and financially unable to sustain myself as a full-time student . I also selected a major I knew little about , psychology , and had no idea what career path it would lead me to . I decided to leave Cal State Fullerton to work full-time and then start over at Cerritos College after a threeyear break .
Q : Who provided you with the guidance to seek out your academic and career choices ?
Lucy : A high school friend of mine was attending Cerritos College and explained to me that he was going to major in accounting because of the job opportunities available after graduation . That is how I initially decided to pursue accounting and business as my major and transfer to a four-year university .
Brian : For the most part , I relied on my friends for advice and to help me make decisions involving college , except I didn ’ t have a plan or any set goals , particularly post-college . My parents were encouraging , but couldn ’ t help me with the transition . Both of my siblings attended college , but neither graduated and didn ’ t have the experience to help me with decisions I had to make , particularly those academically and career planning related .
Q : What hesitations , if any , did you have about pursuing a college education and why ?
Lucy : Initially , I didn ’ t have any hesitations because of the support I had from my sisters , all of whom graduated with bachelor ’ s degrees . After a year at Cerritos College , I began to feel differently because I didn ’ t know what accountants do and questioned whether a bachelor ’ s degree was necessary to get a job in accounting . My first accounting professor ,
interacting with others was going to undermine my prospects for success .
Brian : Completing my first accounting course , I discovered that I liked it along with other business-related topics . In my next class , the professor , Debbie Johnson , talked about accounting careers and described the Pathway to Success program . The types of skills she described being taught in the program , along with the guidance missing from my past , was what I needed for long-term success .
Q : What are the most important things you have learned in the program and how have they changed your academic experience and career goals ?
Lucy : Understanding “ my story ” and how my past experiences have developed skills that are aligned with successful job performance and are valuable to employers . I also learned to accept being uncomfortable to grow . Before joining Pathway , I had no idea how important making connections with other people was going to be , but it also took me out of my comfort zone . I understand that reaching out to engage with other people is necessary to learn and grow . Maybe the most important thing I learned from the program is that you don ’ t have to figure things out by yourself ; instead , collaborating with others is the best way to take on challenges . Brian : If you don ’ t ask questions or inquire of others , you can ’ t get the things you want or need — you have to be intentional about what you want and how you go about seeking it . I also found it to be invaluable to be with like-mined people surrounding you , who have similar goals and are motivated . This creates a positive environment and reinforces the decisions I make and goals I ’ ve set .
Q : What influenced you to pursue a
Maybe the most important thing I learned from the Pathway program is that you don ’ t have to figure things out by yourself ; instead , collaborating with others is the best way to take on challenges . — Lucy Cruz
Peter Moloney , knew how I felt and provided insights into accounting career opportunities that I had no idea about . I spent many office hours in conversation with him , which solidified my decisions to major in accounting .
Brian : Starting over at a community college , I wondered if the time and cost would be necessary for a good job , especially since I was paying for college myself . For me , there wasn ’ t a link between a college degree and the type of job I could pursue , let alone a career . And there wasn ’ t anyone in my life to help me connect the dots .
Q : Tell us about how you found the Pathway to Success Program and why did you decide to join it ?
Lucy : Professor Moloney explained the Pathway to Success program after completing his accounting class . The prospect of interacting with a bunch of other students I didn ’ t know was intimidating and out of my comfort zone . I took a leap of faith and joined the program . It was the push I needed because my lack of major and possible career in accounting ?
Lucy : My career choice is based on what I learned in the Pathway program . The formal training is centered on communication skills ; however , we discuss the variety of career opportunities in accounting , including industry types , career paths , public accounting compared to industry , how your skills evolve with experience , and even international topics . We discuss possibilities and what to look forward to , and that ’ s exciting for me .
Brian : Throughout the Pathway program , we ’ re introduced to multiple avenues that are available in terms of careers and jobs because all types of businesses and organizations need accountants , and rely on accounting information to make decisions . I found accounting to be multi-faceted way beyond the subjects we learn in the classroom .
Q : Did you have a mentor in your life before joining the Pathway program and what role has your mentor played in your academic and career planning experiences ? www . calcpa . org DECEMBER 2023 CALIFORNIA CPA 23