Leader = sacrifice = REWARDS

In high school, I was never into extracurricular activities because I figured as long as I maintained my straight A's, I could not go wrong. Sure enough, my grades awarded me the status of Salutatorian for my graduating class but what else did I have to be proud of??

Only in the Junior year in college did I start to realize that grades are just a third of the package that prospective employers look for in college candidates. Ever heard of being well-rounded? For the past year and a half, I have been actively participating in organizations and school-related programs. Why? To help others means to help myself.

Being an officer in Beta Alpha Psi (an honorary Accounting fraternity) for a semester gave me really good insights on what is expected of me as a leader. I worked hard and now I reap the rewards. It is one thing to join a club and just be a seat-filler once a week at meetings. It is an entirely different meaning to actually make a difference by offering your efforts. Own the bullet.That is a term that means actually knowing what it means to be a part of an organization and leaving your hand prints behind after you've left.

As this is my last semester, I have very little time to achieve what I have been doing in the past six months--leave a legacy behind for all those who come after me. I co-founded Ascend, a national organization that promotes the success and unity of Pan-Asian professionals in the Accounting and Finance industries. I sit as the President of my student chapter.

Last night, I attended the Launch of our Greater Philadelphia Chapter (the local chapter). There were numerous firm partners and professionals who are also actively working to build Ascend across the country wanting to talk to me! People approached me and told me how much they appreciated what I was doing for the organization. I was in disbelief! I thought to myself, I would have never though in a million years that people so high up in the professional world would come to introduce themselves to me and make me feel like an honorary individual. It's amazing. People notice.

Do yourself a favor => be a leader, sacrifice, but you will be so glad you did. Trust me.