Previous Positions:President, Site Manager, Manager, Assistant Program Coordinator
Degree: BA in Actuarial Science (June 2012)
My most memorable VITA moments were...
My most memorable VITA moments are the weird faces people give me when they ask
"How much do you get paid for this?" and I say "I don't get paid." Also, everyone
is always confused as to why I'm active in VITA even though I'm an Actuarial
Science major (http://www.beanactuary.org/). It's always funny to see the
surprise in people's faces when they automatically assume that I'm an Accountancy
major but I tell them "nope... I'm an Actuarial Science major".
How I got involved with VITA:
I was reading the Student Life weekly email and it caught my attention. I
applied, passed the pre-test, attended training and passed the post-test with
flying colors. That was during Freshman year. Now on my FIFTH year with
BaruchVITA and I'm still loving every bit of it!
What I like most about VITA:
Baruch VITA is like an extended family. Everyone here is so loving and caring.
People look at VITA and think - stay away it's taxes and you do not want to mess
with that but VITA is so different from this perception. You will understand once
you join us... So what are you waiting for? JOIN NOW.
How VITA has helped me in my career/job:
Believe it or not ... It's a tremendous help!
A recent interview:
Employer: Do you have any leadership experiences?
Me: Yes, I'm part of TEAM Baruch and Baruch VITA.
Employer: What are TEAM Baruch and Baruch VITA?
Me: Well ... Baruch VITA stands for Volunteer Income Tax Assistance ... I'm an
Assistant Program Coodrinator ... We prepare taxes for low income and elderly
taxpayers who cannot afford to pay an accountant ...
Employer: Impressive! You put so much effort into something completely
voluntary. You should be proud of yourself.
Me: Well ... many people see taxes as boring but it really isn't ...
Employer: Interesting! and you are not even an Accounting major.
Well ... As you can see, the majority of my interview was spent talking about VITA. I got the job and it's all thanks to Baruch VITA.
Previous Positions: Assistant Program Coordinator, Volunteer Tax Preparer
Degree: BBA in Accounting (June 2013)
My most memorable VITA moment was...
When I completed my first tax return for my very first client. I felt such a
sense of pride and relief at the same time. It literally took me more than two
hours to complete my first return. I was so nervous and I wanted to get
everything right. So I checked, double checked, triple checked, and asked my site
manager a gazillion questions just to be make sure. When I finally had everything
ready for the client, I apologized for taking so long, and the couple I was
helping just smiled and thanked me for doing a good job. I felt so
accomplished.
How I got involved with VITA:
How did you get involved with VITA? Back when I was a freshman and less cool, I
heard VITA discussed over and over again in all of my classes. It seemed like
everyone was doing it. And so to fit in with Baruchians, I went to one of VITA' s
Open Houses. I really liked the video they showed during the Open House because
it was sort-of-not-really-funny but it seemed like everyone had a good time
making it. I like having fun. And so I joined.
What I like most about VITA:
I like the people I meet and the skills I learn. Taxes are hard and annoying. But
now that I learned how to file tax returns, I can help my parents estimate how
much they can expect to get back/owe each year. But the real reward, in my
opinion, is meeting new people. VITA is one of the biggest clubs on campus. There
are hundreds of volunteers each year. Odds are, you are going to meet a friend or
two, Junebe even a best friend, and sometimes if you're lucky, someone really
special.
How VITA has helped me in my career/job:
You' d be surprised how much people know about VITA. In a recent job interview,
the first thing they asked me about was my participation in VITA. Furthermore, by
joining VITA, you are not just participating in a club; you are joining a family.
And just like family, fellow VITA peeps want to help you
succeed whether it' s by tutoring you in math, or helping you
land an interview with a pretty fancy firm.
Previous Positions: Volunteer Tax Preparer
Degree: BBA in Accounting (June 2012)
My most memorable VITA moment was...
The rest of the team was selling cupcakes and cookies at a VITA bake sale to
raise money for breast cancer awareness. Somehow I ended up selling one-dollar
hugs.
How I got involved with VITA:
I felt so unaccomplished in life so I joined just to fill up my resume. Then it
turned out to be such a fulfilling experience! I forgot that I hated waking up
early on Saturdays because I really had a good time with the clients and
volunteers.
What I like most about VITA:
I get to meet hundreds of people. It's the first time I joined something that had
this much one-on-one interaction with so many clients and volunteers and
trainers. It was also very fulfilling to sit down and talk to each client because
they all had different stories to share.
How VITA has helped me in my career/job:
I always talk about VITA at job interviews. It takes up a huge chunk on my resume
because I work with real taxes and face actual clients. My interviewers are
always amazed whenever I explain my work with VITA. Some of them are very
familiar with the program, too. VITA helped me land my first Accounting
Internship even without prior corporate experience.
Previous Positions: President/Program Coordinator (2009), Assistant Coordinator, Site Manager
Degree: BBA in Finance (June 2011)
My most memorable VITA moment was...
My first presentation about VITA during our Open House on October 16th, 2008. I
must've been more nervous than I thought because I kept saying that training will
place during Spring Break instead of the January Intersession…no wonder
students weren't really responding to me, they thought I was nuts!
How I got involved with VITA:
I approached last year’s coordinator to ask if he needed help with
Marketing efforts and ended up getting sucked into the VITA family. As my
involvement with VITA increased, I was promoted to Assistant Program Coordinator.
I continue to get involved with VITA because I really like the service that
we’re able to offer to our clients and really believed in the program, and
because of my commitment to the program, I became one of the Program
Coordinators.
What I like most about VITA:
What I love most, besides the great learning experience, is the service that we
offer to people, not only our clients but our volunteers as well. VITA helps
volunteers get an exposure to the complex world of tax, for the cost of nothing
(unless you count the three hours they’ll have to give up every week during
Spring Semester…)! Our clients are also so grateful for what we do that
they’ll personally thank us or send us a follow-up e-mail. Not everyone has
the luxury of going to a paid professional to get their taxes prepared, and the
clients that we have should not have to pay money for a simple tax return that
VITA volunteers can easily handle. VITA is more than a service, we play an
immense role in people’s lives, and that’s why the same clients come
back every year.
How VITA has helped me in my career/job:
I can’t stress it enough how VITA is great for your future career or
internship. Not everyone can say that they helped low income families prepare tax
returns, saving them money that would’ve went to paid professionals.
Employers like that you volunteer and doing something like VITA, Baruch’s
largest volunteer program, will definitely be a benefit. I’m always talking
about VITA in my interviews and my involvement and experience in VITA has helped
me in not only my current job, past job, but scholarships as well.
Previous Positions: Assistant Coordinator, Volunteer Tax Preparer
Degree: BBA in Finance (June 2011)
My most memorable VITA moment was...
Once, when I was filing tax return for an old woman in Chinatown, the woman
commented on the work I had done with her and showed a great sincerity to the
VITA. At that moment, I felt proud of helping others by preparing their tax
returns and contributing to the community.
How I got involved with VITA:
My friend TingTing Tso introduced me to VITA in my freshmen year in College. She
simply told me that VITA was a good program to attend. And, I attended the
training.
What I like most about VITA:
By attending VITA, I gained knowledge about tax. Tax is a big part of our lives.
If I can learn more about tax, I can benefit from that by saving money and
prepare tax returns myself. Also, I can benefit people around me, I help my
friends and relatives do the tax returns for free.
How VITA has helped me in my career/job:
VITA helps a lot. First, I have something to write on my resume. Second, by
attending VITA, I gain more soft skills that I can use in my workplace. I became
a more social person and an effective communicator because I had to deal with
people when I was preparing tax returns.
Previous Positions: Treasurer, Volunteer Tax Preparer
Degree: BBA in Accounting (June 2011)
My most memorable VITA moment was...
I finished completing a client's tax return and she felt so grateful that she wanted
to give me a bag of Cheez-It crackers. I had to explain to her that I could not
accept it because that would be seen as a form of payment but she kept trying to
shove the bag towards me. After numerous attempts to explain to her that I can get
into trouble, she finally stops and gave me her thanks. Then the following weekend, I
had to buy myself a box of Cheez-It crackers because I could not stop thinking about
it.
How I got involved with VITA:
I use to work with Kelly Tran and being the coordinator that she is, she would take
her recruiting efforts from the campus area to the workplace, especially when she
found out that I go to Baruch College. Well I guess she did a good job because here I
am now!
What I like most about VITA:
VITA is a win-win situation, and those are quite rare. Not only do low income
families benefit by not having to pay for a professional tax preparer, the volunteers
gain some hands-on experience. VITA allows volunteers to familiarize themselves with
tax rules while enhancing their communication skills as well as their leadership
skills. For one thing, they actually get to know what a Form 1040 looks
like.
How VITA has helped me in my career/job:
VITA is always a conversation topic during job/internship interviews and it
diminishes the occurrence of awkward silences during said interviews. Furthermore, it
enables me to demonstrate my sense of commitment since I am willing to go through
with the entire program; from the trainings that start early in the morning to the 30
hours of tax preparation requirements. Moreover, there are other skills that you can
fortify in VITA such as skills in communication, teamwork, as well as problem
solving. These are all imperative in any work environment.
Previous Positions: Assistant Coordinator, Site Manager, Volunteer Tax Preparer
Degree: BBA in Accounting (June 2011) / CUNY Honors College
My most memorable VITA moments were...
the day that VITA celebrated my 21st birthday (it was a clean celebration). I
remember arguing with Diana, the President of VITA at the time, about putting
grape jelly on Popeyes biscuits while standing at the door of the room they used
to set up the celebration. I did not know everyone too well at the time, but I
was certain of how amazing the people in this program were. My second most
memorable VITA moment was the day I received my very own VITA little,
Erik.
How I got involved with VITA:
I first signed up to become a volunteer in my sophomore year because I needed
community service hours. Luckily I had heard from my friend about a useful tax
program that could fulfill my required service, called VITA. I enjoyed the
experience so much my first year that I applied to for a managerial position the
following year. And the year after that.
What I like most about VITA:
What I love most about VITA is that I like it so much, I have no problem waking
up at 5AM to commute two hours from Brooklyn to go open a site in Flushing on a
Saturday morning. Or Junebe that I am able to go to school every other weekday
three hours early to set up the tables and greet eager clients who arrived one
hour before opening. OR Junebe it's waking up at 5AM (again) during winter break,
while everyone else is on vacation, to get to school on a Saturday to help set up
and teach a class full of volunteers-to-be about why it's just easier to take the
education credit on a tax return and save yourself the trouble, but you will
probably have to figure out the difference between the credit and the deduction
anyways. And then 20 hours later go home to sleep at 1AM only to repeat it again
on Sunday. Actually it's because of all the delicious Popeyes chicken we eat
during tax season (right around the corner), the weekly cake feasting rituals and
Daniel's delicious baked goods (I still suspect he is putting something that
could be an addictive borderline illegal substance in his banana bread), as well
as the cool on the job stories that the MTA employee had to entertain me with as
I helped file his taxes, and sitting with our friends and volunteers for hours a
day, days a week, and weeks a month. All for VITA.
How VITA has helped me in my career/job:
VITA is definitely a highlight on my resume and I often find that it is a good
talking point for interviewers and potential employers. I have heard of many
instances where interviewers have been involved with the program itself, or at
least knowing about it's good service. I find that the knowledge and experience
you gain from the hands on work you do in VITA is actually more involved and
technical than what most internships have to offer to a typical college student.
The skills you get from VITA are not simply rote memorization of tax rules and
line numbers, but more so the reinforcement of basic comprehension and analyzing
skills. I would even say that after one year of VITA, you will never have a
problem filling out any type of form for home, school, or work again. Ever.
Previous Positions: Assistant Coordinator, Volunteer Tax Preparer
Degree: BBA in Accounting (June 2011)
My most memorable VITA moment was...
During my first year as a volunteer at the CCBA site, a client tried to hand me a
red envelope after I finished her tax returned. When I refused, she tried to give
me candy, which I refused too. She was so grateful that she came back twice to
say thank you.
How I got involved with VITA:
During my first semester at Baruch, I saw VITA flyers all over the school. Then I
went to the VITA Open House and signed up right after.
What I like most about VITA:
Being able to gain tax skills and help the people in our community is what I like
most about VITA. The program offers great resources, such the training session in
January and the textbook materials, to provide volunteers a better understanding
of income tax. As volunteers acquire tax skills, they get the opportunity to
prepare actual tax returns for the clients.
How VITA has helped me in my career/job:
I had worried about my nearly empty resume when I first entered Baruch. However,
after participating in VITA, I am confident it will make a difference in the
future when I apply for internships or jobs. I urge all incoming Baruch students
to take advantage of this great opportunity and get involved!
Previous Positions: Assistant Coordinator, Assistant Site Manager
Degree: BBA in Accounting (June 2012)
My most memorable VITA moment was...
At the Baruch site and it was one of the last returns for the day. He seemed like
a very nice and normal client until he pulled out all the forms from his bag. He
had 27 W-2 forms I needed to put into his return. While I was still shocked he
told me, "Don't worry, I had more last year".
How I got involved with VITA:
I actually did VITA at another college and they always spoke about how great
Baruch VITA was. So when I transferred to Baruch it was the first club I joined.
They definitely were right about how great this club was.
What I like most about VITA:
The people. It's one thing to join a club because it looks good on your resume
but when you can make friends and meet new and interesting people on a daily
basis it makes the experience worthwhile.
How VITA has helped me in my career/job:
I do plenty of extra-curricular activities and VITA is always the one they want
to speak about in any of my interviews. It shows everything an employer is
looking for, a leader, team player, hard worker, passion, and overall a sense of
duty to give back to my community. It's not just about telling someone how great
you are but being able to show it.
Previous Positions: Assistant Coordinator, Volunteer Tax Preparer
Degree: BBA in Finance (June 2012)
My most memorable VITA moment was...
The first day the Flushing site opened, also my first day of volunteering, I was
expecting not many clients would come so I wasn’t nervous at all. As soon
as the elevator opened, I was freaked out. Dozens of clients lined up at the site
and I couldn’t see the end of the line. So right after I settled down I got
my first client. I was so nervous when I was filling out his return and I
remember it took me over an hour to complete it. I thought I would mess up
everything but then it turned out that everything was correct after the site
manager reviewed it. Finally everything was completed and the client thanked me
for so many times. At that moment I was really proud of myself. I guess this is
what people called “VITA Pride”.
How I got involved with VITA:
One day I was wandering around school and suddenly I came across a wall full of
VITA flyers. I thought it’s about the VITA drink so I went to check out
VITA’s website and then I signed up for it. Once I signed up I
couldn’t get away with it. It is an addiction!
What I like most about VITA:
What you learn in VITA is so useful throughout life. Why bother to pay
accountants to file your tax return while you can actually do it yourself? Before
I joined VITA I was amazed by how my accountant could use less than 30 minutes to
file my return. After I joined VITA I never went back to him and realized how fun
and easy it is to file my own return. Also, VITA is a great way to make new
friends.
How VITA has helped me in my career/job:
I have many job experiences but none of them related to my major or even business
in general. After I joined VITA I realized that it would definitely make a
difference and helps me stand out among others. VITA experience makes a
difference on your resume by showing that you are willing to commit the time and
effort to help the community.
Previous Positions: Assistant Coordinator, Volunteer Tax Preparer
Degree: BBA in Actuarial Science (June 2012)
My most memorable VITA moment was...
I still remembered the January Training. It was long and boring. Textbook,
workbook... textbook, workbook... Yes, this was the pattern. In short, it was
"miserable". However, I also remembered the smiles that shown on the faces of my
clients. They were lovely and sincere. Federal,
state, federal, state. Yes, this was the
pattern. In short, it was worthy.
How I got involved with VITA:
I learned about VITA through word of mouth. As a freshman, I was looking for an
organization that is enjoyable and meaningful to join. I came up to my friend,
and he recommended VITA to me. After attending the open house, I was once again
convinced that VITA is an excellent intermediary that provides students a
platform to network, to learn and utilize their knowledge, and to make
contribution to their communities.
What I like most about VITA:
I like VITA because it makes me feel proud. VITA has hundreds of volunteers every
year which is a rare case among student clubs and organizations. In spite the
number of people, it is a highly effective and efficient group. In addition,
after seeing the number of returns that was filed and the number of clients that
was handled, I felt that I actually contributed something to our communities
instead of sitting there and doing nothing.
How VITA has helped me in my career/job:
Undoubtedly, VITA is an perfect resume builder and a good conversation starter
during interview. In fact, one recruiter told me that she liked my example of
VITA, because it actually demonstrated what I have learned and have done.
Previous Positions: Senior Tax Preparer
Degree: Undecided (June 2013)
My most memorable VITA moment was...
My most memorable VITA moment was when I had my personal line of clients who were waiting for hours only for me because their friends and relatives whose taxes I did before recommended me.
How I got involved with VITA:
At my previous college i was heavily involved with many clubs and orgs so as soon as I've transfered to Baruch I started to research different clubs but unfortunately all of them had already finished recruiting by that time so I was late for everything except VITA. I've read about it and thought that the idea behind it was great (also at that time I didn't know which major to choose). By accident I was there during VITA tabling so I applied, passed the test, and started my first tax season. After the tax season I realized how much I loved it and how much I missed it so I chose accounting as my major. Since then I keep coming back to VITA because i am very thankful to this ingenious organization for everything It has done for me.
What I like most about VITA:
I like almost everything about VITA. I like that VITA gives opportunity to students to learn, explore, and develop the skills necessary in the business world and the fact that it is all for free unlike many other organizations who claim to help but cannot even compare to what VITA has to offer. I like that it allows people to network and most importantly make many friends, which I did, and for the most part people that you meet here are so genuinely kind and really want to help others.
How VITA has helped me in my career/job:
In the beginning VITA was a foundation for my resume and now it became a pleasant feature.
Previous Positions: Volunteer Tax Preparer
Degree: BBA in Accounting (June 2014)
My most memorable VITA moments were...
My most memorable moment in VITA was definitely my first day. When I first arrived at the site and was assigned my first client, I was extremely nervous. While doing my first tax return, I kept on flipping through the tax textbook to make sure I followed all the steps and did everything correctly. I even double and triple checked over the return to make sure no errors were made. Although the client waited a very long time, he said thanks and was very grateful that he was able to save some money getting his tax return done for free.
How I got involved with VITA:
I first learned about VITA from my peer mentor in my freshman seminar class. He suggested that we join at least one club and get involved during our freshman year. After attending the VITA open house and learning about its many opportunities, I immediately signed up for VITA!
What I like most about VITA:
Gaining knowledge about taxes, helping the community, and most importantly being able to meet others that have similar goals/purpose as you.
How VITA has helped me in my career/job:
Previous Positions: Volunteer Tax Preparer
Degree: BBA in Accounting (June 2014)
My most memorable VITA moment was...
The overall experience was very memorable. I think the most memorable VITA moment would probably be my first time filing a tax return for an actual client. I took approximately 90 minutes to do that return because I made many mistakes and I failed to ask her for all her documents beforehand. I felt bad for making her wait so long, but she gave me a pat at the end for finishing it. Such nice people! The last day at my volunteer site was also memorable because there was a little celebration for our hard work done and I finally won the grand prize of something for the first time in my life! YEAH!
How I got involved with VITA:
I was going to head out for lunch, but a friend easily persuaded me to check out this VITA club. He said there was free food, but we ended up getting none because he just wanted to talk to his friend (*ahem* Liaa Marquez!).
What I like most about VITA:
Volunteerism is something I've done since the 8th grade, so VITA has given me the opportunity to continue to serve my community while allowing me to interact with the different organizations on campus. Also, I have met many new faces that I will remember for a long time to come. VITA IS DA BOMB!
How VITA has helped me in my career/job:
VITA has helped me to improve my communication skills, especially in speaking a different language, with clients. In addition, it has helped me to balance schoolwork and volunteer work because in the future when I get a job, I will need to good time management. Oh, VITA also makes my resume look bling bling.
Previous Positions: Site Manager, International Reviewer, International Tax Preparer, Assistant Site Manager
Degree: BBA in Accounting (June 2012)
My most memorable VITA moment was...
My most memorable moments in VITA involve the clients who receive refunds larger than they expected. Every year, clients come into VITA to get their taxes filed and at the end, when they find out about their refunds, they're shocked because it is normally higher than what they expected or what they received in prior years. They normally ask me "Are you sure this is right?" and to double check and see if there was an error somewhere. After reassuring them several times, they thank me and leave and the smiles that they have make me feel good about myself.
How I got involved with VITA:
I first heard about VITA through my brother who was in the VITA program in a different college. Every tax season, he would end up coming home late after VITA normally around midnight. The reason he kept coming home late was because he enjoyed his VITA and kept staying late to help clients. When I entered Baruch, I decided I would see what was so interesting about VITA and enjoyed myself so much I volunteer every year.
What I like most about VITA:
The VITA community. A lot of stories come from clients or volunteers and I enjoy hearing about them. Clients tell stories about their lives, stories like how married clients met each other or how they became engaged, stories about how their child burped up cereal or crazy things they did in college; stories about their lives, their hardship, their joy. Volunteers end up trading stories about their lives, giving tips and advice, asking for solutions to problems or sharing jokes that they thought were funny. VITA lets me connect with other people and if it wasn't for that, VITA would not be as enjoyable as it is for me.
How VITA has helped me in my career/job:
VITA is an effective way to build confidence. Before I started VITA, it was really hard for me to answer questions confidently when talk to strangers. My answers always showed my anxiety even though I was sure that I was correct. In VITA, because it is tax, most clients are unsure of everything and trust me to guide them through. I was forced to learn to be confident in my answers because if I showed anxiety, the clients would become anxious. This has helped me in a lot of interviews because no matter how nervous or anxious I was, my answers did not show it.
Previous Positions: Volunteer Tax Preparer
Degree: BBA in Accounting (June 2012)
My most memorable VITA moment was...
My most memorable moment in VITA was when a client offered to buy me a coffee after helping her with her taxes, but I said it was okay and that she doesn't need to. However, she was very surprised and said that "Nothing in NYC is Free" and I'm proud to say that VITA is a free service offered to the people of the community. (Needs more editing :))
How I got involved with VITA:
I joined VITA as a volunteer freshman year because I heard of the program through a friend. I thought it would be very interesting and useful to learn how to file my taxes. When I was a senior in high school, I had a very hard time with the FAFSA (financial aid) application. The application asked for various numbers on different lines of the 1040 and W-2. I had no idea what those lines meant, but now it all make sense!
What I like most about VITA:
How VITA has helped me in my career/job:
Interview Topic, Enhance Resume
Previous Positions: Volunteer Tax Preparer
Degree: BBA in Accounting (June 2013)
My most memorable VITA moment was...
There were definitely many memorable moments for me as a volunteer tax preparer. One of the most memorable VITA moments was my first day. I was extremely nervous, it took me more than an hour to finish a return because of all the flipping through the textbook and checking. I apologized to all my clients, but they all told me not to and said they were thankful for what I did for them. One of the clients said that I was doing something tremendous for the community, and that I should be proud of myself, and she left with her thumbs up and a big smile on her face.
How I got involved with VITA:
I actually learned about VITA through the posters that they posted on every corner of the wall. After seeing the VITA posters for a long period of time, VITA was stuck in my head. Other than that, I also have a friend who encouraged me to join and telling me how great VITA is, as a result, I only could see and hear VITA when I was thinking about clubs.
What I like most about VITA:
VITA has given me the opportunity to help the community while learning something that is related to my major and the experience that would help me in my career. Also, I’ve got to meet with many amazing people who I would befriend with for a long time. Tax may be boring, but VITA is fun, enjoyable and AWESOME.
How VITA has helped me in my career/job:
Previous Positions: Volunteer Tax Preparer
Degree: BBA in Accounting (June 2012)
My most memorable VITA moment was...
My most memorable VITA moment is when I yelled at my client. He did not respond to my questions half of the time nor did his wife help with the situation. His wife was just standing there staring at other volunteers eating. No, I am not mean. He was old and his hearing aid wasn't working correctly. So I had to crouch over the table and yell close to his ear. The site manager was helping me yell as well so we were both two Asian girls screaming on the top of our lungs asking for information.
How I got involved with VITA:
Honestly, my friend forced me to join. I just assumed VITA would be boring so I didn't bother during my freshmen year. But boy was I wrong! VITA IS AWESOME!
What I like most about VITA:
What I like most about VITA? THE PEOPLE especially ME! Not only do you learn how to file taxes but you also can brag to your parents and your parent's friend that you can file taxes and act like you made something out of yourself at such a young age =D
How VITA has helped me in my career/job:
VITA helps me with everything. Career and job wise, VITA gave me something employers are looking for, something to talk about, and something that relates to my major.
Previous Positions: Senior Tax Preparer
Degree: BBA in Accounting (June 2013)
My most memorable VITA moment was...
There are so many to chose from. Every week there will be something special that happens, rather its a volunteer scaring off a client or a volunteer's bad Chinese confusing another client. However, my most memorable VITA moment was my first day ever as a volunteer. I was half hour late for my shift because there was a Chinese New Year parade happening near the Flushing site. It was my first day, so I was pretty confused. Took me two hours to finish helping out my first client. (I think that's what she said, this dialogue was in Mandarin) It took another hour to get through my second return. By then it was 5:30 and there was only one client left on the waiting line. I had stayed beyond my required time at that point, but all the other volunteers were busy so I took this client because I knew she has been waiting since I got to the site at 1. I noticed the trend that I was getting faster so I thought should finish this return in half an hour and be done by the 6:00 closing time..... I got it done by 7:30. I remember constantly apologizing for taking so long, but the client just kept encouraging me and said she was grateful that I took the time to help. I realized that this was something worth doing if people were willing to wait 6 hours for.
How I got involved with VITA:
Back in my freshman year, I knew a girl that would annoy me whenever we see each other around campus. Back then I had a philosophy class that was scheduled on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the 11:10 to 12:25 time slot. On one faithful Thursday, I fell asleep in said class. I woke up after class ended and saw people walking in to the room. Long and behold that annoying girl was among them. I realized that there was probably some event happening in the room and this was my chance to get revenge on her by surprising her. The event turned out to be first Open House of that year for some club named VITA. I wasn't paying much attention as I was plotting how to annoy the girl. As the event was winding down, she saw me and my meticulous plan failed. Somehow I ended up in a bet with her to see who would actually get in VITA. I won.
What I like most about VITA:
All the people I have been able to meet in VITA. Due to the competitive selection process, I knew that my fellow volunteers would be among the most diligent and intelligent people in Baruch College. However I was surprised by how much fun they are as well, honestly during tax season the day of the week I look forward to the most was my volunteer day, because I knew I would walk out with tons of new fun-filled memories.
How VITA has helped me in my career/job:
VITA is just a great talking point in any interview. Every interview I have had so far involved a lengthy discussion of my experience with VITA. It also allows my resume to stand out even when I had little internship experience, as VITA is still considered a legit hands-on experience.
Previous Positions: Senior Tax Preparer
Degree: BBA in Accounting (June 2013)
My most memorable VITA moments were...
I enjoy all the times I spent in VITA. My favorite memory would be my first time helping an old grandma filing her tax return. Since it was my first return, I was extremely nervous. However, she did not criticize me. Instead, she smiled and thanked me numeroussss times for helping her. I love putting smiles on people's faces and making new and fun-loving friends! I LOVE VITA :D
How I got involved with VITA:
I joined VITA to learn a skill, volunteer and meet new friends.
What I like most about VITA:
The meaning, its purpose, the people... EVERYTHING!
How VITA has helped me in my career/job:
It is obvious
Previous Positions: Volunteer Tax Preparer
Degree: BBA in Accounting (June 2014)
My most memorable VITA moments were...
My most memorable moment in VITA was when I filed a tax return for an elderly woman. During the whole procedure of preparing her tax return, she was very quiet and seemed very depressed. I did not want to ask her so many questions to try to cheer her up because I was afraid of an unexpected adverse reaction from her. So, I continued to quietly file her tax return. When I reached the near end of the Federal return, I realized that she will have to pay taxes (no refund). Understanding my duties as a volunteer, I found myself in a very hard situation because I did not want to bring her any bad news, but I knew I had to explain the outcome to her. When she heard that she had to pay taxes, she was dismayed by it because she could not afford to pay for them. I expected a negative response from her, but surprisingly she thanked me because she understood that if she had went to a paid preparer, which she couldn't afford, she would've been charged in addition to the taxes that she had to pay. As she was leaving the site, she continued to thank me and as I watched her walk out, I realized that this was the reality in which I never came in contact with--that fee accountants charge for filing taxes could be a burden to people. This was when I became more proud of what VITA was established for.
How I got involved with VITA:
As an incoming freshman, I was very confused in deciding which club to join. However, my cousin who was already enrolled in Baruch suggested to me that I should join VITA because I could have the opportunity to learn something related to my major. Very soon, I attended VITA's open houses and realized that this would be a great chance for me not only to learn about tax, but to meet a lot of new people and gain new experience!
What I like most about VITA:
I had many rewarding experiences in VITA. For every return I filed for each client, no matter what the outcome was, the client was extremely thankful for the help I provided. Because of this, VITA made me realize that there is actually something I can actively take part in which I learn and was able to apply that knowledge to provide help to others who needed it.
How VITA has helped me in my career/job:
Not yet for now. BUT I KNOW IT WILL!
Previous Positions: Volunteer Tax Preparer
Degree: BBA in Accounting (June 2013)
My most memorable VITA moment was...
My most memorable moment in VITA was my first day. I was the first volunteer to arrive at my site (CCBA) and there was a huge line of people waiting to get their taxes done. I was extremely nervous especially during my first tax return even though it was the easiest kind of tax return to file. But at the end of the day I got the job done, got many thank yous and felt happy that I spent my day giving back to my community.
How I got involved with VITA:
I found out about VITA during the club fair. At that point I had no idea what VITA was and no idea how to prepare taxes. But the people at the VITA table were very friendly and told me that I did not need any knowledge or experience in taxes to join, so i decided to take a chance.
What I like most about VITA:
The people. Everyone I met in VITA is special and unique and I love them all. I can honestly say I've made some great friends during my experience in VITA.
How VITA has helped me in my career/job:
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