Co-Curricular Experience

Co-Curricular Team Experience I took

Name of Team: Accounting Club (More specifically accounting case competition)

Semester of team experience: Fall Spring Semester 2024-Present

What was most challenging about this team experience and how did you navigate it? Provide a specific example.

In this team experience, we were tasked with collaborating and creating a case competition presentation about a hypothetical company that had discrepancies in its accounting balance sheets. The most challenging part of this experience was aligning everyone’s ideas and schedules. Since we were all students with different classes, workloads, and commitments, finding time to meet and make progress was tough. In the beginning, we struggled with communication and often worked on our own times, which made it hard to stay consistent or build momentum. To navigate this, I suggested we assign specific roles based on each member’s strengths and meet at least once a week, even briefly, to update each other. This helped create structure and accountability. I took the lead in organizing our findings into a clear visual presentation while making sure that we were all on the same page with the actual accounting analysis. During our final few days, we had to revise parts of our work after realizing we didn’t have bar charts for our data. Instead of panicking, we divided the task quickly and worked together to double-check every section and insert data tables. This challenge taught me a lot about patience, delegation, and how important it is to have shared responsibility in a team setting.   

How did this team experience contribute to your understanding of the interpersonal/team leadership competency you chose to develop through this program?

The competency I focused on throughout the program was leveraging strengths within a team, and this experience helped me understand that on a much deeper level. Within our team, each member had a different skill set. Some were better with data analysis, some with accounting logic, and others with public speaking or slide design. I realized early on that one of my strengths was simplifying any complex information and keeping the group organized. I naturally took on the role of managing deadlines, making sure we were on track, and clarifying the case details when things got confusing. I wasn't the most experienced in terms of accounting, but I contributed by keeping the team moving forward and making our presentation easy to follow. What stood out to me was how effective a team can be when people are encouraged to play to their strengths, rather than trying to do everything equally. I saw how important it is to trust your teammates and focus on collaboration over competition. This experience changed how I view leadership—it's not about being in charge, but about creating an environment where everyone can shine. That’s something I plan to carry forward in every group I’m a part of.

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