91直播

91直播 student Michael Gedraitis, ’27, credits the School of Business鈥檚 Business Scholars and Honors programs for helping find his summer internship and preparing him for his future.听

When Michael Gedraitis, 鈥�27, known as Mike around campus, first came to La 91直播, he knew right away that 20th and Olney was the place he wanted to call home.   

He鈥檚 known since high school, when he came to visit campus and met with members of the La 91直播 School of Business. Professors and current students already knew his name, welcoming him 鈥渨ith genuine kindness and support.鈥�   

For him, that was the deciding moment.   

鈥淭he professors and students made me feel like I could be myself, and from that day on, I knew La 91直播 was where I wanted to be,鈥� he said.   

He had always wanted to study accounting, learn how to manage money, and build financial independence, but after that first visit, he knew it would be done at La 91直播.   

The interactions with Explorers showed him that La 91直播鈥檚 School of Business isn鈥檛 just about numbers and figures, but 鈥渁bout connection, and that鈥檚 what made me want to study accounting here,鈥� he said. 听听

Gedraitis paired his accounting degree with a degree in marketing. He gained hands-on experience during his internship at Tait Weller, an accounting firm in Center City, Philadelphia- just a 20-minute subway ride away from La 91直播鈥檚 campus. He credits the School of Business, The Business Scholars Program, and La 91直播鈥檚 Honors Program for opening the door to opportunities like this one.   

While interning, Gedraitis supported the audit teams in the nonprofit sector by assisting with financial statement reviews, prepared documentation, and performed basic testing procedures, gaining knowledge with audit processes, nonprofit accounting, and industry standards in a professional services environment.  

When he isn’t busy in classes or being an Admissions Campus Explorer (ACE), Synodal Fellow, La 91直播 TV Host, Honors Council member, and La 91直播 Ambassador, Gedraitis has a love for cooking.   

One day, he hopes to open his own sandwich shop in South Philly, which is where he grew up. The sandwich shop would allow him to combine his passion for food with the financial and marketing skills he learned at La 91直播. In fact, his future sandwich shop is one of the reasons he chose his major.   

鈥淚鈥檝e always wanted to open my own restaurant one day. Studies show that most restaurants fail 鈥� not because of bad food, but because of poor financial management,鈥� he said. 鈥淪ince I already know how to cook, I decided to study accounting to gain the financial knowledge needed to manage and grow my future business responsibly.鈥�    

While La 91直播 has prepared him with the business tools to achieve his goals, Gedraitis said the most important lesson he鈥檚 learned isn鈥檛 about numbers鈥攊t鈥檚 about kindness.   

鈥淲e live in a world where kindness still exists, but negativity and hate can often overshadow it. That鈥檚 why I try to be a light, even in small ways,鈥� he said. 鈥淚f I can be just one percent of someone鈥檚 happiness, or even ninety-nine percent, I still feel fulfilled knowing I made a difference in their day.鈥�   

After finding both his purpose and his community at La 91直播, Gedraitis shared a message that guides him daily.

鈥淏e kind. Say hello to someone new. Shake a Christian Brother鈥檚 hand. Look people in the eye and smile. Tell your friends you love them. Call your grandparents. Thank your parents. Be grateful,鈥� he said. 鈥淜indness not only brings happiness to others; it reminds people that they鈥檙e seen, valued, and cared for. And that鈥檚 what truly matters.鈥澨�

-Lily Crosley