Beyond the 8-5

Managing College and a Career

At F&C CPAs, growth doesn’t stop when the workday ends. Some of our most inspiring team members are not only building careers here—they’re also building futures. While working full-time, many also balance studying, assignments, and exams alongside everything else in their busy lives. Their stories reflect the resilience, discipline, and heart it takes to keep learning while managing a demanding schedule.

We’re proud to share their stories—stories of resilience, ambition, and the kind of personal growth that reflects what we value most at F&C. We are committed to creating a culture that supports learning, celebrates effort, and believes in the people behind the work.

Hear from our Staff: Balancing Careers, College, and Everything in Between

Hope
Schmidt

Tribal Gaming Auditor
Read Her Story

Ty
Walkup

Tribal Gaming - Title 31 Associate
Read His Story

Emily
Crane

Tribal Accountant
Read Her Story

Cheyenne Seebeck

Operations Billing Associate
Read Her Story

Know your "why"

When I graduated from high school, I struggled with the decision of whether or not to attend college. At the time, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life, so I decided to hold off on pursuing higher education for a while.

About a year later, I started working at F&C and discovered that I really enjoyed the world of accounting and business. It didn’t take long before I realized that accounting was the career for me.

That fall, I signed up for classes at Connors State College and have been working toward my degree ever since! I currently have one more semester to go before earning my associate degree, and then I’ll start chipping away at my bachelor’s in accounting.

 

I’m very grateful that pursuing an online degree is an option—it has made balancing full-time work and college so much easier.

Don’t get me wrong, it has its challenges, but overall, it’s very doable to work on your degree while working full time. It also helps that F&C has supported me in my education and career development from the very beginning. Whether it’s checking in on how my classes are going, offering advice, or finding ways to enhance and develop my skills, F&C has done it all, and I’m incredibly grateful for that.

While I genuinely enjoy the challenges of working full time while earning my degree, I have to admit—I’m looking forward to the day when I don’t have homework waiting for me after work!

I can’t wait to finally combine the life experience I’ve gained on the job with the knowledge I’ve acquired in college to help our clients achieve success.

My Advice for Anyone Considering College While Working Full Time.

Just do it! Stop overthinking and sign up—even if you start with just a couple of classes per semester. A few years from now, when you have your degree, you’ll be grateful you took the leap.

Set your end goal (associate, bachelor’s, master’s, etc.), then break it down into smaller, achievable milestones. It’s easy to feel discouraged when your goal seems years away, so having short-term wins along the way will keep you motivated.

Know your “why.” Figure out what’s driving you to earn a degree while working full time. Because when you’re in a hotel room, three states away, after a long day at a client’s site, and you have a two-hour proctored biology exam on the foundations of genetics to complete—you’ll need a solid reminder of why you’re doing this and why dropping the class would be a really bad idea!

Connect with me!

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-Hope Schmidt

"One Step At A Time."

I’m currently working toward my bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice Administration and Ethics through Mid-America Christian University.

The program is designed for adults balancing full-time work and life—it’s made up of five-week courses, one class at a time, which helps a lot.

Working 40 hours a week can be a challenge on its own, so being able to focus on just one class at a time has made a huge difference. It allows me to stay present in my work at F&C while still making progress toward my degree.

Growing up with a dad in the military definitely shaped my mindset. It gave me a strong sense of justice, structure, and a desire to help protect others. That environment influenced the path I chose and why I want to keep growing.

I’m still figuring out exactly where this degree will lead me, but I know it’s helping me build the tools and perspective I need to take the next step in my career—whatever that may be.

“In a military home, discipline and direction are part of your daily life. That structure stuck with me—and now it’s helping me push forward, one step at a time.”

-Ty Walkup

“The journey isn’t easy—but it’s worth it."

When I graduated in 2021 with my undergrad degree, I told myself I’d take a year off before going for my MBA. That one year turned into…a few. Life happened, work picked up, and let’s be honest—school requires energy I didn’t always have. But becoming a CPA has always been the end goal, and now that I’m back on track, I’m just seven months away from finishing my MBA in accounting at Southeastern Oklahoma State University.

Making the decision to go back to school was mine—but having support from the right people made it possible. My manager at F&C has been incredibly encouraging, and the flexibility I’ve had with my schedule helped me move forward when the timing finally felt right. Balancing grad school and full-time work isn’t easy, but knowing I’ve got support—and believing in the goal—has kept me going.

Speaking of hard days…this job takes brainpower. After a full day of thinking and solving problems, the last thing I want to do is study. So I give myself a reset. I set a timer for 30 minutes to an hour when I get home—whether it’s to scroll, nap, or watch something brainless.

That little window of “do-nothing” helps me recharge and get into study mode without burning out.

One of the best things I’ve done is build in rest. I have one day a week where I don’t do work, school, or house stuff. It’s my day—and it makes the other six so much easier to handle. It’s all about pace, grace, and naps. Always naps.

After graduation, the next step is sitting for the CPA exam. That’s the finish line I’ve had in sight from the start—and I’m getting close.

“The journey isn’t easy—but it’s worth it. Reward yourself along the way, protect your downtime, and nap whenever possible.”

-Emily Crane

"Set a goal that’s right for you."

I didn’t have a strong interest in college before working at F&C, and honestly, I had no idea what I would’ve studied even if I did go. But discovering a passion for accounting here changed everything.

Now, I’m partway through earning my bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Oklahoma—and finally starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel with just two years to go.

Juggling work, family, and school isn’t easy. My husband works 24-hour shifts that rotate weekly, so structure is hard to come by. I study during lunch, carve out an hour or two in the evenings after the kids go to bed, and dedicate as much of the weekend as I can to schoolwork.

What helps most is knowing all my class deadlines ahead of time and setting my own personal checkpoints that work with both my work schedule and home life.

One of the most rewarding parts of this journey is how well my education lines up with what I do at F&C. The real-world accounting experience helps everything click in class—and vice versa.

I’ve also been lucky to have incredible support, especially from my manager, Tracy Shepherd. She’s been in my corner since day one and has always been there to answer questions or walk through something with me when I needed it. I couldn’t do this without her—or without the support I’ve felt from the firm.

Once I graduate and finish any remaining requirements, I do plan to pursue a CPA license. There are so many long-term opportunities here at F&C, and I’m excited to see what the future holds.

“Do your research. Set a goal that’s right for you. Start small and give yourself room to adjust. It’s hard work, but it’s possible—and worth it.”

Connect with me!

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-Cheyenne Seebeck