From March 26 to March 29, I had the opportunity to travel to Dayton, Ohio and participate in the RISE conference held by Dayton University. RISE stands for Redefining Investment Strategy Education and is the largest business conference held for undergraduate students in the world. Before I attended RISE, I thought I knew a fair amount about investment strategies and the financial industry. However, the RISE conference exposed just how much I did not know and drastically changed the way I view investment strategies as well as the financial industry. Although this trip was brief, it turned out to be one of the most beneficial and fun times during my Austin College career. Attending the RISE conference gave me the opportunity to learn, travel, and rediscover a professional field that I thought I knew about. I interacted and networked with students from across the United States, professionals with diverse backgrounds, and all different types of companies. I learned not only about the financial industry but also about advanced degrees previously unknown to me. The RISE conference was a phenomenal experience in terms of
learning and networking and I hope that Austin College continues to send more and more students in the coming years.