Coming to the University of Illinois from my small town of 1,700 people was an adjustment. I knew right away I would fit in here when I became a part of the ACES Family. The close, tight-knit feel of the college reminded me of home. I found my niche in the ACE Department, and I have enjoyed getting involved in various ACE and ACES organizations during my time here. As I begin the second semester of my junior year, I reflect on the past years and my involvement in student organizations.

When it comes to the University of Illinois, opportunities to find internships are EVERYWHERE, if only you know where to look. The university is involved with hundreds of employers eager to work with students. Whatever your passion is, there is an internship to fit it!
 

“Celebrate the past to awaken the future,” –John F. Kennedy

With it being this time of year, I sat down and realized how much I have to be thankful for. Whether it is the friends and family, I surround myself with, or the opportunity to be receiving an education at the University of Illinois, I consider myself to be a pretty lucky person. Ever since I was a baby, I have been able to call this place home. One could even say that I grew up in the Fighting Illini orange and blue. 

As I reflect back on the wonderful Thanksgiving break I enjoyed at home with my family; I can’t help but think of the many things I have to be thankful for.  To name just a few of those things:  friends, family, clothing, shelter, and an abundance of food.  While preparing to write this blog post, I realized something that I forgot – education! 
 

As we return to school following Thanksgiving break, we all have plenty to be thankful for. Personally, I am extremely thankful for being able to help out on a successful corn and soybean harvest on my family’s farm near Washburn, IL. Although I was only around to help out with harvest on the weekends, it was well worth the hour and fifteen-minute drive to work with my dad and 91-year-old grandpa who is still very much involved in the farming operations. My grandpa has been a great role model to me throughout my life.

On Friday, October 30th, I woke up bright and early and made my way to the ACES library at 7 am, to board a bus to go to Chicago. I was with about 30 other students on our way to Financial Planning Day in Chicago. We arrived at the Hyatt and listened to four students from the School of Labor and Employment Relations give us interview tips. We sipped on our coffees while taking notes. After this, business professionals started arriving, and we all started mingling. There were fee-only planners, insurance-based companies, brokerage firms and more!

I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to travel to Boston, with my academic adviser Theresa Miller and seven other students in the financial planning concentration, to attend the FPA BE Boston Conference this last September. I served as a student volunteer at the largest gathering of CFP professionals in the world. By attending to various duties such as scheduling appointments at the business coaches’ booth and scanning professionals’ badges to keep track of the lectures they attended for CEE credit, I was able to gain more insight than I could have imagined.

When I came into the ACE department my freshman year, I knew that I wanted to create a career in the agricultural industry, but I wasn't sure exactly where I fit in. I had interests in careers with animals, crops, and equipment. But I didn't want to pick an area of study in just one of those fields. In ACE, I've learned business skills and economics to prepare me for wherever my career would take me. 

Homecoming 2015. Perfect tailgating weather. Great food. Friends and family. But not just the usual friends and family you see at tailgates. Old friends and family appearing as proud alumni. Homecoming is the one time you can count on seeing all your favorites in one place.