Working with a Big Four auditor in The Big Apple right after graduation, creating an awesome, well-received healthy living blog, and still getting to have fun and hang out with Belles post graduation, this week’s featured Saint Mary’s grad, Christina Boesler tells us all about her first year in the real world!
What was your major at SMC and where did you work after graduation?
I graduated from Saint Mary’s College with a degree in accounting. I started as an auditor for KPMG in NYC, and I will be working in a similar position at Baker Tilly in Chicago. I basically go to big companies and make sure their financial statements are complete and accurate. While it may not sound super interesting to some, I have had the opportunity to work with some pretty cool clients such as international retailers, with whom you’d be very familiar.
How do you spend your free time?
Upon graduation, my good friend, Eli (ND ’14) and I decided to start a blog, FitCityBlonde as a means to document our attempt to maintain well-balanced lives in new cities, as I was moving to NYC and she to San Francisco. After a few months, we got Jeannie (SMC ’14), to join and blog from Chicago. What started out as a creative outlet soon got bigger than ever imagined, and it has been so much fun watching it grow while trying to navigate the waters of PostGrad life.
Did the alumnae network help you in your pursuit of landing a job?
Yes, the alumnae network definitely helped me pin down an internship during my junior year, which ultimately led to a full-time job offer going into senior year. As an alum, I can truthfully say that we LOVE helping current SMC students. Use Career Crossings and LinkedIn to tap into your connections, and reach out to someone who is in a role or at a company that interests you.
How was life in NYC?
Although I recently moved back closer to home, I must say I absolutely love NYC! I had the greatest year, made some amazing friends, and had great “life” experiences. While it wasn’t an easy transition, I learned so much about myself over the past year. I truly believe that if I hadn’t attended SMC, I would have never believed in myself enough to make a move so far from home. With that being said, I am so excited to live in the Midwest again and be closer to family and friends. NYC will always have a special place in my heart, but for now, I am ready to take over CHI-beria!
Do you stay in touch with your Saint Mary’s friends?
Yes! I stay in touch with my friends pretty much 24/7. My favorite part about SMC is having best friends all over the country. I have gone on so many trips over the past year to see my girls and catching up over brunch in a new city is a blast. The fun absolutely never ends. Visits to SMC in the Fall are always priority – nothing beats game day in South Bend!
Do you have any advice for current Belles, especially seniors?
Becoming a Belle was easily one of the greatest things to ever happen to me. Do not take it for granted. As cliché as it sounds, I never realized how good I had it until I graduated. I don’t have many regrets, but I do wish I wouldn’t have taken college so seriously. Work will always be work, and it always gets done. So say “yes” to Wednesday night Finni’s and singing (or yelling) along to “White Houses” with your best friends. Take that walk to the grotto when a beautiful, South Bend autumn day presents itself. Acknowledge how lucky you are to live within 500 feet of your best friends. Realize how beautiful it is to be able to call Saint Mary’s College, “home.”
Tears. Thanks, Christina! Good luck in Chicago!
Photos provided by the author
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