Excellence in a Discipline | 2021-22
Samantha Jelsema
Excellence in a Discipline | Finance
What is your favorite Seidman memory?
The relationships that I built with my Seidman professors are the
memories that I know I will take with me for the rest of my life. Each
and every one of them showed me kindness, gave me their personal time,
encouraged me, and assisted me in any way that they could. I knew I
would receive an exceptional education here, but I did not expect the
level of support or mentorship I would receive.
Our building namesake – Bill Seidman – exhibited many
desirable traits of a leader such as innovator, integrity, curiosity
and future-minded. How did your experience at Seidman help you
develop one or more of these traits?
During my time at Seidman, I quickly learned that curiosity is
highly valued. My professors and classmates pushed me to think outside
of the box, look at situations from new perspectives, and strive to
answer the question “why”. Knowing an answer simply isn’t enough, the
“why” is far more important than a right answer.
What would you like people in the community to know about
Seidman graduates like you?
I would like the community to know that Seidman graduates care
about more than just a salary or profits. We are a unique and diverse
group with innovative ideas, passion for people and the planet, and
the skills and drive necessary to bring forth real change in the world.
What is your career aspiration?
I want to help people achieve financial security. Whether this be
through retirement planning, investment planning, or tax planning. I
know that my time at Seidman has set me up to not only have a
successful career, but to also be an ally to the members of our community.
How did your time at Seidman College prepare you to contribute
to your community as a Laker for a Lifetime?
Something that I absolutely loved about the atmosphere at
Seidman, and at Grand Valley in general, is the sense of community
within. Seidman emphasizes collaboration and cooperation in everything
we do. I have learned how to effectively work in groups, how to listen
to different opinions, how to share my ideas, as well as how to
implement those ideas. I know that the business skills and the sense
of community that I gained from Seidman, will help me serve the West
Michigan community for the rest of my life.
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