b'Terrance McNicholsBy the time Terrance McNichols graduates from Valdosta State University, he will have successfully completed three internships. His first internship was done with Henderson & Godbee, a full-service accounting firm that provides complete services in the areas of accounting, auditing, and tax and business consulting. During his time at Henderson & Godbee, Terrance learned the basic role of being an intern, how to ask productive questions, and how to network with his co-workers and community. He also focused on big data analytics. I did not have someone over my shoulder 24 hours a day, which gave me a sense of responsibility and capability while interning, he said. Working with the partners and other staff at Henderson & Godbee showed me how an internship should be conducted. This experience gave him more confidence in a work environment and in the quality of work he could produceduring the intense tax filing season. Im fortunate to have Henderson & Godbee accept me, a student who didnt know much but was eager to learn, he added. Students need that first internship to properly prepare for a full-time position.Terrance completed his internship with Henderson & Godbee and began preparing for his second internship with PwC in Tampa, Florida. PwC has offices in 158 countries and is a multi-billion-dollar company. Participating in an internship with PwC gave Terrance access to a global knowledge network and an opportunity to learn from highly skilled professionals. He benefitted from two internship opportunities with PwC. The first focused on analyzing data and data processing skills and the second provided an opportunity to actively work with the tax market team, which focuses on banking, capital markets, and insurance companies.Both internships provided Terrance with a deeper understanding of the importance of processing and analyzing big data. Big data analytics helps organizations harness their data and use it to identify new opportunities. That, in turn, leads to smarter business moves, more efficient operations, higher profits, and happier customers. His internships also taught him about the hiring and training process, providing him with another layer of understanding in how to sell himself to future employers. The experience he gained through these internships was essential in staying in front of other graduates seeking employment in the same field. SPRING 2019 13'