what i know now ryan shubird age : 25 hometown : Montgomery , Alabama career : Accounting / Finance
education : I received my Bachelor ’ s degree in Accounting from Auburn University at Montgomery where I am now pursuing a Masters of Accountancy . I wanted to choose a major that would make me stand out in the job market and give me a better understanding of the fundamentals of business . numbers guy ryan shubird parental influence : My parents have taught me many things throughout my life , but one particularly stands out : they taught me the value of hard work . In the summers between high school years , my father made me work on his construction sites every day after football practice . It was grueling manual labor in the Alabama heat to teach me the value of a hard earned dollar . My mother constantly reminded me that I could have everything I wanted in life , so long as I was willing to work hard for it , and that when the going gets tough in school or life , you cannot let the obstacles dictate your path .
secret to success : Throughout college , and life in general , you have to find something or someone that pushes you to the finish line . I have had teachers who thought I would not do well on a test , so I worked hard to prove them wrong . I have had teachers who expected me to do well , so I worked hard to avoid letting them down . My family expects me to give my best effort to succeed , so I work hard to make them proud .
eye opener : My freshman year I was encouraged to get involved in on-campus organizations , and I am glad I did . In doing so , I made connections and friends that I otherwise would not have . Being involved on campus helped me to be a well-rounded student , and opened doors for me to go places that I thought I never could . can ’ t live without
1 . My phone 2 . My friends 3 . ESPN and of course his fiancée , Shelby
downtime
I most enjoy traveling to new places and seeing new things to broaden my perspective on what ’ s out there in the world . More frequently however , I enjoy spending my time outside by the grill while watching a football game and weekends at the lake . advice for teens : Do things to step outside of your comfort zone . It ’ s okay to be nervous or afraid ; it simply means you ’ re doing something new and making progress . Everyone makes mistakes . Everyone struggles . Do not allow your fear of failure to keep you from reaching your goals or chasing your dreams .
advice for parents : Do not be afraid to loosen the leash . Students have to learn to run on their own . Rest assured knowing that your child will run into failure . They will struggle . They will make the wrong decision . That ’ s a part of the growing up and learning process . However , always be willing to listen and give support . When your child does fail or struggle , let them know that it ’ s not the end of the world and that they will be just fine .
future focus : I plan to continue working in the field of accounting while also pursuing a career in politics . My goal is to help individuals and businesses reach their financial goals by providing a variety of accounting services . I then hope to use my knowledge and understanding of taxes and other financial issues to help craft legislation that best helps and represents individuals and small businesses across the state .
8 | Spring 2017 www . potentialmagazine . com