Following her internship at PricewaterhouseCoopers, Miriam Asangong '16 was offered a position as an accountant/auditor with the firm.
Year: Class of 2016
Major: Accounting
Hometown: Framingham, MA; originally from Cameroon, West Africa
Internships: Abrams Little-Gill Loberfeld PC, PricewaterhouseCoopers
Award: Krystle Campbell Scholarship
Service: America Reads, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance
Next steps: Accountant/auditor at PricewaterhouseCoopers
Accounting major Miriam Asangong ’16 has dreamed of making a difference in her community through a career in business.
Originally from Cameroon, West Africa, the Framingham resident has an impressive 3.957 grade point average and has demonstrated her willingness to use her talents to serve others, by assisting senior citizens with tax preparation and working with children through America Reads.
With plans to become a Certified Public Accountant, Miriam gained experience in her field through internships with Abrams Little-Gill Loberfeld PC and PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Miriam was also the one of the first two recipients of the Krystle Campbell Scholarship, established by UMass Trustee Richard P. Campbell, J.D. and his wife Barbara Campbell to recognize young women who seek to improve themselves and their communities through a career in business. Miriam joined Micki Hall of UMass Boston as 2015 Krystle Campbell Scholars; each was awarded a $5,000 scholarship.
The Krystle Campbell Scholarship Fund was founded in 2013 by the Campbells to honor the memory of Krystle Campbell, a UMass Boston alumna killed during the 2013 Boston Marathon.
Accounting: a challenging degree
When I was applying for college, I didn’t have any knowledge of accounting, but I wanted a degree that was challenging and would lead to secure jobs. Now, I’ve found that I enjoy accounting. I like how structured, organized, and detail-oriented it is. As someone who loves to analyze things and wants a straightforward answer, accounting just clicked with me.
Learning the value of teamwork
I was an intern at Abrams Little-Gill Loberfeld PC, an accounting firm in Chestnut Hill, MA. During the tax season, I helped organize tax work papers prior to tax preparation. I also prepared individual and trust returns for high net worth households and executives.
I learned to communicate better with co-workers. Most importantly, I got to experience what it’s like to work in a medium-sized accounting firm. There was always someone available to answer any questions I had. After this internship, I value all the lessons professors have taught me about teamwork.
I’m excited to have completed an internship with PricewaterhouseCoopers—one of the big four accounting firms.
Committed to making a difference
I’ve gotten to do a lot of community service through the America Reads Program here on campus. I’ve had the opportunity to mentor kids in the Fall River and New Bedford Boys and Girls Clubs. My sophomore year, I was a tour guide to high school students from New Bedford. I’m currently a teacher assistant in a first grade class at Carney Academy. America Reads has given me the chance to interact with younger adults and make a difference in their lives.
I was involved with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program sophomore year, and I absolutely enjoyed it. It was by far the most exciting experience I had.
I was also a volunteer income tax assistant at the Community Economic Development Center in New Bedford. I really enjoyed interacting with the community members who came in to do their taxes. The way they responded with joy when they heard their tax refunds was priceless!
After graduation: accountant/auditor
I've accepted a full-time position as an accountant/auditor at PricewaterhouseCoopers. I plan to take my CPA exam during my first year and prove to them that I’m a good asset by working hard and always looking toward the next opportunity.
More information
Charlton College of Business: Accounting
Run for Krystle: The Krystle Campbell Scholarship Fund
Boston Globe: These 5 people had the smarts to launch careers in booming fields