My name is Mariel Farina.
Where did you grow up?
I am from Argentina and grew up in a city called San Francisco in Córdoba Province.
What’s your work history?
My work history goes all the way back to when I was 10 years old. I started helping at my parents’ business since they didn’t have much help. Of course, I was only doing small tasks for about three to four hours a day, but it taught me responsibility and commitment. It also introduced me to a financial mindset early on—I would "work" and receive a reward. Over time, those rewards turned into a salary, teaching me the value of money and the importance of saving.
I worked with them until I was about 17, then I started bartending. When I turned 18, I got a job at a clothing store while still bartending. At the same time, I started tutoring English since I was studying to become an English teacher.
Later on, I volunteered to teach English at a low-resource kindergarten /elementary school. I also became a bar manager and nannied four mornings a week.
-When I was 24, I moved to the U.S. as an au pair, which is a cultural exchange program where I lived with a host family and cared for their children full-time (45 hours a week).
-Currently, I tutor accounting (ACCTG 111 and 121), and I absolutely love it! I also help with other classes I’ve taken if I’m familiar with the material.
What brought you to MATC?
I first heard about MATC through a friend. When I started looking at majors, I decided to enroll here because it was an affordable option—especially as an international student, since I’m not allowed to work off-campus.
Why Accounting?
Initially, I enrolled in Banking and Financial Services, but I ended up developing a real passion for my accounting classes, so I switched majors. Funny enough, before I decided to study English back home, I had also considered accounting, but my love for English won at the time.
When do you intend to graduate (or have you already)?
This is my last semester for my associate degree, and I’ll be graduating in Spring 2025!
What are your career goals?
I want to gain experience working at an accounting firm. Maybe after that, I’ll finish my bachelor’s degree and, in the future, sit for the CPA exam.
What do you hope to gain from your college experience?
My goal is to develop more confidence, apply difficult concepts to real-world work, and gain hands-on experience. Since I’m in my last semester, I can proudly say that I have achieved—and am still in the process of achieving—all of that.
What are your extracurricular activities and interests?
I love taking my husky pup on walks and playing with him. I adore kids, so I still visit the families I used to nanny for. When I have time, I enjoy working out and playing (or at least trying to play) golf with my fiancé.
What are your community service experiences?
I’m not currently involved in volunteer work, but back home, I did a lot of charity work through my church. They had a center and home for people with mental disabilities, where we would organize games, sing songs, and sometimes cook. To raise money for the church and center, we sold desserts or roasted chicken.
The kindergarten/elementary school where I taught English it was volunteer work. Every Friday morning, I planned lessons, brought snacks, and helped prepare lunch for the kids, as many of them didn’t have enough food at home.
Do you have any special talents or abilities?
I’m great at acting! I loved performing in high school and have always been super expressive. When I was little, I actually wanted to be an actress or a singer… but my vocals didn’t quite back me up.
-One talent I do have is my ear for music. I used to play the keyboard, and I could pick up songs just by listening—I almost needed music sheets to figure out the notes.
-I’m also an excellent storyteller. I can make a five-minute story last an hour—just ask my fiancé!
-When I used to go out with my sister, my mom would wait up for us since bars back home finish at 6am. She’d ask how our night went, and my sister would sum it up in two minutes. Meanwhile, I’d take 30 to 45 minutes telling her every little detail.
Is there anything else you would like to share with us?
The one thing I didn’t expect when I started studying was how incredible the faculty at MATC would be. The professors truly care and want their students to succeed, and that’s something I will always carry in my heart and be grateful for.
