Accruing acumen

Why did you choose Northwestern College?
During my last two years of high school I knew I wanted to become an actuary, so I looked for a college with a strong actuarial science major. I was impressed by Northwestern’s actuarial science program and the opportunities given to students. I was also looking for a place that had strong faith programs, whether that be a Christian college or a college with strong Bible study groups. Once again, I was impressed by how Northwestern incorporated faith into every aspect on campus. Finally, what helped solidify my choice of Northwestern and ultimately helped keep me there was the strong sense of community. I felt welcomed when walking on campus and felt seen with every interaction I had with peers and faculty.

What led you to pursue a career in actuarial science?
I initially pursued a career in actuarial science because of my love for math. As I began to better understand what the career entails, I stayed committed to it due to the opportunities to challenge myself. Actuarial science requires you to think and solve problems every day. While this career is heavier in mathematics and finance, it also encourages you to be creative as you determine the best way to create a model or Excel spreadsheet that gives you the output you desire. Ultimately, my love of math led me to discover this career, and the other aspects that I have discovered on the way have led me to stay with it.

How did you grow at Northwestern?
I grew more confident in the person I am. Through the different activities I was involved in, I became more assertive and started to become more of a leader. I became more comfortable taking charge and voicing my opinion if the situation required it. I also grew outside of my comfort zone and became more comfortable with initiating relationships and deepening them more intentionally.

What did you appreciate most about Northwestern’s faculty?
Their intentionality. In every class, my professors knew my name, who I was, and the activities I was involved in on campus. They encouraged meetings outside of class and welcomed questions during class, as their main goal was to ensure we fully understood what they were teaching. The faculty all had warm smiles when you ran into them and made you feel seen.

How did Northwestern prepare you for your career?
Northwestern prepared me for my career by providing the resources needed to pass exams while in college and by teaching much of the information I now rely on. In addition to teaching me about the mathematical and financial information I need, Northwestern also highly encouraged me to learn different coding languages, like R, which I use currently. The college also brought in companies, such as Sammons Financial Group and Principal Financial Group, to further explain what being an actuary entails and to give students the opportunity to apply for actuarial internships in person. Through Northwestern, I was able to secure an internship with Principal Financial Group, which led to a full-time job offer after college.

In what ways did you grow in your faith at Northwestern?
I grew in my faith at Northwestern through encountering those with differing opinions and faith denominations. Through these interactions, I was encouraged to more closely understand why I believe what I believe. There is no “right” Christian denomination, and through encountering those who grew up in a different denomination than I did, I had to probe deeper into my faith, what I believed, and where that belief or idea came from using the Bible. This ultimately helped to solidify what I believe and solidified my faith. Through my Bible studies I also became more comfortable reading the Bible and applying what I read throughout my everyday life.