Beta Alpha Psi T-shirt
Beta Alpha Psi is a co-ed accounting and business fraternity that focuses on building professional relationships and serving the community. There are weekly meetings where different firms from the Charlotte area come to UNC Charlotte and speak to us about topics in business and business etiquette. There is also a community service requirement and plenty of opportunities to fulfill this requirement.
When I was first presented with the opportunity to join Beta Alpha Psi (BAP) as a junior accounting major, I immediately shied away from the offer. I was afraid that joining BAP would be too large of a time commitment and that it would take time away from my studies. Now, I can even admit that laziness and apathy contributed to the fear of joining the fraternity. Before I joined Beta Alpha Psi, I definitely tried to fly under the radar and tried not to be noticed. I was intimidated by the idea of meeting and talking to new people every week because I was not very confident in my social skills.
Fortunately, I decided that I could benefit from joining the club and took the risk. I hoped to use my membership as a tool to eventually get an accounting internship. This was one of the best decisions I made during my undergraduate career at UNC Charlotte. There were some initial struggles when I joined, including trying to plan my regular activities around the meeting and community service schedule required by Beta Alpha Psi. I had to sacrifice leisure time in order to meet the requirements, and had to shift other events around to accommodate. I also had to overcome my nervousness of meeting new people and holding a conversation with them. I conquered all these fears by joining Beta Alpha Psi and the experience forced me to be comfortable with personal growth and embrace becoming more self-actualized. Before joining Beta Alpha Psi, I was nowhere near as confident talking to new people as I am now. Also, I learned how to manage my time and schedule in a way that will benefit me in the future. The benefits of joining were almost immediately made manifest. I was exposed to a large network of accounting professionals in the Charlotte area. Throughout the semester, I talked to dozens of professionals and really stepped out in front and tried to be noticed. One firm I really connected with was KPMG. The representatives were very friendly and answered all my questions about the accounting world. I tried to set myself apart from the other accounting students vying for positions with public accounting firms, and KPMG’s friendliness put them at the top of my prospective list for employment.
During my experience with Beta Alpha Psi, I have been blessed to work with a variety of individuals during professional and community service events. I was able to figure out what I liked and what I did not like, which helped me in applying for public accounting positions. Learning about the different cultures of firms provided me with a major advantage in choosing which firms fit my needs best. This major step of growth resulted in an offer from a Big 4 public accounting firm, which I accepted. I am very thankful that I joined Beta Alpha Psi and I am a proud member.
