Alumni Spotlights
Connor Cavallaro '20
Employer
Ernst & Young
LinkedIn Profile
https://www.linkedin.com/in/connor-cavallaro-527baa123/
1. Tell us about your journey since graduation.
2020, this was a year of learning for everyone no matter your
background, experience, or stability. Everything went out to door and
we had to reinvent ourselves in a certain way. Personally, graduating
and going into lockdown soon after hit pretty hard. It was interesting
to have so much time to sit down and look inside myself, understand
what I had just accomplished and let my studies sink in. Let my
experiences be reflected on. My time at Grand Valley State was an eye
opening experience, I loved every minute. COVID gave me the chance to
see this from a broad picture. To become grateful for something I
might have overlooked in the past. I was slated to start work at
Deloitte Consulting approx. 6 months after graduation. I was feeling
prepared, ready and excited for a new step in my life resume. This was
a chance for me to put my skills to use, to make others' lives better.
In between, I searched inside more, wanted to help the community of
Grand Rapids. I happened to come across a mentor of mine through the
Cook Leadership Academy. He pointed me in the perfect direction. In
Grand Rapids there is a group called Samaritas Foster Care. I joined
this team for a week to take 5 foster care kids out to Montana to help
them experience the wilderness, camp/hike, and explore the world one
step at a time. It opened my eyes to so much of what they were going
through and I learned so much from these kids. After this life
changing experience, I was able to come back to Michigan feeling
revived and refreshed. My time at work began and it was a time to
explore new ways of personal and professional learning. I recently
took a promotion to a new company after a year and a half with
Deloitte. I now work at E&Y in Chicago excited for what is to come
in the near future!
2. Share a favorite Grand Valley memory.
Walking into my first GVSU career fair in downtown Grand Rapids
and seeing all of the companies with booths. This sight was exciting
and nerve-racking at the same time. Feeling well prepped and ready to
make my pitches was fueled from the career centers passion to help
students secure internships. The outcome, my first internship landed
after a few weeks of interviews.
3. What's the best piece of advice you've ever received?
While you are young and able, travel as much as you can. See the
world and be open to new challenges, experiences, and cultures. This
broadened scope will help you in all aspects of life moving forward.
4. List three words you would use to describe your Grand
Valley experience.
Community, Exhilarating, Growth
5. What difference would you like to make in the world?
I would love to mentor and help young people pursue their dreams
and reach happiness. In this world this is a tougher challenge than
seen at first. Finding happiness is something we all desire but often
harder to accomplish than first sought out.
January 2022
Interest Area(s)
Business Administration, Management
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