MORE ABOUT TOBIASZ
Graduation Date: June 2009
Hometown: Tarnow, Poland
High School: Ridgewood High School
Awards & Achievements:
- Liberal Studies Honors Program
- Strobel Accounting Honors Program
- Success through Scholarship Award
- Ledger and Quill Student Merit Award
- Dean’s Award for Academic Excellence
- Published “Desiring Economic Excess” in The Honors Newsletter
Campus Involvement:
- Accounting Club
- Junior Achievement
- Vincentian Service Day
Current Employment:
- Tutor, DePaul Athletic Academic Advising
- Accounting Intern, Integra Insurance
Tobias Barnas
Area of Study:Accounting and Economics
I chose my major because… the more I studied accounting, the more interested in it I became. I was invited to take the two required accounting courses as part of the Strobel Honors Program. Shortly after this opportunity, I found out that accounting was less about strict bookkeeping and more about obtaining evidence, information systems and managing corporate finances. These concepts, which always interested me separately, appeared to come together in accounting. I chose to double major in accounting and economics because I felt that this combination would give me the most complete understanding of commerce, from a particular invoice to the global economy.
My favorite thing to do on campus is… work, actually. All the supervisors I ever had at DePaul made sure that my on-campus job was enjoyable and that I had time to study. My current job as a tutor in Athletic Academic Advising affords me great flexibility and the opportunity to work face-to-face with NCAA athletes. I always wonder, "who will I meet today?" My job is a blast.
When I have free time, I like to… compose music. On some days, I create experimental rock by merging electronica and metal. With a decent laptop, a software synthesizer downloaded from the Web and some imagination, anyone can unwind in between assignments. On other days, snuggling up with an acoustic guitar does the trick.
My favorite thing to do off campus is… attend Hokma rehearsals. Hokma is an amateur rock group I belong to and compose for. Juggling everyone’s parts can be both exciting and mind numbing. Nonetheless, hearing music I wrote be performed is rewarding beyond words.
One thing I didn’t know about DePaul before coming was… just how many career-related services are offered to Commerce students. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that the Career Center offers résumé and cover letter writing workshops, practice interviews with Alumni Sharing Knowledge and networking events with industry professionals. The practice interviews were especially helpful because they brought to my attention all the little things I would have never noticed.
The greatest thing about going to school in Chicago is… being in the financial capital of the Midwest. For those majoring in business, there is a cornucopia of internship opportunities.
At DePaul, service learning is… learning about one’s environment through community service. DePaul has offered me community service opportunities that helped me understand my environment and put theory into practice. For those just looking to give the Vincentian Mission a try, I would recommend taking part in the Vincentian Service Day. For those looking for something more involved, I would recommend becoming a leader at the Vincentian Service Day or volunteering with Junior Achievement.
My experience at DePaul as an accounting major… has been teeming with opportunities. First, I visited several accounting firm offices with the Accounting Club. Then, I took part in the Fred Lang Case Competition and made a presentation in front of prospective future employers. By the time I attended "Meet The Firms,” an accounting job and internship fair, I had ample opportunity to get a feel for what accounting is all about.
The best thing about DePaul is… the small class size and personal attention. This is especially true in the Honors Program, where I had about 10 to about 25 colleagues in each class. Additionally, professors who taught these classes were extremely knowledgeable and very friendly. These traits, taken together, facilitated in-depth discussion and understanding.
My greatest success as a student here has been… maintaining good working relations with past professors. These individuals are clearly among the best in their respective fields. What better way to become like them than to keep learning from and interacting with them?
After graduation, I plan to… take and pass the CPA exam while working for a public accounting or consulting firm. I also see myself obtaining a graduate degree after working for a couple years.
The one thing I’d like to say to students considering DePaul… is shadow a DePaul student, preferably someone who is majoring in your area of interest.
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