Arriaga didn’t realize CSUB had accounting clubs when she first arrived on campus, but she became interested after learning about the CSUB chapter of the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) from a professor. She served as an events coordinator before stepping up to serve as president this semester.
“I really liked it because I’ve been able to network and put myself out there,” she said. “I got to put my foot directly in the accounting door because of this club, and I love it for that reason.”
One of the most influential events she participated in was a meet-and-greet with local accounting professionals, many of whom were CSUB alumni.
“I got to meet actual people in the field. It was really cool to see there were a lot people like me with similar experiences,” she said. “I thought one day I could be like them. It had a big impact. It changed my life.”
One of the benefits of the event was finding out about internship and firm tour opportunities. Arriaga learned about an internship being offered with Clinica Sierra Vista in 2024. She was able to get a recommendation from Dr. Di Wu, an accounting and finance professor at CSUB and a faculty advisor for the IMA chapter.
Arriaga was selected for the internship and started last December. While she would have been excited for any internship opportunity where she could expand her accounting knowledge and skills, she was grateful that it was with Clinica Sierra Vista.
“My mom was a single mom when I was young. She couldn’t afford health care, so where she would go is Clinica Sierra Vista,” she said. “This is a great way for me to give back.”
Arriaga got hands-on experience with many aspects of accounting and finance through the internship, including contracts, procurement and budgeting.
“It was great,” she said. “I got to see the workflow of the company, how documents work throughout it. I got to see the systems we have in place to ensure that payment is correct, approved and going to the right people. It reinforced what I was learning at CSUB.”
Arriaga has also been able to use the networking and communication skills she’s gained at CSUB in her work.
“Building my communication skills has been helpful. It’s one of the things I use daily on my job in working with vendors,” she said.
Clinica Sierra Vista Contracts and Procurement Supervisor Madison McCaslin said Arriaga did such a great job in the internship that it was an easy decision to offer her a position as a purchasing clerk, a role Arriaga has held since August.
“During her six-month internship, she demonstrated tremendous skill, adaptability and a genuine eagerness to learn. She quickly became known for her attention to detail and her ability to master any task given to her,” McCaslin said. “Since joining our team, she has thrived in procurement and accounts payable, consistently finding ways to optimize processes and improve efficiency. Her ability to balance school, work and extracurricular commitments — all while being a kind, dependable, and engaged employee — is truly remarkable.”