Balancing the Books – and Much More Along his Journey

Hailing from L.A., Hrand “Harry” Krkyan, Class of ’22, transferred to Woodbury in August 2019 and has fashioned a deliberate, if eclectic, academic career – prior to Woodbury and since arriving here.  Harry has explored various disciplines within the School of Business, ultimately embracing Accounting as his passion.

Tell us a bit about the path that led you to Woodbury.

It’s a story about both personal development and the thoughtful use of resources. After graduating from high school, I enrolled at Los Angeles Valley College (LAVC) to study business management.  Early on, I switched my major to marketing, since that held more interest for me at the time.

After completing my management and marketing requirements, I was ready to transfer to a four-year school, but a personal setback intervened. In late 2016, my mother was diagnosed with a serious illness, which put my academic career on hold.  During that time, I rethought my attitudes, beliefs, and aspirations while continuing to help my mother stay strong. Happily, she has been in remission for three years.

Once back on an academic track, the question became where to go next. I ultimately chose Woodbury because the Business Administration program with an emphasis on Accounting felt like the right choice for me.

What was it about Woodbury that most appealed to you?

Woodbury made it easy to make an informed decision, starting with the Admissions Department and continuing throughout the entire process. I immersed myself in the Student Orientation, Advising & Registration (SOAR) seminar. Through it, I was struck by the small class sizes, the career-focused curricula, and faculty who not only teach but are also practitioners. And I liked the fact that the School of Business holds AACSB accreditation.

At LAVC, you sampled various other fields.  What have you been able to take away from

each discipline?

As areas within business, management, marketing and accounting are related yet quite separate from one another, with markedly different perspectives. For Accounting, there’s a stigma, a perception that the field is mundane and exhausting. However, the reverse is actually true in my opinion. The primary takeaway for me is that accounting permits individuals to investigate the past and the present, so they can then foresee and shape a financial future. By understanding accounting through its fundamental standards, you can open doors to new financial opportunities.

What drew you to accounting?

Interestingly, my passion for accounting began in late 2018, when I was working at an automobile dealership.  I happen to really enjoy logo design (Mercedes, Ford, other brands, etc.).  One thing led to another, and I found myself driven to find the “golden ratio,” as delineated in the book, De Divina Proportione, composed by Luca Pacioli, the father of accounting and bookkeeping. His work evoked da Vinci, which, as someone drawn to visual design, I found fascinating.

The more I examined Pacioli’s materials, the more I began to grasp the notion of maintaining balance, especially for businesses. That was a segue to the concept of “double-entry” bookkeeping, a system Pacioli pioneered.

As you’ve refined your career aspirations, what are they today?

I’m energized about understanding the nuances of accounting. I see myself as an eternal understudy,” anxious to expand on both my academic work and my ongoing professional development.  I’m seeking employment in a fast-paced corporate setting, one that provides various accounting services (bookkeeping, tax, financial planning), along with business consulting for businesses large and small.

What insights can you offer incoming students who likewise are looking for the “right” academic environment?

Woodbury consists of a community of supportive people.  I have met numerous students who are uncertain about their majors, and while it is imperative to have an action plan, it’s acceptable to be undecided in the beginning.  I hope students can enter the university with a willingness to learn and explore which, for me, begins with attitude, belief and aspirations.  It’s best to listen mindfully and to recognize that the individual in front of you has important information to share.