Tia is studying Accounting and will graduate in May of 2022. She is originally from Wasilla, Alaska. Tia served for 4 years in the Air Force as a Broadcast Journalist.
Why did you join the military?
I joined the military because of family tradition. I was a 4th generation airman, meaning that my father, grandfather, and great grandfather all were in the Air Force. I really liked contributing to that tradition, so I joined. I also joined because I could; I really wanted to do something other than college after high school, and it seemed like a good option.
What was a day in the life like for you during your time in service?
A day in the life for me in the Air Force was a little strange. For two years of my experience, I worked on the radio, which involved either getting up at 4a.m. to prep for the morning show, or hosting the midday show at my radio station. I would prep for a while, then go live on air to over 60,000 people, playing music, giving information, and talking about random entertainment things for 4 hours until my show was over. Then, I would be responsible for creating audio commercials and filtering requests for publication. For the other half of my military experience, I was working in a production facility that made training videos. There I would film mechanical processes, such as working on an aircraft, then take create a training video from that footage. I would be responsible for the voice over, any subtitles, informational graphics while the video was playing, and the creation of a shareable format.
Why did you leave the military?
I left the military because I was tired. As much as I loved my job and the people I worked with, I didn’t love the culture in the Air Force or how it was making me act and feel. It was a difficult decision to make, as I really did love being in the military, but I just knew it was time for me to get out. All-in-all, I’m glad that I did. Getting out of the military when I did has probably been the best decision that I’ve made recently, as it opened the door to coming to Clemson, meeting my fiancée, and finding a career path that I’m really excited about.
Why did you choose Clemson? And, why did you choose your area of study/major?
The main reason that I chose Clemson was because of my fiancée. They graduated in 2014 with a degree in biology, and always spoke very highly of that experience, so I figured it was worth consideration. So in the summer of 2019 I came up for a visit and fell in love with the campus, so I knew it was the right place for me. Plus, if I’m going to go to a school with football scholarships, the team might as well be one worth rooting for. As for my major, I feel into that completely by accident. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to study, so I started off at my community college in a general associates degree, with a mild focus in business. Initially I thought I would go into marketing, until I took an accounting course in summer 2019. That class introduced me to accounting, and I feel in love with the way accounting works. About halfway through that semester, I changed my major over to accounting, and I’ve been studying it ever since!
What are your plan/goals for after graduation?
Ideally, I would like to go on to grad school after graduation. I would like to attend the Clemson Masters of Professional Accountancy program, to get my CPA. I would love to move on to non-profit accounting, to try to give back to the community. At the end of the day, I’ll be happy in any job that allows me to measure my success in my impact, rather than just salary.
If you had to pick your favorite moment from your Clemson experience, what would it be and why?
My favorite moment from my Clemson experience was probably when I got to go to the 2020 Military Appreciation Football game. I worked for Military and Veteran Engagement that semester, so it was really cool to see the result of all the hard work that office had put it. It was a really fun game to watch too, and I went with one of my best friends at Clemson. It was an amazing time, and I’m really glad I got to experience it.
What is one piece of advice you would tell to other student veterans at Clemson?
I would tell other student veterans to get involved, both inside and outside of veteran programs. Clemson has a really strong Student Veteran’s Association, but that’s not your only opportunity to get involved. Go to different organizational and social events, even if they’re not something you would normally attend. I’ve met some of my closest friends and gotten involved with a ton of great organizations completely by accidental meetings. There’s a lot that the university has to offer, so make the most of it while you’re here.
