Edwin De La Rosa

Unfortunately, when you grow up in an oppressed community in Brooklyn, NY, and come from a minority background, it seems discouraging to dream. Our aspirations and goals seem limited due to the obstacles put in front of us on a daily basis. I earned a scholarship to play collegiate baseball at Point Park University in Pittsburgh, PA, and graduated in the Spring of 2022 with a Degree in Accounting. Soon after, I pursued a Master's in Business Administration (MBA), which I will be graduating with in April 2023. I am currently studying to sit for the CPA Exam, and I am incredibly excited to start my accounting career this summer with a Big 4 Accounting Firm. However, I want to pursue something that a kid who grew up in New York City projects could have never imagined seeking. I want to pursue a Ph.D. I want to use my finance background, leadership skills, and experience to impact young people in my community.

Over the course of this academic year, I have had the opportunity to work closely with the Rowland School of Business's ""Rising Brothers and Sisters"" program, a mentorship program that seeks to increase the representation of successful professionals of color on Point Park University’s campus and in local high schools by providing students with programming focused on academic preparedness, career readiness, and character development. I was invited by Dr. Mitch Nickols (Founder of the program) and Steve Tanzilli (Dean, Rowland School of Business) to be a Guest Speaker and serve as a mentor on multiple occasions. It's been a humbling experience to realize how my story can inspire and motivate other young people to strive for excellence. I am passionate about mentoring young people and want to incorporate it into my professional career.

Recently, I've developed an interest in promoting the value of Financial Literacy, and I've had the opportunity to collaborate with ISLA (Inclusive Student Leadership Association) to provide Financial Literacy workshops at Point Park University. I collaborated with Michael Thornhill (Assistant Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Training) to emphasize the importance of Community Engagement. We hosted several Financial Literacy Workshops for Point Park University students.