After graduating from Vanderbilt with a degree in English and Human & Organizational Development, Nathaniel Day decided to stay on campus one more year for the MAcc program. “By combining a liberal arts background with an additional business degree,” he says, “I would be a more well-rounded and marketable professional, and I believed I would stand out as a highly qualified, unique candidate.”

Besides, he reasoned, “I loved my four years as an undergraduate, so why not continue for another year in an extremely inclusive, collaborative, and uplifting environment?”

Nathaniel found the experience even more rewarding than he had envisioned. Because of the small classes, he says, “I’ve been able to engage more closely with my peers and professors, participating heavily in classes and collaborating in tight groups. And the smaller community makes the relationships I’ve formed all the more meaningful.”

From the Leadership Development Program, he learned to leverage his personal experience and perspective and, especially, he says, “to listen to those around you and absorb their unique stories, since we learn the most from our peers. I’ve learned how to be a leader, even from a more subordinate position, I’ve discovered my worth as a professional, and I’ve found the value in always challenging myself to embrace new and exciting opportunities.”

As much as the knowledge and skills he developed on the way to graduating with honors, Nathaniel credits the “perseverance and self-advocacy I’ve developed as an Owen student” with setting a direction for his career. After what he describes as a “sub-par internship experience,” he says, “I decided to take charge of my future and find a company that truly fit me. Instead of staying in a job that was convenient, I took a risk and leveraged the skills I’ve accumulated at Owen to secure a position [with Deloitte in Chicago] that will provide me with a happier and more fulfilling work experience.”

Fun Fact: Because of his experience working at a gift shop in his hometown of Jonesboro, Arkansas, Nathaniel has what he describes as “next-level wrapping skills.”

“Because of the small classes, I’ve been able to engage more closely with my peers and professors, participating heavily in classes and collaborating in tight groups.”