Kaila Jurado: Traditions, CPAs... and Food!

Kaila Jurado is one of the most driven students you will ever meet.  An accounting graduate student, she balances work and extracurricular activities with some of the toughest classes at Baylor.  It’s no secret that the Accounting core is rigorous, but Kaila thrives on the pace of the accounting world.

Make no mistake- Kaila’s life is full of hard work.  Currently working on passing her CPA exams (which have only a 16 percent pass rate on the first attempt), she spends her time studying.  But she also finds time for fun, and is the proud owner of a new puppy!

Baylor’s many traditions are what drew Kaila to Waco.  Originally from West Palm Beach, Florida, she is the first Bear from her family.  She has created a legacy, though.  Her younger sister is now a freshman at Baylor!

“I wanted to attend a university focused on Christian beliefs and academic excellence,” said Kaila.  “My favorite memory is my sister choosing to follow in my footsteps!”

Kaila choosing Accounting as her major had less to do with tradition and more to do with food.  The many free meals provided by the Accounting Department are what originally drew her into the field.

“I loved all the free George’s meals at accounting events,” Kaila said.  “And my favorite professor, Dr. MacGregor, brought us bananas sometimes!”

While Kaila enjoys the perks of being accounting major, the fast-paced nature of the field fits in with her hardworking personality.  Because of this work ethic, tutoring seemed to be the perfect choice when Kaila decided to get a job.

“I love teaching others seemingly complex concepts in a way they can understand,” Kaila said.

Kaila hopes to eventually move into the non-profit field, where she can combine her love of business with her love for helping people.

Erica Xeiwei Jiang: Searching for Passion

Erica Jiang is a unique student.  A sophomore from China, she understands things about life that most college students haven’t begun to grasp. Through her studies of various mathematicians, she has discovered the seed that will sprout success in her life- passion.

 One of Erica’s favorite books, The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur, led her to the search for passion.

 “If you aren't passionate about your vocation, you will have a real tough time sustaining a startup, let alone living through the dark days,” the book explains.  Erica understands the importance of loving what you do, and she is in search of just the right vocation.

While at Baylor, Erica has discovered some important things about herself, and she has begun to uncover some of those passions.  For example, she loves mathematics.  She respects their ability to solve problems and create order in a chaotic world.

“They are so efficient and straightforward,” Erica said. “Nothing else can help to explain a system and to make predictions about behavior as efficiently as mathematical models.”

To a student who is constantly searching for meaning, tutoring seemed an obvious choice.  While she is constantly discovering new questions and searching for their answers, she is able to provide guidance to students.  She is able to share the knowledge she has gained through her journey in discovery.

“I enjoy the moment when students who turn to me completely understand the question due to my help,” she said.

Even though Erica hasn’t completely figured out her life yet, she knows she’s on the right path.  Baylor has been a step in the right direction, and she knows she will discover her passion during her time here.  It’s just a matter of perseverance.

“I’ll never give up,” she said. “I will always work hard to achieve my goals.”