On Thursday September 7th, I attended a general interest meeting for the National Association for Black Accountants at Baruch. I first learned about this club at the club fair on Convocation Day and was immediately drawn by their motto “lifting as we climb.” NABA’s mission is to prepare freshmen and transfers, especially those who are minority or people of color, to be equipped for any field of work by providing them with priceless opportunities — going on an all expense paid trip to a NABA conference in another state, attending professional development workshops, and networking with alumni who have influence in the finance, business, marketing, and accounting fields. I wanted to tap into this resource, so I was really excited to go to their first meeting. And I was not disappointed.

The meeting was barbeque themed which means that food was served in the style of a black family bbq with macaroni pie, rice and peas, fried plantains, barbeque and jerk chicken, salad, and of course, watermelon. It was all very delicious. There was so much food and laughter and good conversation that I felt right at home; I even saw friends there that I hadn’t seen since convocation. We met the E-board who looked amazing dressed in their professional suits, and we listened to them speak more about the club, all it has to offer, and their experiences. There was even a representative from STARR who gave us a rundown on applying for jobs and how to take advantage of that resource on campus. Finally, there was a raffle. The winner received free membership into the club (membership costs $35/year). I didn’t win, but I will probably join anyway because that meeting left a great impression on me. I really think I’ll achieve a lot professionally, socially, and academically there while having fun.