It was the fall of 2008, and Young Lim had just arrived at Illinois as a sophomore transfer enrolled in the Gies College of Business.
“I was walking to Foellinger Auditorium for the first business course of my collegiate career, Accountancy 201," says the NBC/Universal finance and accounting manager.
"Long story short, the road to get to this point had its bumps and I experienced a wide range of emotions. But that morning, I couldn’t be more grateful and excited to start my journey as a business student.
"Fast forward to the fall semester of 2011. I’m a graduate student in the accountancy master’s program. And I’m walking to Foellinger again, this time as a teaching assistant for Accountancy 201.
"So much had happened since that walk in 2008. But for the duration of time heading to the auditorium, it was as if nothing had changed, except only a heightened level of gratitude and excitement. I was very humbled by the entirety of my Illinois experience.
"Those walks to Foellinger best encapsulate my UIUC story and how I became a true Fighting Illini. Those walks remind me to always conduct myself with pride and humility.
"I’ve been asked several times in job interview settings, 'What is your proudest accomplishment?' I always point to my resume where it reads: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign – College of Business."
