Up next for intern introductions is Vanessa, a Howard Tax Intern! Get to know Vanessa’s experiences that brought her to Howard, the support she feels from our team, and her creative passions outside of work below.
Before Howard
Vanessa earned an associate’s degree at Dallas College in 2021, where she was unsure of what to study. While taking accounting courses, Vanessa’s professor spoke highly of a career in the accounting industry. This prompted her to transfer to the University of Texas at Dallas to earn a bachelor’s in accounting. She’s currently wrapping up her junior year and already looking toward graduate school, aspiring to earn a master’s in accounting while studying for the CPA.
Before pursuing this profession, Vanessa was a property manager for three years. This experience also played a role in providing her with a foundation for accounting and led her to her current career path.
At Howard
As a junior in undergraduate school, Vanessa is simultaneously learning on-the-job what she’s learning in her courses at UTD. This could have been overwhelming, but Vanessa feels supported every step of the way. The training she and her fellow interns received at the beginning of their Howard internships kickstarted this quick learning process. Now that she’s settled in, she’s having a wonderful experience taking in knowledge from Howard partners, managers, colleagues, and fellow interns.
Vanessa appreciates that she never feels alone at Howard. Her learning process starts by getting in the zone to do her work and solving any issues that arise solo. When she gets stuck, she feels comfortable reaching out to any of our team members for assistance. As someone who learns best by doing, she thrives in our culture of collaboration and development. A few team members that have been particularly supportive are prior interns Fabby and Alondra, her coach Kate, Brandy, Kelly, Noha, fellow intern Triet, and Leisha, who always leaves helpful tips and notes for her to follow. Our team always welcomes questions and opportunities to learn, which has been invaluable for Vanessa. We’re proud to see Howard team members of all experience levels developing Vanessa and our other interns at every turn.
Beyond the Internship
In the near future, Vanessa’s goals entail completing her accounting degree at UTD and getting started on a master’s program. Eventually, after becoming a CPA and spending several years getting experience, Vanessa aspires to open her own bookkeeping business.
Outside the Office
Vanessa loves to express her creativity with hobbies like scrapbooking, writing, and journaling. She’s also big on reading, baking, and taking up new hobbies and interests. When talking about these activities, Vanessa lights up, and we’re truly enjoying learning about her passions and talents each day.
It’s exciting to watch Vanessa rapidly develop with the support of our team throughout her internship, and we’ll be there to root for her through her senior year, graduate school, and her long-term goals too. Thank you, Vanessa!