Business grad reflects on UWL experiences that shaped her success

Business grad reflects on UWL experiences that shaped her success

For Jaidyn Strang, it was love at first sight.

On her initial visit to UW-La Crosse, Strang was struck by the campus, the city, the natural beauty of the bluffs and Mississippi River.

Throw in the fact that her brother would be starting his senior year at UWL at the same time she would be starting her freshman year, and it "felt like the perfect fit," she says.

Four years later, as she prepares for her own commencement ceremony May 16, Strang says her experience at UWL eclipsed even those expectations.

"My experience has truly been better than I could have imagined, and it is a place I could genuinely see myself living after graduation," she says of UWL and La Crosse. "Overall, UWL has prepared me extremely well for the next step in my life and career."

A double-major in accountancy and finance, Strang points to a number of experiences inside and outside the classroom as instrumental to her growth personally and professionally.

She completed UWL's Global Consulting Program in Bratislava, Slovakia, where she collaborated on an international consulting project that allowed her to practice analytical and cross-cultural communication skills.

She further honed her craft through tax internships with Baker Tilly in Madison and RSM US LLP in La Crosse. After graduating, she plans to earn her CPA license and begin a position as a tax associate with Baker Tilly.

"Each of these experiences has helped me grow both personally and professionally in ways I could not have gotten in the classroom alone," Strang says. "Through my internships and the Global Consulting trip, I developed real-world problem-solving skills, gained confidence in my abilities and learned how to collaborate with a wide range of people. I would not be where I am today without these opportunities."

Strang, who received this year's Hoeschler Award as an outstanding student leader in the College of Business Administration, has been highly involved on campus and in the community.

She has participated in the Outdoor Recreational Community, volunteered with Operation: RiverWatch and Rotary Lights, and officiated youth basketball games, among other involvements.

Throughout her college experience, Strang also formed many close connections with peers and mentors, relationships she knows she will continue to lean on.

"College has given me some of my best friends and really helped shape who I am as a person," she says. "Those relationships and experiences have made my time at UWL so meaningful and are something I will carry with me well beyond graduation."

As she prepares to take the next step, Strang says she looks back on her time at UWL with only fond feelings - with gratitude for a memorable journey, and pride in how far she has come.

"The last four years have taken a lot of perseverance and growth, but they have also prepared me well for this next chapter of my life," she says. "I could not be more excited, and I am thankful for everything UWL has done to help me get to this point and prepare me for the future."