To Widener valedictorian, life is all about ‘balance’
CHESTER » Jessly Joseph of Springfield was among the several valedictorians tied for the top spot in the Widener University Class of 2017. Joseph, a Springfield High School alumnae, graduated from the School of Business Administration with a 4.0 GPA during the university’s May 20 commencement exercises.
The accounting major not only excelled academically during her undergraduate years, she also dedicated herself to many hours of service in the Chester and to professional and social clubs on campus.
“I feel the more involved you are, the more of a balancing act it is. That’s how life is,” said Joseph. “It didn’t hinder me. It made me learn to how to prioritize my time. I made sure I knew how to stay ahead.”
The chance to gain experience outside of the classroom attracted Joseph to Widener, who gained 12 months of work experience in the business field during school through the university’s co-op program.
“The idea of civic engagement has always appealed to me,” said Joseph. “I did 300 hours of service each year to the city of Chester.” As part of her participation in the university’s Presidential Service Corps/Bonner Program, she spent four years working with the Widener Partnership Charter School tutoring students in math and reading skills and serving as a site leader at the school her senior year. Other work for her PSC hours included a year maintaining shade trees for the city through the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society.
Besides her work with the service corps, she also participated in the university honors program. CREW (freshman orientation leaders) and the university’s Accounting Society, worked received an Outstanding Service Award for her work with Beta Alpha Psi (honor society for accounting, finance and information system students), and worked as an intern for the university’s Small Business Development Center.
While wanting to make the most out of work and service experience brought her to Widener, making it to the top of the class wasn’t a goal when she arrived. “It was never in my mind that I would be valedictorian,” Joseph said. “I had the goal to be the best I could, but I was very surprised when they said I would be a valedictorian. You have a fresh start freshman year; you do your best and you go from there.”
During her time as a student, Joseph came to have an appreciation for the accountancy and its role in the business world. “Everyone needs an accountant to make their business successful, and that’s really appealing to me,” she said. “It reminds me of how when people play music, they have their own language. Accounting is the language of business.”
Joseph has a position secured as an assurance associate with a multinational firm in their Philadelphia office, starting later this year. “I know whatever I do I want to be my best at, and I’m going to do what I can to learn and immerse myself in the company. I’ll see where everything goes from there.