Then & Now: Olivia Autry

Olivia Autry: Where is she now?

For most of you, the name 'Olivia Autry' rings a bell. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this exceptional young lady - let me bring you up to speed. 

Olivia is currently a senior Honors College student majoring in Accounting and minoring in Spanish. She will be graduating next year as she is pursuing her Master's degree through the BBA/MBA 5-Year Accelerated Accounting Program. Impressively, Olivia has been active in the Robert B. Willumstad School of Business Student Advisory Board and Accounting Society on campus. When Olivia is not working on academics, she is sharing her school spirit as Captain of the AU Paws Step Team, as a mentee in Adelphi's Mentoring Program, and as a student ambassador for Students Today Alumni Tomorrow (STAT). This girl is on fire - I know. 

Then ... 

Given Olivia's motivation to succeed and desire to excel both personally and professionally, she decided to apply for the Community Fellows Program (CFP) in 2013. She reported that, "it taught [her] how to be a more well-rounded, compassionate person who realizes that success is more than just the amount of money one makes." Olivia received an internship at Cedamore Corporation as a Business Consultant Intern in which she served her community by working with high school teens in applying financial and business literacy to their roles in merchandising. She managed weekly meetings for student vendors to gain important skills in business acuity. Additionally, Olivia worked closely with her supervisor in co-developing entrepreneurial curricula and organized weekly Farmer's markets. She was, "blown away by the whole experience and [felt] like [she] gained a second family." Olivia not only interned throughout the summer months, as part of the program's requirements, but continued to volunteer throughout the year fostering community development. She quotes, "it was apparent that I had some impact on the community served based of the number of people that came out and supported each respectively and seeing the fruits of the children’s and teens’ labor." Olivia further expressed: "I strove to be the best role model I could be. By watching the farmer’s market group, I noticed that when I was motivated or passionate about something they all perked up too and my heart smiled when a few of the girls told me they wanted to be like me and that they looked up to me. It was great to know that my presence meant something and the way I carried myself spoke to them in ways that words alone never could." Today, Olivia serves as an ambassador to the Community Fellows Program. 

When it came time to continue on the path of professional development, Olivia participated in the On-Campus Recruitment for Accounting Program at Adelphi. She believes, "having [the CFP internship] on [her] resume definitely made [her] stand out from the rest of the crowd." She commented, "I was asked at least one question about it on every interview I went on, including what I learned while working there. Better than just saying “I’m a people person,” working for The Cedarmore Corporation working with both adults and kids truly showed that." For several months, Olivia participated in the Envision Mentor Program offered by Deloitte Consulting LLP and is currently an Audit Intern at Grant Thornton LLP, thanks to the experience she attained through the Community Fellows Program. Upon graduating, she is hopeful to take the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam and venture into the field of public accounting. To bring her that much closer to her goals, Olivia volunteers on her church's Finance Committee, monitoring weekly church finances for 300+ members including account balances, donations, and the fundraising activity for various subsidiary committees. Her passion to serve the community is further demonstrated by her volunteer work at the Freeport Farmer's Market. 

NOW ...

Clearly, Olivia is one determined lady who takes life seriously by the reins. Her hard work and effort is evident by the countless awards she has won from recognizing organizations. Here at the Career Center for Development, we asked Olivia to share some advice with YOU as the CFP application deadline is approaching on March 2, 2015. Ms. Autry stated: "I would say that it’s important to remember to be flexible. There are so many opportunities to learn and grow in an organization with which one is not familiar and become supportive of a new cause that most likely does not get the recognition it deserves. Come into the program with an open mind and open heart, you never know whose life you might touch in ways unimaginable, directly or indirectly."

Hopefully Olivia's story has inspired you to follow your dreams by applying for a relevant, PAID internship at a Non-profit organization. As stated above, the Community Fellows Program application is now available and will be coming to a close on March 2nd. So, get involved, explore your options, and be open to embarking on a beautiful, exciting new journey! You can find the application details here, or on our website at http://career-center.adelphi.edu/ (Employment Opportunities -> Internships -> Community Fellows Program). Please feel free to stop by the Center for Career Development, in Post Hall, for additional information. Also, please feel free to share your thoughts and comments below! 

" The only way forward, if we are going to improve the quality of the environment, is to get everybody involved."

Richard Rogers (American Music Composer)