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Mahvish Fatima
More Than I Imagined Seniors reflect on accomplishments and look ahead

Mahvish Fatima

Graduation year: 2018

Majors: Accounting, business administration-management

Minor: Psychology

Activities: Muslim Student Association, Interfaith Understanding, Board of Trustees Fellow

Internships: Part-time student in John Deere Supply Management and Finance; Finance and Accounting intern at John Deere

Post-grad plans: I will be working at HNI Corporation as an accountant in the accounting/finance development program. 

Why Augustana?

I chose Augustana because I really liked the liberal arts education and the small class sizes. Also, I greatly enjoyed all of my campus visits, found everyone to be extremely helpful and nice, and fell in love with the beautiful campus. I just had a gut feeling that this was the school for me. 

Are you where you thought you’d be when you first came to campus?

I definitely did not expect to be where I am today. I started at Augie with a plan to go into human resources and soon found that I liked accounting and changed my focus. I was able to change my direction with the many opportunities Augustana offers on and off-campus, which helped me grow into the person I am today. 

Who helped you get to where you are now?

There are many people who have helped me these past four years, but I would have never been able to get where I am today and get a job lined up without the great help of my professors and CORE. The faculty at Augustana are amazing, and each professor really cared about me, whether it was the accounting department, business department or the psychology department. I was always able to find someone to talk to for advice. 

Peak experience?

My peak experience was leading a Symposium Day event, titled Interfaith Dialogue: Muslim Faith Stories. I helped plan and coordinate the event and was able to be one of the panelists. I learned a lot about myself and felt like I made a difference with an issue I feel great passion about.

What surprised you?

I learned that when I push myself out of my comfort zone, it's less scary than I expected. Throughout my time at Augie, whether in the classroom, at events or at work, I was able to build on who I am by challenging myself to try new things. I would never have been able to do this without the help and support of my professors and family and friends or the many opportunities that I was able to take advantage of on and off campus.

How did you use Augie Choice?

I used my Augie Choice for my internships at John Deere.

What will you miss the most?

I will miss the amazing people that I met at Augie. I will always cherish the great connections I made with professors as well as my close friends. I truly made lifelong connections.

Advice for the Class of 2022?

Be proactive and make the most of every opportunity. These four years go by really fast, but you'll learn a lot about yourself if you aren't afraid to go outside your comfort zone. Make connections with your peers but also with your professors and the staff in CORE. Take advantage of their expertise and get their advice; they are always willing to help. 

“Mahvish has been a pleasure getting to know as both my advisee and student. Her strong work ethic and desire for success are going to take her far. I will miss our discussions during advising meetings. I have no doubt she will thrive in the accounting profession, and I look forward to hearing from her as she progresses in her career.”

– Dr. Gregory P. Tapis, assistant professor, accounting