MEET OUR RECENT GRADUATES
Major: Economics
Currently: Financial Analyst at Goldman Sachs
“I am currently a first-year financial analyst at Goldman Sachs in the Salt Lake City, Utah office. Prior to attending Pitzer, I thought I had wanted to pursue a career in hospitality. Having grown up in Hawaii, I was often encouraged to find a job in Tourism. However, Pitzer’s emphasis on finding agency in our education through opportunities of academic exploration and community involvement brought me to a path I would have never thought I could take.
After having the opportunity to explore a wide variety of interests from Sociology to English Literature, to Asian American Studies and Economics, I quickly realized how much I enjoyed learning new subjects, gaining new perspective, and going beyond the material at hand. At Pitzer, I was constantly surrounded by peers who were just as curious (if not more), and professors who were willing to learn about me and cared about my growth. My experiences allowed me to find comfort in challenging ideas and systems, collaborating with others to form solidarity and work towards a vision, as well as utilizing critical thinking – all of which I use in my day-to-day work.
Although I graduated with an Economics major, I still felt like I had a lot to learn about the finance industry upon starting my career compared to my peers who already had a finance/accounting background. It was a difficult transition from a liberal arts school to a world of finance that seemed very unfamiliar at first. However, I’ve been able to work with people who are very understanding and truly open to teaching me new concepts. Despite being in an industry that does not directly relate to my major, I am extremely grateful for the broad range of classes I took that inspire me to keep growing and filling in my gaps of knowledge.
One of the most difficult parts of the post-grad experience is finding a new community to be involved in. At Pitzer, I met some of the most incredible, passionate people whom taught me so much. Four years of being with a community like this made it hard to leave, especially in places like the Center for Asian Pacific American Students (CAPAS). Thankfully, I’ve been able to form meaningful connections with people here who have been so open and willing to help me in this new journey. While I am still in the pursuit of finding my own community, I have already grown so much as I continue to leave my comfort zone and embrace what life truly has to offer!“
