ALUMNA PROFILE B.S. Forensic Accounting ’14 Williams JaVonne
“Tell me about your goals.” The question strikes fear in the spontaneous at heart, but on a cold winter’s morning in a downtown coffee shop, JaVonne Williams doesn’t hesitate. She reaches into her purse and takes out a handwritten list on a square of well-worn paper and flattens it out on the table.
“I’m very ambitious. I plan it then I execute it. I set two or three huge goals each year and I achieve them.”
JaVonne’s Franklin story began shortly after she finished her associate’s degree through a technical program.
“All the jobs I wanted required a bachelor’s degree. I chose accounting for job stability, I chose Franklin because forensic accounting intrigued me. My friends tell me that I talk about auditing like they talk about basketball.”
Earning my degree meant so much to me because I was the first person in my family to earn a bachelor’s. It shows my son that he can do what mommy did plus so much more.
Throughout the process, JaVonne was motivated by her son, Carter. Like many parents, her desire to provide a better life for Carter kept her focused on the finish line. Working and going to school full time plus being the mother of a toddler was the ultimate challenge. Just making sure, in the midst of her busy schedule, that she took time to enjoy her son’s growth was something that JaVonne stressed over.
“Earning my degree meant so much to me because I was the first person in my family to earn a bachelor’s. It shows my son that he can do what mommy did plus so much more.”
A culmination of two years of hard work, the first thing JaVonne did on her last day of class was update her résumé. As she began applying for positions requiring her newly earned bachelor’s degree, her two-month job search yielded seven interviews and three offers, one of which was her dream job as an internal auditor with the state of Ohio. In this position, JaVonne consults with Ohio’s state agencies. Every three months brings a new assignment.
“I love the sense of importance my career gives me. I’ll walk into an office and hear people say ‘the auditors are here!’ and it’s just me – there to do my job.”
So what else is on JaVonne’s list?
In addition to buying a new house and earning her Certified Internal Auditor credential, JaVonne is focused on giving back and helping others achieve the goals they set for themselves. She is working with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Ohio to find a “little” now. Her preference is to be paired with a teenage mother.
“I want to help someone realize that just because you have a child, you can’t rule out school. An education is one of the most important things to have in America today and if I can do it, they can too.”
A magazine for alumni and friends of Franklin University |
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