Meet the Interns: Sonia Long
Over the next few weeks, we will be putting the spotlight on our Amazing Intern Team – letting each one introduce themselves through a series of blog posts. Here’s one of the individuals currently interning at Burkett CPAs:
Sonia Long is a student at the University of South Carolina, double majoring in Accounting and Marketing, minoring in Studio Art. Because her parents are business owners who rely on an accountant, Sonia has been interested in the field since high school.
Focusing on tax services, Sonia’s internship started this January. When the internship began, Sonia was pleasantly surprised by how friendly everyone was. “I’m not afraid to ask questions or ask for help because I know that my mentors want to help me.” She also likes that the interns get to do real work that has an impact. So far, Sonia has learned what a tax accountant’s day-to-day work might look like, how to use accounting software like UltraTax, and the basics of filing an individual tax return.
After this internship, Sonia hopes to pursue another internship in either audit or forensic accounting, just to feel out different career paths before applying to jobs.
Sonia’s family moved from Lancaster, California to Rock Hill, South Carolina at age 2. In Rock Hill, her parents opened two liquor stores. “I basically grew up in a liquor store.” She would hang out in her parents’ stores after school, helping or doing homework. Growing up with immigrant parents (who were born in Cambodia), Sonia can read and speak Khmer.
Sonia is also a talented artist, focusing on painting semi-realistic illustrations with gouache. She exercises this passion in her Studio Art classes at UofSC, where she’s able to learn even more skills.