At 21 years old, stepping into the professional world can create a feeling of both fear and excitement. You hear different voices talking about an endless list of expectations and reality checks, but there was one thing that I cared about the most… How do I find a career that aligns with my personal values without compromising on professional growth? Five months into working at SOAR Partners, I’ve started to discover the answer.

The Early Struggle: Passion vs. Practicality

As a young professional I wrestled with the idea of what my future career might look like. While I was drawn to social impact work, I also had a strong interest in financial strategy and operational efficiency. Finding a way to bridge these two worlds seemed nearly impossible. When I learned about SOAR Partners, I was intrigued by its unique approach—doing business with a purpose by helping mission-driven organizations achieve financial sustainability and operational excellence.

I’ve realized that aligning passion with profession isn’t about choosing one over the other—they can coexist. At SOAR, every financial report I help prepare, every strategy I analyze, and every operational challenge I tackle contributes to a larger mission. This makes finance and strategy become more than numbers but also impact. Integrity is at the heart of everything we do, and that’s why I have no hesitation in recommending our services to clients. We believe in doing the right thing, even when no one is watching, and that commitment shows in the way we treat our clients, partners, and team. When I tell someone about our services, I do it with confidence, knowing that we stand behind our work and always put people first. It’s not just about business; it’s about making a change for good in the world, and that’s something we take seriously.

One of the most valuable aspects of my journey so far has been learning from experienced professionals who share a mission. I work alongside people who have decades of experience who have challenged me to step outside my comfort zone and have empowered me to work on projects that I would have never had the opportunity to work on if I had chosen to follow a traditional corporate job route. I’ve grown at a professional level, but I am also challenged to work on a personal level. SOAR believes in values like integrity and diligence that transfer into all areas of life.

I feel confident that I’m on the right path. I’m gaining skills, growing as a professional, and, most importantly, making a difference in a way that resonates with my values. The journey is just beginning, but I’m excited for what’s ahead—because when passion and profession align, work becomes more than just a job. It becomes a calling.

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