impossible amount of topics. I need some of this stress so that I study well; however, sometimes, the stress builds until I am unable to focus or do anything at all. When these feelings arise, I usually do one of three things. I either go on a walk around our beautiful campus while listening to music, work out with my suitemates, or try to study with friends from my classes since sometimes I learn well from other students explaining things. Almost always, I come away from these activities feeling refreshed and focused. In order to stay well enough to complete my goals, I have to nourish my body, mind and soul. To help keep my body well, I make it a goal to work out daily with some of the girls I live with. Once I started this routine, I immediately felt stronger and more energized. Also, creating fitness goals and reaching them benefits my mental health. Celebrating each small victory helps equip me to take on larger challenges both physically and academically. For my mental health, I lean into my relationships. I spend time with my friends who help build me up through laughter and light-heartedness. I call my mom and my brother, and I listen to them tell me about what is going on in their lives. This time spent with others that I love fills me up and renews my mind. Lastly, for my spiritual health, I seek out community in my church and at school. Having faith can be very difficult, and sometimes it is easy to feel very lost in the world. But when I am struggling, I know that there are others who feel the same. I know that I can go to them to be encouraged. I also spend time in creation. I love to go on hikes in the North Carolina mountains with my friends so that I can be reminded of the vastness and splendor of my God. The nourishment of my body, mind and soul in these ways gives me the strength, joy and focus to continue to work toward my goals.

In 2008, even though I was only in kindergarten, my world felt very unstable. My dad was a small business owner, so we were struggling. My mom went back to work, and I went back to daycare. Even at that early age, I was feeling the tension of financial crisis, and I hated it. From then on, I saved everything I could and spent as little as possible. However, as I reached high school, I realized that keeping money in a piggy bank or even in a savings account is not necessarily financially responsible and that I should instead invest. It was around this time that my father gave me the best financial advice I have received thus far: "When you are young, invest in yourself." When I first heard these words, I immediately felt at peace. After reaching my savings goal in high school, I felt overwhelmed with the options. My original goal was to go to get an accounting degree, but with inflation on the rise, I was concerned that my savings' worth would plummet before I finished high school. So I considered stock, certificates of deposit, and other places to invest my savings. But with my limited knowledge and resources, I was feeling very overwhelmed. Hearing that advice from my father, however, gave me some direction. He helped me understand that I was not just throwing my money into school, but rather investing it in myself. My accounting degree will give me a return later on that will be much larger than the amount I am putting aside now. Now that I have finished my sophomore year at Anderson University, I see that I was a good investment. My hard-earned savings have already multiplied in value, as I have formed deep connections with my professors and schoolmates and learned many skills that will prove useful for years to come. In the future, I will continue to invest in myself through other means. While my father's advice has and will continue to be important for my young adult life, I think that I will soon need to adjust his words. When I graduate, I plan to invest more in financial instruments so that I may be well-prepared for the future, and also invest in others. I have learned on my own that investing and financial stability are important; yet, neither of these things is the end goal. Investing in others with my time and financial resources will bring me joy. The main way I intend to carry this out is through my career. I am majoring in accounting, but I hope to be a police officer and eventually work for the local or national government as a forensic accountant. Once I have established myself in these areas, and even along the way, I will lead and build up my peers and those who are placed under me. I will invest in them so that we can together make a positive impact on our community. And, my investment will hopefully bring me an abundant return of fulfillment. I also hope to invest in the community directly through my daily interactions with others. It is impossible to know how others suffer, and I hope that my kind words, service, or whatever I do can provide others with a little bit of peace. By investing in others, I am also investing in myself by making my heart tender towards others, which will help me in my career. As a young adult, it is important to invest in yourself with your finances, time and other resources; however, as you grow and enter into your career, your investments will change. Financially, it will be time to invest in long-term assets to prepare for your and your loved ones' futures. With your time, invest in those around you. Whether it be younger members at your place of work or those in your community, your investment in them can change their lives and your heart. I hope to take my father's words and apply them to my life now to prepare myself for the future. I also hope to continue to learn and make adjustments to the original piece of advice so that I can grow myself and help others do the same.

My name is Greer. I am from Lexington, SC and I am an accounting major with a minor in forensics and criminal investigations. I attend Anderson University in upstate South Carolina. Ever since I was young, my dream has been to serve my community as a police officer/forensic accountant. In this role, I hope to show the love of Christ to my coworkers, victims, and those who have committed crimes. Yet to do this, I need to stay in school to finish my degree in accounting, and there is no place that I would rather do this than at Anderson University. With this scholarship, I would be a step closer to obtaining a quality education, administered by professors who instill Christ-like love into their students. With this scholarship, I would be a step closer to serving others in the way that Christ has called me to.

It would not be possible to do good, to be a friend, to be fair and just with poor mental health. How could one possibly expect to pour their heart out to others if they are empty themself? I strive to do my very best in school, placing difficult demands on myself. I also expect myself to be a good friend to the precious people around me. And, of course, the goal of these strivings is to work in my dream field– law enforcement. In that field, I must hold myself to the highest standards, ensure that I am treating all individuals equally, and never make careless errors. All of these current and future goals require a great deal of effort, determination, and patience on my part. But, if my mental health is suffering, if stress is eating me alive, if everyday obstacles bring me to my knees, how could I ever achieve any of them? I must take care of myself. However, this may look very different at each phase of life. Now, as I work to meet my goal of making all As, I remind myself to take breaks. I spend time with friends, choose to sleep rather than studying through the night, or hike on a Saturday instead of getting ahead on school work. Rather than setting me back, these activities put me ahead. I come back feeling well-rested and focused which increases my productivity. I also find that when I do not push myself to go to social events or fail to intentionally spend time with my roommate, I feel empty. If I am not careful, this leads to self-isolation, which in the past has hurt some of my relationships with my most dear friends. To combat this, I go for a walk, spend some one-on-one time with a friend, or call my mom. I find that these things pull me out of my downward spiral and set my feet on solid ground. From here, I am able to move forward and be present in my friendships. I know that when I am at last working in law enforcement, I will face many challenges. I will see the darkest the world has to offer, and yet I will still need to be light-hearted for those I love as well as myself. I plan to use the tools I have worked on so far in my time at school as well as develop new ones. Mental strength comes from mental breaks; I will do what my mind needs me to in order to lovingly and graciously serve others, and I will encourage those around me to do the same.

More than anything, I want to serve others as a police officer, both to seek justice and to simply help people because it brings me joy.