Graduating Student Spotlight: Natalee Voss
Natalee Voss’s big dreams brought her from the small town of Winthrop, Arkansas to UA Little Rock. At first not sure which direction to take, Voss took a leap into the business side of things and discovered her passion for accounting. Now a senior on the brink of graduation, Voss is looking forward to her next steps after obtaining her bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in accounting.
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
My name is Natalee Voss, and I am a senior at UA Little Rock pursuing my bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in accounting. I grew up in the small town of Winthrop, Arkansas, and attended Horatio High School. I am really just a small town girl with large aspirations in life.
I have always wanted to be successful and make those around me proud. Whether that was in basketball, softball, FFA, school, or just relationships in general. I have been blessed with a supportive and loving family who has always cheered me on and have ultimately been a huge reason as to why I grew up wanting to be a college graduate.
Why did you choose UA Little Rock over other universities?
I ultimately chose UA Little Rock over other universities because it offered the most scholarships. I always knew that I wanted to attend a four-year university, but I never really had my heart set on any one in particular. I applied basically everywhere I could in the state of Arkansas, and UA Little Rock literally gave me the most bang for my buck.
How did you decide to pursue accounting?
You know how when you’re growing up the one question you are asked every school year is, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Well, I never had a solid answer to that question. I used to think that I wanted to be a veterinarian when I was little, but when I realized that vets can’t save all the animals, I quickly changed my mind.
In high school, while most girls were taking nursing concurrent credit courses, I dedicated my time to the welding classes. I thought that I wanted to pursue a career in the welding industry after obtaining my associate in applied science my senior year of high school, but I still submitted applications to four-year universities because that was one thing I was always sure I wanted to do in life.
When I first started attending UA Little Rock, I chose to pursue computer science. I literally thought, “Computer people make loads of money, so that sounds great to me!” I quickly discovered that I did not enjoy all that the major entails and, after the toughest semester I have ever had, decided to change my major to business administration.
In doing this, I was introduced to the Principles of Accounting I course. This is where I discovered my love for accounting as well as the importance of choosing a career that makes you happy. Don’t get me wrong, there are parts of accounting that most definitely are not “easy” for me to understand, but this major allowed me to actually be interested in understanding and learning more.
What accomplishments are you most proud of?
One accomplishment that I am most proud of is maintaining an honorable GPA throughout my college career. Ever since I can remember, I was always the student that just had to have straight As. In school, everything came easy to me, and I never really had to study. When I began majoring in accounting, there were things that did not come easy, and I had to figure out how I learned best. Although I earned my first B that semester, I felt extremely accomplished because I knew that I had to put in the effort to understand and deserve that grade.
Another accomplishment that I am most proud of is being a Chancellor’s Leadership Corps (CLC) graduate. When I received the CLC scholarship, I knew of several other freshmen who also received the scholarship and honestly didn’t feel like it was that big of a deal. However, as I continued through college, I noticed that the number of individuals who were still scholars was diminishing due to the academic requirements of the scholarship. I feel honored to have been able to continue to maintain my academic status and truly earn the title of a Chancellor’s Leadership Corps graduate.
A final accomplishment that I am most proud of is that I was able to attend a career fair on campus that eventually led to me obtaining an internship with a local accounting firm during my Spring 2023 semester. I was able to become an audit intern for HCJ CPAs & Advisors, PLLC.
Through this internship, I was able to work hands on with certified public accountants while also attending college. I learned many valuable skills through this internship that I will continue to extend upon and carry with me throughout my life and career.
What have been some of the highlights of your time at UA Little Rock?
Some of the highlights of my time at UA Little Rock include gaining new best friends by living in the East Hall dorm, becoming a member of the Baptist Collegiate Ministry (BCM), and eating the amazing food from the cafeteria. Obtaining lifelong friendships allowed me to create a circle of dependable and uplifting individuals who are my biggest supporters.
I know wholeheartedly that if I had never met these people, my experience at UA Little Rock would have been drastically different. Also, by becoming a member of an on campus student organization, the BCM, I was able to create even more connections, the most important one being with God.
Lastly, I mention one of the highlights of my time at UA Little Rock as being eating the food from the Trojan Cafeteria. This sounds so cheesy, but it is literally the best cafeteria food I have ever, and ever will, eat in my entire life. Not to mention how caring the staff is! They really made the place feel like a home away from home.
What’s next for you?
After graduation, my next steps in life include getting married, moving to a new house, and seeking work. A week and a half after graduation, I will be marrying my high-school sweetheart. We will be moving into our new home that we are currently renovating. After this, I will be seeking a full-time position in an Arkansas-based auditing firm. My internship as an auditing intern for HCJ CPAs & Advisors, PLLC, taught me that I have a passion particularly for the auditing side of accounting. It is my hope to be able to perform duties associated with the state of Arkansas’ government.
