For Accounting Student, Taking Chances is the Formula for Success

That’s why the Trinidad and Tobago resident cast a wide net as she began her college search, applying to schools in Tampa, England, Canada, Pittsburgh and everywhere in between. 

Back on the Bluff

Amelia’s mom completed an online master’s program at Duquesne in 2017, and she has fond memories of visiting campus for her mother’s commencement ceremony. During that visit, the future Accounting and Business Analytics double-major saw snow for the first time and cemented her interest in life on the Bluff. 
 

Amelia next visited Pittsburgh as a new Duquesne student. As the eldest child, she credits her independent streak with giving her the courage to attend college abroad. She adjusted to life in the United States and even walked onto the Duquesne Women’s Rowing team having never rowed before. 
 
“I used to swim, dance and play football (soccer),” she said. “I thought, why not?”
 
Through 4 a.m. wake-up calls, 5 a.m. practices on the river, and days loaded with class and homework, Amelia maintains a healthy balance by prioritizing her responsibilities and focusing on the task at hand. 
 
“I’m always balancing school and practice and an internship downtown,” she said.  

Making her mark

Amelia serves in a finance role for the Caribbean Students Association and as public relations officer of the International Student Organization. For two consecutive years she had a leadership position with the Center for Excellence in Diversity and Student Inclusion as a Pre-Orientation leader. She also is part of the ALIVE praise and worship group where she sings and plays guitar.
 
“Once a month we put on a praise and worship night in the Chapel and it makes me forget all my worries, all my struggles,” she said. “And I’m just there in the moment.” 
 
Additionally, Amelia’s work as an audit intern at Ernst and Young Trinidad and Tobago and as an accounting assistant with Carnegie Learning in Downtown Pittsburgh has enabled her to garner real-world experience and explore her interests. 
 
She learned about her current internship with Carnegie Learning through Professor Valerie Williams, who was happy to support her.
 

Finding joy in accounting 

Amelia enjoys crunching numbers and following formulas and processes. She credits Duquesne’s Palumbo-Donahue School of Business faculty for trusting in her potential and making accounting fun, especially Dr. Bryan Menk. 
 
“It wasn’t a regular lecture,” she said. “He always says that reading is fundamental, and that’s what made me love accounting. You need a mindset to want to read over formats and formulas and learn step-by-step to gain understanding.”
 
Amelia also enjoys finding patterns and “watching everything fall into place” with accounting equations.
 
With many competition opportunities available in the Business School, Amelia has excelled, recently placing second in an internal audit case competition. She collaborated with four peers to develop a case and understand organizational risks, internal controls and possible fraud. The competition concluded as students presented to a roomful of business professionals downtown—an experience Amelia cites as “invaluable.”

Ready for what’s next 

On track to graduate in May 2026, Amelia feels like she’s prepared for anything because of the horizon-expanding education she’s received at Duquesne.
 
 “I could go the accounting or business analytics route for a job or grad school, or I could do a general MBA program,” she said.
 
As for next steps, Amelia looks forward to interning at PNC over the summer. It will be her first time working at a bank, and she knows this experience will further inform her future plans and build professional confidence. 
 
“We’ll see if I like public or private companies, or working at a bank,” she said. “I feel like I have lots of options.”