A native of Clayton, Del., Bryce Franklin is graduating from the University of Delaware’s Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a master’s in business analytics and information management.
Franklin was nominated for this series by Assistant Professor of Accounting and Management Information Systems Joan Fico, who recognized him as an “outstanding student.”
In this profile, Franklin shares his favorite UD memories, how he has changed during his time at UD and his plans following graduation.
Lerner: How do you think you have changed from your first semester at UD to now?
Franklin: I didn’t go out much or involve myself in many activities during my first semester at UD. Through the support of my roommate and friends I’ve made along the way, I’ve made many new connections and found myself more comfortable with myself and reaching out socially.
Lerner: What have been some of the challenges you have faced during your college experience and how did you overcome them?
Franklin: One challenge that I faced occurred at the very beginning of college. While I’ve lived in Delaware my whole life, none of my friends were going to UD with me. In that way, it was a fresh start where I would be on my own for the first time. As an introvert who was never good at meeting new people, it was especially scary to be paired up with a random roommate. I was able to overcome this challenge by pushing myself out of my comfort zone and making sure that I was interacting with others instead of just hanging out in my room all day. In addition to this, it helped that my roommate was an extrovert who pulled me out of my shell. Over time I became better at reaching out to talk to new people and developed a strong community of people that I am happy to call my friends.
Lerner: What was your favorite signature UD experience and why?
Franklin: I think that my favorite signature UD experience were the Perkins Live events. The events served as a great way to go out with friends and have fun without having to spend money. I remember going to a comedy show in Perkins and having a fun time hanging out with friends beforehand and laughing during the show. I also remember events like bingo where we all sat together with our bingo boards and talked as we listened for numbers to be called. These events were also a great way of getting out of the dorm and meeting new people.
Lerner: Did you have a Lerner professor or staff member that had a big impact on your UD experience?
Franklin: One professor that has had a large impact on my UD experience was Professor Phil Pyle. He taught my executive presentations and problem solving class. I was only taking the class in order to fulfill a communication requirement, but I learned a lot through that class. Professor Pyle helped me to get rid of some of my fear of public speaking which I had struggled with for a long time. He taught me to have confidence in my own voice as well as assisting in my professional development through teaching me how to format cover letters and resumes. Professor Debra Dragone also had a large impact on my time at UD. Professor Dragone was my original advisor, and she helped me plan out how to fit my 4+1 program into four years. In addition, she got me involved in an independent study which provided hands-on auditing experience with local churches and which eventually even developed into a leadership opportunity. Over my time at UD, she has continued to support me in my endeavors.
Lerner: What does being a “Lifelong Lerner” mean to you?
Franklin: To me being a “Lifelong Lerner” can be divided into two key factors. The first factor relates to the past experiences and my time at Lerner. It tells me that I will carry these experiences and the knowledge I have accumulated with me wherever I go and reminds me never to forget what I have learned here at Lerner College. The other factor relates to the future. It serves as a reminder to never stop learning. I need to keep the same open and inquisitive mindset I had in college as I go through the world and always be open to learning and experiencing new things.
Lerner: What advice would you give to incoming freshmen to make the most out of their college experience?
Franklin: My number one piece of advice for freshmen would be to put themselves out there. Make the most of University events and clubs. Find people who have similar interests and spend time together. In addition to this, meet people in your classes and find people with whom to study or work together and who will support your academics. My second piece of advice is to not be afraid to fail. Fear and anxiety can be great tools when they are used to motivate you; don’t let them stop you from trying new things or going out of your comfort zone. As long as you know you did your best and gave your all to everything you did, then you can keep your head held high no matter the results. Learn from your mistakes and keep moving forward. Finally, while it may seem like it will last a long time, college goes by in a flash so make sure that you are enjoying your time.
Lerner: What are your plans following graduation?
Franklin: After graduation I will be working on taking my CPA exams so that I can become a certified public accountant. Starting this August I will also begin work at Santora CPA Group here in Delaware. I interned with them last summer, and it turned into an offer of employment. I’m very excited to rejoin them as a full-time employee.