5 minute read
Making Every Second Count
By Kirsten Shaw
Photo by Mary Hulbert
It was a busy week for Caleb Randall, early in the semester. He’d attended his first National Association of Black Accountants (NABA) meeting, as well as his first Beta Alpha Psi (BAP) meeting since being tapped for the accounting honor society. He was just getting into two of his toughest courses, Cost Accounting and Intermediate Accounting I. And he’d interviewed to work at the Center for Entrepreneurship and Outreach (E-Center).
But for the New Orleans junior, a busy week is a good week, and he had things well in hand. Randall relishes where he is and what he’s doing.
“I love the program,” he says of the Adkerson School of Accountancy. “I love the faculty. I love the different students and the friends I’ve made through my accounting classes.”
Now, near the end of the semester, Randall reflects on where all his involvement has led him.
Neither Mississippi State nor the accounting profession was on Randall’s radar until late in his high school career.
“Going into my senior year of high school, I didn’t know what I wanted to do, so my mom signed me up for a bunch of programs to see what interested me,” he shares.
He looked into nuclear pharmacy, but something else grabbed him and brought him into the MSU family: the Adkerson School of Accountancy’s ASAP – Accelerating Students into the Accounting Profession – Camp. Designed to introduce high school students to the possibilities of the field, as well as what Mississippi State offers, the event involves accounting and research lessons applied in a Shark Tank-style competition, discussions about career options, tours of a professional firm and of campus, introduction to the admissions process and scholarship opportunities, a networking session, an etiquette dinner and interaction with MSU accounting students.
College of Business Dean Sharon Oswald is someone he sought out early in his college career.
“Caleb is great,” she remarks. “He is one of those very rare students who called the office and wanted to meet with me. Ever since our first meeting, we have scheduled a meeting every semester, and I always look forward to it. He has a lot of initiative, as well as personality.”
Randall would have helped with ASAP sooner, but his summers have been filled with experience-building internships. After his freshman year, he worked at Vertify, a small tech company in Austin, TX.
“They do tech automations for marketing,” he says. “I did research on their competitors and who they work with and looked at their differences with Vertify, to see how the company might be enhanced. At the end of each week we’d do a roundup where every employee gave a report. I’d put together a slide show of my findings and recommendations.”
Last summer, Randall worked in New Orleans at accounting firm Bruno & Tervalon, where his duties included bank reconciliations, managing general account ledgers and other general tasks. He was well liked and stays in touch with his boss. His colleagues embraced their intern as a member of the team, inviting him to after-hours outings to dinner or the local karaoke spot.
His work and his work ethic made a favorable impression – he has invitations to return to both companies.
Randall has long been a go-getter. He is set to graduate from MSU a semester early in large part because he took courses at the University of New Orleans while still in high school.
“I had all my required credits for high school, so it was either dual enrollment [in college classes] or stay at high school and just chill, and I didn’t want to do that,” he states.
It’s an attitude learned at home, modeled by a mom who serves at the Louisiana Department of Health and a dad who works for a private company that does disaster work, using federal aid to help with public housing. Randall in turn is an example for his 12-year-old sister, who chose this year to attend the same middle/high school Caleb did.
“She wanted to go to the same school as me,” he shares with brotherly pride.
Randall’s younger days were also peppered with what he calls “entrepreneurial moments” with friends, like standing in line for in-demand, high end athletic shoes and reselling them at a profit or selling candy to their peers.
Randall was introduced to accounting and Mississippi State University through ASAP Camp, where the topics included business attire -- event a lesson in tying neckties!
Photo courtesy of the Adkerson School of Accountancy
Randall in a rare quiet moment at ASAP camp.
Photo courtesy of the Adkerson School of Accountancy
“We used to buy bulk candy at Sam’s and sell it to our classmates,” he recalls. “We’d sell sour straws for 25 cents apiece and make $40 on each $10 container. It was just a fun thing we did in high school to make a little money.”
Randall is still intrigued with new business creation, which is what led to his interest in the E-Center.
“I’ve always had entrepreneurship in the back of my head as something I’d enjoy,” he says.
Whether talking about classes, clubs or work, one element Randall consistently mentions is the friendships found there. For him, every experience seems to be made richer by the people involved. And it’s easy to see why they are drawn to him – he values his friends, is focused yet easygoing and knows how to have fun. He and his pals might be spotted at Starkville’s Skate Odyssey on college night or longboarding around campus. (“There’s a hill behind McKee Hall where you can get going fast – at least 30 miles per hour!”)
They seem to share a self-discipline as well – one that escapes many college students.
“We try to go to the gym at 6:30 every morning to get our bodies up and running,” says the Dean’s list student. “We start our day early – work out, read some chapters. Then we try to be in bed by 11 or 12 at the latest.”
Randall’s aim following graduation is a master’s degree and a position with an accounting firm. He’ll hone in on specific preferences as he continues studying, working and hearing from practitioners at NABA and BAP meetings.
“Caleb is someone I hope to always keep in touch with even after he graduates,” says Oswald. “He is definitely destined for a great future!”
Whatever direction Randall chooses, it’s certain he’ll make a success of it – and enjoy the people lucky enough to meet him along the way.
