My name is Praharshita Dasararaju and I am currently a first-year student at the University of Michigan. During my senior year of high school, I had the opportunity to participate in the Troy School District’s Career Accelerator Program (CAP), where I was matched to intern with Chief Financial Credit Union. At the time, I did not know much about the banking industry, however this experience became one of the most insightful and rewarding opportunities for me to gain knowledge about the professional world.
Through this program, I was able to see how many different teams work together to keep a financial company running smoothly. I had the chance to learn about financial tracking and reporting from the accounting manager, explore regulatory processes with the compliance supervisor, and gain insight into loan approvals, credit risk, and lending practices from the lending department. I also observed front-line banking roles, including tellers, who play an important role in providing excellent service to members every day.
Beyond learning about the technical side of banking, I also gained invaluable professional skills. A marketing professional helped guide us through creating a LinkedIn profile and explained the importance of networking and presenting yourself professionally. One of the most memorable moments of the program was meeting with the CEO and discussing leadership experiences and career development.
One financial concept that stood out to me during the program was learning about credit scores. Before this experience, I did not fully understand how a credit score is calculated and how important it could be. I learned that credit scores can affect major life opportunities such as buying a home, taking out loans, or even renting an apartment, which is extremely important as a young adult who is striving for financial independence. Learning about this concept was not only an opportunity to explore how Chief utilizes credit scores but also a personal opportunity for me to start building good financial habits.
When I was first matched with Chief Financial Credit Union through the CAP program, I was a little unsure about how this experience would connect to my future career goals since I am interested in pursuing a career in healthcare. However, this program turned out to be one of the most valuable experiences I’ve had. It taught me how organizations operate, how to communicate with professionals, and how to ask thoughtful questions, skills that apply to any career.
This experience also helped me grow personally. As someone who was previously a shy high school student, this program encouraged me to step outside of my comfort zone and engage in conversations with professionals from different backgrounds. Those communication skills and experiences have helped me tremendously during my first year of college.
Overall, I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to participate in the Career Accelerator Program at Chief Financial Credit Union. Everyone I met was so kind, supportive, and eager to share their knowledge, especially our business representatives Ashley Chambers and Jen Harban who led us through this incredible experience. This program not only introduced me to the world of financial banking, but it also helped me gain confidence and valuable professional skills. I am so thankful to have been part of such a meaningful experience!