It has been said that the best education you will ever receive is through adventures. The University of Illinois is globally known for its world-class study abroad opportunities; however, what many do not realize is that it does not take a twelve-hour plane ride to see life in an entirely new light. In fact, the 20 ACE students that visited Chicago this winter break found out just how many opportunities were offered just outside their backyard.

Coming from a small town in Southern Illinois, I get a lot of weird reactions when I meet new people on campus from Chicago and other large cities. A typical response often sounds something like, “You only had 83 people in your graduating class? I had 800 in mine!” Often times, people then infer that coming to such a large university must be like living on a whole other planet for me. Yes, while the College of ACES at the University of Illinois is slightly larger than my 450 person hometown of Flat Rock, Illinois, it is anything but alien.

I am currently a senior majoring in Financial Planning. Being a senior at the University of Illinois has given me plenty of time to think about my path over the years. As the half way point of my final semester draws near, I believe about what I originally wanted to do out of high school and how that has completely changed. Being in the College of ACES has given me plenty of opportunities to look at different fields. I have taken tax courses, investing courses, economic courses, and plenty more within the financial field.

The National Grocers Association (NGA) held its annual conference on February 8-11 in Las Vegas, Nevada. As part of this conference, the Asparagus Club sponsors a national undergraduate case study competition. This year, the University of Illinois and ACE department sent its first team of undergraduate students to compete in the case competition, where teams were tasked with answering the question “What is the next generation of retail circulars?”.

After being at the University of Illinois for over three years, my time here is coming to an end. I have been very fortunate to be able to spend most of that time in ACES. In the ACE program, I have discovered many great friends, activities, and professors. The staff  are here to help you, and definitely take the time to know the students. It's a great feeling knowing that you are much more than a number and mean something to your department.

As a junior in the College of ACES, I have had the opportunity to grow and learn within the college, and now as an ACE Ambassador hope to share my positive experiences within the college with others. It has been an incredible experience so far working with such friendly, caring and committed professors and counselors. I feel as if I have joined a community with people who strive to form me into a well-developed, highly educated and passionate student. As I continue to pursue my Agricultural Accounting degree, I work closely with my counselor Ann to plan my future courses accordingly.

I am a senior student at ACE and major in Financial Planning. I took an  interesting class called ACE449. This course teaches retirement planning which is necessary for financial planning. There are different kinds of qualified pension plans, such as defined benefit pension plans, defined contribution pension plans, cash benefit pension plans, and money purchase pension plans. The procedure for installation, administration, and termination of qualified plans is complicated. This course helps me to know more about pension plans.

If I could describe my three years in college thus far, I would more than likely describe them as truly life-changing. It sounds corny I know, but there is no other word that best fits how much I've grown and progressed especially through the College of ACES. I remember my freshman year as an ACE student, I wondered what type of person I would grow to be, and what kind of changes I could implement for the purpose of inspiring others while also changing myself for the better.

As a senior getting ready to graduate from Financial Planning, I am spending a lot of time lately reflecting on all of the opportunities that ACE has given me.  Through my involvement with the program, I have had many wonderful opportunities.  ACE’s small class sizes allowed me the chance to better get to know my professors, which opened up many doors for me.  These connections led me to an internship and then full-time offer with my dream financial planning firm.

As a junior in the College of ACES, I have had the opportunity to grow and learn within the college, and now as an ACE ambassador hope to share my positive experiences within the college with others. It has been an incredible experience so far working with such friendly, caring and committed professors and counselors. I feel as if I have joined a community with people who strive to form me into a well-developed, highly educated and passionate student.