Brandon Padilla

Brandon Padilla is an accountancy major from Joliet, IL

Hometown: Joliet, IL

High School: Joliet West High School

Year: Expected graduation: Spring 2026

What scholarships did you receive and why did you receive them? How has the financial support impacted your experience at NIU?
During my time at NIU, I've been fortunate to receive several scholarships, such as the Donald R. and Kayval Larson Endowed Scholarship in Business, FORVIS Excellence Fund, Patrick R. Delaney Scholarship and the Sigma Phi Epsilon Student Endowed Scholarship. I received these scholarships by applying through MyScholarships, which was easy to access and identify opportunities I was eligible for. These scholarships have played a pivotal role in my academic journey by allowing me to focus on my educational goals while reducing my financial burden. This generous financial support has also given me the opportunity to stay actively involved in different clubs and organizations on campus.

What did you want to be when you were growing up? Are you pursuing that as a major, or have you taken another path?
Going into high school, I set a goal to figure out the career path I wanted to pursue. I took a variety of elective courses that initially piqued my interest. While I enjoyed the classes, I quickly realized the career paths were not a good fit for me. Before course selection meetings for the following school year, I had a teacher who spoke so passionately about an introductory accounting course he taught. He mentioned its various amazing benefits including job security, versatility and the ability to work anywhere. A lot of the benefits aligned with the values I was searching for in a potential career. I was intrigued, so I decided to take the course. I immediately realized accounting was the career path I wanted to pursue. I'm currently an accountancy major and am working toward that goal.

What is your major (and/or minor) and why did you decide on this course of study?
I chose to major in accountancy because it's a field that aligns with my skills and career goals. My love for math and numbers, combined with my attention to detail and strong organizational skills, made it an ideal career for me. This important life decision was also informed by my desire for job security, as accounting is a stable and growing career path with opportunities in various industries. Additionally, I chose to minor in business analytics because I felt that it was the perfect complement to my major. I enjoy using and learning new applications like Excel, Power BI and SQL, which are all crucial in the accounting industry. With the growing importance of AI and data analytics in business, I wanted to improve upon these skills to stay ahead of the curve. This minor equips me with the skills to thrive in a rapidly evolving business landscape.

Have you conducted an internship?
Yes

How did you get your internship, and where was it?
This past summer, I had the amazing opportunity to work at KPMG as an Embark Scholar intern. Taking the Braven UNIV 301 course gave me the confidence to approach recruiters and seek out career opportunities. Through the accountancy department, I had the opportunity to tour the KPMG Chicago office. This tour allowed me to network with recruiters, NIU alumni and other professionals. On this tour, I was able to receive the guidance of recruiters who helped me tailor my resume and apply to an internship that I eventually received.

How did your internship help prepare you for your career?
My internship played a pivotal role in helping me identify the best practice to pursue a career in. I was able to rotate through KPMG's tax, audit and advisory practices to get a better understanding of what it's like to work in each of those roles. By the end of the internship, I was able to figure out that audit was the practice best suited to my interests and long-term career goals.

What has been something you have found pleasantly surprising about your experience at NIU?
One thing I found pleasantly surprising about my experience at NIU was all of the clubs and organizations offered on campus. It felt like there was something for everyone, making it easy to get involved and meet new people. I met a lot of my friends through clubs I've been involved in.

How have you connected with other students to study for classes, meet new people or form new friendships?
Getting involved in student organizations has been the easiest way for me to connect with other students and form friendships. It makes it easy to meet fellow students and have conversations since there's a common interest.

Are you involved in any student organizations, mentoring programs or extra-curricular activities? If so, which ones? How have they added to your experience as a Huskie?
My sophomore and junior years, I was involved with the Hispanic Business Student Association. This amazing organization helped me make several new friends, allowed me to grow by getting out of my comfort zone and helped me meet several professionals. This year, I'm a Braven ambassador and part of the Student Accountancy Society.

What NIU offices, departments or resources have helped you feel safe, supported and successful? And how?
The accountancy department has done an amazing job helping me feel supported and successful. They do a great job at advising us about scholarships we may be eligible for, upcoming events, opportunities to get to know the professors and more. They're a big reason I have always felt confident I made the right choice to attend NIU.

Who has been one of your favorite instructors/professors and why? What course did they teach?
One of my favorite professors at NIU has been Lance Vobornik. I took his Math 104/105 course my freshman year, and I really enjoyed it because he made an effort to connect with every student and push us to do our best. He made the course material fun to learn. When I took Math 211, I started struggling. I saw him at the Math Assistance Center (MAC), and he offered to give me extra help during his office hours. It meant a lot, considering I was no longer taking his class. His support was crucial in helping me succeed in the course.

How have you benefited by attending class regularly?
I believe one of the best habits any student can do to be successful is to regularly go to class. Going to class makes it easier to make new friends, have a better understanding of the course material, stay informed of upcoming deadlines and more! This simple habit also shows respect for your professors and the opportunity to learn.

Where is your favorite spot on campus or in the community? Why are you drawn to it?
One of my favorite spots is the Holmes Student Center. I often go with my friends to get something to eat at Qdoba or have fun playing pool or bowling. It's at the heart of campus, so it's an easy and quick walk for me and my friends. I also love reserving a room in the student center to study or for an interview.

What advice would you give to a student who is researching colleges to apply to?
I would advise students to make a list of the pros and cons of the colleges they are considering. I think students should consider if the college has the specific major they’re interested in, the cost of attendance, distance from home, size, diversity and more. There are a variety of factors that can influence a student's final choice; be sure to do extensive research to make sure you're making the right choice.

Why is a college education important to you?
A college education is particularly important to me because my parents have made an abundance of sacrifices to give me an opportunity they wish they had. They're my motivation to be involved on campus, excel in my rigorous courses and, most importantly, make an impact on the community.

What strategies do you use to manage your time between the responsibilities of school, work, friends and family?
The two main things I do to manage my busy schedule balancing school, friends and family are utilizing my personal journal and my Google calendar. In my journal, I write down all of the assignments with their due dates to prioritize them. I like to use my Google calendar by putting my course schedule, club events, interviews and more to stay on track with everything. This makes it easy for me to identify busy and free days.

How do you stay informed about events and services that are available on campus?
I like to check the Weekly Scroll of Things to Know email to see what events and services are happening on campus soon. This weekly email is concise and makes it easy to see the events occurring on campus.

What do you do to relax or recharge?
To relax and recharge, I like to take advantage of the amenities NIU has to offer. I enjoy bowling or playing pool at the student center, working out at the Recreation Center or taking a long walk by the lagoon.

Please tell us about your job and hobbies.
My hobbies include working out, watching movies/shows, bowling and listening to music. These are all great hobbies I enjoy either doing with friends or to decompress after a long day.

Is there anything else you'd like to share about your NIU Huskie story?
One of my favorite things at NIU is all the opportunities offered to succeed. As a first-generation college student, I've experienced the challenges of not having family able to help me succeed in college. One of the courses that has helped me feel comfortable and confident in college is UNIV 301. It's an amazing course that has helped me feel confident to network, share my story and obtain a strong internship in the corporate world.