I am a senior banking officer working for a state government owned financial institution based in Boston, Massachusetts. I am currently holding a bachelor’s degree in banking and finance from Boston University, and I aim to get my master in science degree, majoring in banking and finance services management from the same University.
What sparked my interest in pursuing graduate studies in banking and finance services management? Basically, having served as banking officer for three years in a private banking firm and ten years at my current company, my superiors advised me to start aiming for the status of “a bigger frog in a bigger pond”–that is, gaining sound academic credentials and further research experience for executive bank managerial positions. Thus said, I re-present myself to my Alma Mater as a scholar of my company, hoping to gain and contribute to the finance industry in the same way that the University has inspired me to do so when I was still a college student years back.
So, how did my preoccupation in financial matters start? It actually began when I was still in grade school. As early as second grade, my parents, who happen to be business people and owners of a local supermarket, already instilled in me, their only child, the importance of “saving for the rainy days.” They taught me how to drop in my piggy bank at least a percentage of my allowance every week so that I can have spare money to buy my favorite stuff with. But they also told me to not empty the contents of my piggy bank all at once, so that I will still have savings. True enough, come third grade, I already have enough collections to open my first ever bank account with U. S. Bank. I remember how proud I was way back when my parents accompanied me during my kiddie bank application with U. S. Bank. Thinking that I was already able to save up that much money at a very tender age somehow filled me with pride, because I knew then that I can be responsible enough in handling my life in the future. But little did I know then that it was my first encounter with the bank that will influence what I am going to become in the future.
It also helped that, ever since I started schooling, my favorite course has always been arithmetic and everything else that is related to numbers, formulae, and figures. When we first had accounting during seventh grade, I was hooked. By then, my savings in the bank soared to five digits, and my younger brothers and sister are following suit. It was then that I decided that I want to work in a bank when I grow up.
Having gone to Boston University for my bachelor’s degree and to my current place of work are blessings that I will eternally be grateful for. As I move on to another chapter of my life, that is, pursuing a master’s in management degree, I am confident that I will be just as competent and able as a graduate school student as I have been when I was still a little boy setting aside cents and dollar coins in my piggy bank.
Photo Credit : tylerc083
