Get to know Ian McCammon, a sophomore finance major, and president of the Financial Management Association. The Financial Management Association at Texas State University allows students to become more familiar with the different career opportunities within the financial industry. FMA is open to all majors and has had a wide variety of speakers from such companies to come and speak about what their position entails, what they look for when hiring, and also possible internship positions.
1) How
will your major and FMA help you
reach your goals?
I
believe knowing what you want to do, and getting involved with something
related to that as early as possible, is key to having a successful academic
and business related career. I have always known I wanted to be in Finance, so
it was important for me to shift my focus to how I can better position myself
for success. In doing that, I came across the Financial Management Association,
and I have learned a lot. Being a part of something with people of like-minded
aspirations was refreshing and I have experienced more than I could have ever
imagined. Whether you decide to join the Financial Management Association or
not, which I HIGHLY suggest you should, involvement is key to seeing and
experiencing firsthand what you will be doing after graduation.
2) What
resources on campus do you recommend for students to utilize?
I
have found that it is very beneficial to utilize faculty. Even if you feel
uncomfortable approaching a professor, it’s important to make use of your time
inside and outside of class, especially in regards to something you are
confused about. Another great resource I have found useful is the Academic
Advising Center. I personally have received support, advice, and knowledge
about my career goals and decisions I should make in my personal life. The
advisors are there to guide us in a positive direction, and I feel like it’s a
resource that not a lot of people utilize, and should.
3) What
has been the most meaningful part of your McCoy experience?
The
most meaningful part of my McCoy experience is the sense of community you start
to feel in your core and upper level classes. As you advance, classes become
smaller, and you start to build relationships with the people you see multiple
times a day.
4) What
makes your Organization special/unique?
What
sets the Financial Management Association a part from many other organizations
is the strong leaders we help cultivate, the numerous opportunities we have,
and the longevity our organization has had at Texas State. We are open to ALL
majors because we think everyone deserves the same opportunities when it comes
to their careers. Giving our members access to top notch speakers and the
opportunity to learn how to network early benefits them exponentially. Our
trips to New York and Chicago also give members exposure to large business hubs
and insight from people in these regions. Aside from what we do at McCoy, our
members give back to the community through various events like Trunk or Treat,
Bobcat Build, and soon Junior Achievements.
5) What is something you wish someone would have told you before you started your college journey?
I
wish someone would have told me to focus on myself. A lot of the times we get
caught up in taking care of so many other people that we neglect our own
personal needs - academically and professionally. It’s important to maintain an
even balance in all aspects of your college career, to remain sane, and to be
successful. Things can become extremely stressful at times, so make it a point
to prioritize and take care of yourself first, then worry about everything else
that follows afterwards.
6) How
can students join your organization?
Students
can join the Financial Management Association at any time, but firstly, I want
to invite everyone to our first meeting on February
10th in McCoy 127 at 5PM. Here we will give more information about
what we do, the various ways they can get involved in our organization, and of
course - free pizza afterwards.
They
can also get more information at our website - www.txstatefma.org
