Alumni Spotlight - Orchid Emambakhsh

I joined Alpha Kappa Psi at the end of my junior year in a last minute effort to figure out what the heck I wanted to do after college. I started out thinking I would become a dentist, and that later changed to becoming a psychologist. When I ruled out those two paths by trial and error, I decided to give business a shot. Bullseye.

Joining AKPsi was one of the best decisions I made in my life, because it truly shaped who I am today, and for the better. It's important to note that simply joining wasn't what made the difference - it was what I did when I became a member. I took on an important leadership role with a vision in mind, and I developed new strategies and took risks to reach my goal for the fraternity. When I successfully achieved this goal, that's when it all became clear to me. I discovered my strengths, true interests, and confidence I hadn't seen before. I carried these with me and applied them throughout the rest of my college career and through my professional career at a healthcare consulting company. If it wasn't for that critical point where it all came together for me, I can't say for sure if I would have had the same level of success I had in my career, moved into management after two years, and been admitted to Duke University's Fuqua School of Business, where I am today.

Alpha Kappa Psi taught me the importance of getting involved, because that is how you maximize your learning and discover your strengths and interests, which ultimately lead you to seeking a career in something you love and where you are able to excel.

There was something about being around my like-minded, driven fraternity brothers that fueled me. At Duke, I am once again surrounded by passionate, focused, business-minded people who cultivate a team-centric culture, and I am excited to get involved and see where this path leads me.

Opportunities, insight, and growth abound when you push your boundaries. Take advantage of that whenever you can. It's never too late to get involved.