"UNH pushed me to become someone I never could have dreamed of."

UNH accounting and finance major Reagan Calcari leans against a fence near the campus horse barns, smiling to someone off camera.

Reagan Calcari '24 talks about how UNH helped her grow from an uncertain freshman to a confident soon-to-be graduate with real-world experience under her belt.

HOMETOWN 🏠
St. Louis, Missouri
PROGRAM 📚
Business Administration: Accounting & Finance Major
INTERESTS & ACCOMPLISHMENTS AT UNH 👩‍💻

UNH Field Hockey Team 🏑, Rutman Women's Leadership Fellow, Athletes Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, Financial Partners Program

When I first got to UNH, I wanted to do well, but I wasn't exactly sure what that meant. This was a totally new part of the country for me – new everything! But I found my way pretty quickly, and you can too.

Discovering My Path in Business

Intro to Business was a huge class for me. It was our first taste of what the business world is like! That's where I realized how much I wanted to be a Paul College student. I've always been a math and critical thinking person, so the intro accounting and finance classes really stood out to me.

Hands-On Learning: From Classroom to Boardroom

At UNH, I've had some amazing opportunities to put what I'm learning into practice:

  1. Spent one summer as an audit intern at BDO (Binder Dijker Otte), getting hands-on experience in what accounting really looks like
  2. Gained supply chain and finance experience through another internship - I loved learning about how companies purchase and negotiate supplier contracts.
  3. Spent my last semester as the finance manager for a startup called My Cancer Plan - we're helping cancer patients, and I'm using the skills and gifts that I have to make a big difference in people's lives.
Beyond the Books: Building Skills and Friendships

Being a student-athlete is a really fun and rewarding experience. It's a lot of hard work, discipline, and grit. But when you persevere and endure through trials, it is so worth it. It's awesome to have a group of 25 girls together every day, pushing through hard things and encouraging each other.

Another huge part of my experience has been the Athletes Intervarsity Christian Fellowship. I've made the best of friends through it and really grown in my faith. My favorite part has been our New Orleans missions during spring break – building homes and bringing care to those in need.

My Advice to Future Wildcats
  1. Take advantage of all the opportunities UNH offers
  2. Make the most of each day – but also take it one day at a time
  3. Be curious and ask yourself, "Why am I here right now?"
  4. Work hard and have fun – they're the two main pillars that have shaped my college experience

As I prepare to graduate, there's not anxiety or fear – just excitement and hope. I'm confident that all the lessons I've learned and the work I've done here will get me where I need to go.

So, if you're considering UNH for your business degree, go for it! UNH pushed me to become someone I never could have dreamed of.

Who knows? In four years, you might be writing a blog post about your own incredible journey.

(P.S. Shoutout to my parents and my sister for being my foundation throughout this adventure! ❤️)

Check out Reagan's Senior Snapshot:

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