Student leadership: Malaika Stewart '22,聽, is president of聽. Get to know Malaika and get her take on college life and her vision for APS Club.
What makes 91社区 and the Romain College of Business special to you?
I鈥檝e had such great interactions with faculty and students, I also really like the architecture of the building itself.
What are some of your favorite classes at Romain College and why?
I鈥檓 loving my accounting ethics class so far. I鈥檝e always been fascinated by more philosophical topics, and their applications to the business world.
Are you active in any other student organizations at 91社区?
I鈥檝e recently joined the Bullet Journal Babble club! I think it鈥檚 a creative way to keep track of all the assignments and events I juggle with a splash of doodles to try it together.
Why did you choose your current major and minor?
I鈥檝e always heard that accounting is the heart of business. Given how much businesses influence our lives, I wanted to really get a feel for what makes the businesses around us work.
What has surprised you about college?
How freeing it is. In grade-school it seemed like every hour of everyday was decided for me. I like that I have more flexibility with the times and days I have classes.
What school project are you most proud of and why?
I gave a presentation in Spanish about a few social issues that were ongoing in Honduras. It was nerve-wracking, but speaking in a second language in front of an entire class made me realize how much I had learned and how far I had come in the language.
What are some of your favorite spots on campus and why?
The basement student lounge in the business building. It has the coziest vibe, and its vending machines have the best energy drinks.
What advice do you have for incoming freshmen? What do you wish someone had told you?
I would encourage every freshman to set up a great calendar/agenda system. Don鈥檛 just depend on remembering when everything will be due, give yourself something to reference. A second thing, that I wish someone told me, would be to get out of your shell. I was overwhelmed when I first started, and too shy to be super involved in clubs. But, having on-campus support is invaluable, and that starts with being social.
Do you have a strategy for staying focused when the demands of school, work, etc. seem overwhelming?
I鈥檓 a big fan of checklists, specifically priority lists. I write down everything I have coming up, and I organize them into level of priority and imminency. I feel like fear of the unknown is the most common fear. By writing down a plan/priority, I have a direction to move towards, and it doesn鈥檛 feel so overwhelming anymore.
As your organization鈥檚 president, what are some things you hope to achieve?
I hope to bring a positive space with plenty of resources for accounting majors and those interested in the major.
What made you decide to pursue being an officer of your organization?
I wanted to be more active at 91社区, and I wanted to be more connected with those with the same major.
Tell us more about your student organization and why 91社区 students should get involved with it!
APS enrolls its members in a student IMA chapter, which allows them to receive magazines relating to current finance and accounting issues. It also hosts conferences and networking events that can help students who wish to work in the field of accounting.
Further, we team up with Beta Alpha Psi often, which ensures we鈥檙e able to host bigger and better events for anyone who wants to attend.
If you knew you wouldn鈥檛 fail, what thing would you do?
I would travel the world! I鈥檝e always wanted to visit Spain, and being able to travel there would allow me to use the Spanish I鈥檝e been learning.
Published September 28, 2021