Taryn Ishii

Taryn Ishii: Alumna graduates early, launching career with PricewaterhouseCoopers

Recent alumna and accounting major Taryn Ishii is ahead of the curve, graduating from Loyola Marymount University a year ahead of her class and securing employment with professional services giant PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Taryn, who hails from the Hawaiian island of Oahu, says she initially landed an internship with PwC at one of the many recruiting events LMU hosts, which eventually led to a job offer. This month she begins her career at PwC as a Tax Associate.

"It is comforting walking away from LMU with not only my diploma, but also a job," she said.

Taryn says she was drawn to LMU by its size and location, wanting to be close to home, but still in a new and exciting environment.

She was familiar with the university, as her older brother had attended and loved his experience as an LMU Lion. 

Her first year brought the need for some adjustment to her new surroundings. She says the best cure for her homesickness was getting involved and finding her own personal niche, which just so happened to be her business courses and pledging the business fraternity Delta Sigma Pi.

"Groups like Delta Sigma Pi and Hawaii Club definitely made me feel more at home, and it is where I met most of my friends," Taryn said.

She added that living on campus was a wonderful experience.

"It is the best thing," Taryn said, "you go home to your friends, who you are seeing all the time ... going to get food together at one of the on-campus dining spots, for instance, definitely created a lot of lasting memories."

While pleased she was able to graduate in three years, Taryn says she wishes she could have taken advantage of more of the opportunities LMU has to offer, such as studying abroad and taking more art classes.

"There will never be another time in your life where everything is offered to you and at your fingertips," Taryn said. "And LMU is a great place for it."

With her transition into the corporate world fast approaching, Taryn made sure to enjoy the break that followed graduation. "I did a little traveling while studying for my CPA exam, which I will take in the fall," she said.

Her goal is to one day start her own small accounting firm, and hopefully move back home to continue her professional career.

As for what advice she has for incoming Lions...

"Meet as many people as you can," Taryn said, "don't rush yourself, go at your own pace — push yourself, challenge yourself."