Aria Reyes returned to Wichita State University through the Shocker Comeback Program to secure a more stable career with higher earning potential. Financial challenges
and time constraints initially made re-enrollment difficult, but the Comeback Scholarship
and WSU’s flexible online accounting program eased the transition.
Beyond academics, her journey has been rewarding—she’s setting a strong example for
her daughter and applying new knowledge to her career at Koch Inc.
What inspired you to return to Wichita State through the Shocker Comeback program,
and how has the experience met your expectations?
What inspired me to return was the need to change career paths. I was wanting a degree
that offered more stability and the opportunity to earn a higher income.
Can you describe any obstacles you faced before re-enrolling, and how the program
helped you overcome them?
The biggest obstacles I was facing were financial and investing my time into another
venture. The Comeback Scholarship helped to reduce that financial burden and the online
program offered at WSU for accounting helped me to better balance the demands in my
life.
What’s been the most rewarding part of your journey since coming back to WSU?
The most rewarding part is being able for my daughter to see how dedicated I have
been in my studies and showing her what that looks like. I'm hoping she will emulate
that when it is her time to attend college in 2039!
How has working on your degree through Shocker Comeback impacted your career or personal
life?
My classes have helped tremendously. Currently, I work at Koch Inc. on the Supplier
Enablement Team and bits and pieces I have picked up from my classes at WSU have helped
to connect certain situations at work which has allowed me to have a better understanding
of processes and how the world works.
What advice would you give to someone considering returning to complete their education
through this program?
The biggest piece of advice I have is to make sure you are choosing a career path
that is stable and has the opportunity to help you earn a higher income. This is really
important for survival and money can be one of the biggest defenses to most life challenges.
