Nicole: Better Than a Sister at Saving Money

Nicole Brooks, a senior majoring in Accounting at Eastern Connecticut State University in Willimantic, is a busy young lady. She takes classes at Eastern on Tuesdays and Thursdays. On Fridays and Sundays for the past two years, she has worked at Loco Perro, a Mexican restaurant in East Hampton. On Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, she is engaged in an internship with the United Way’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA), which provides tax assistance to low-income individuals and families free of charge.

To boot, Brooks, a wonderfully warm human being from  Hebron, is very accomplished academically. Her determination and persistence regarding school has landed her on the Dean's List every semester at Eastern since she started college in fall of 2011, and last week, she received a letter of initiation into Delta Mu Delta, the Business Administration Honor Society. 

Such a hectic schedule would overwhelm most students, but Brooks, who wears a permanent broad smile, manages to juggle school, work, and volunteer work/internships with ease. “I find it best to focus on one thing at a time by writing everything down in a daily agenda. It’s a great tool to stay organized and on top of your schedule.”

Brooks derives tremendous joy from her time with the VITA program, where she interacts a lot with the taxpayers, greeting them when they come in for their appointment; handing out the in-take forms; and making sure they fill out everything. “Then I prepare the individual's taxes, asking them relevant questions along the way to clarify any uncertainties. I also review taxes prepared by my peers when they are finished with their return to make sure everything is filled in correctly.”

Brooks learned about the VITA program through Maura Cook, who spoke about it during a visit to an Accounting Society meeting. Brooks had already intended to volunteer for the program, during an email exchange with Cook, she learned about training dates for IRS certification and other details of the program. She also found out that she could also serve as an intern with VITA. She sent in her resume, and Cook immediately accepted her as an intern. 

 “Other organizations often charge a hefty fee for their services that some taxpayers may not be able to afford,” said Brooks. “Just by asking a few questions and punching some numbers into the tax software, I can put people at ease, and in most cases, get them some money back. I like being able to help people and put a smile on their faces. I really enjoy being able to assist people financially, especially in today's economy.”

Brook recalled her most favorable moment, when she sat to help a very nervous client who was anxious after the client’s sister had prepared her taxes. The sister had concluded that the client owed the IRS more than $1,500. “While I was plugging in numbers and asking her questions, she kept telling me how upset she was, and that she didn't have that kind of money. Lo and behold, when I finished preparing her taxes, she actually was receiving a rather large refund just under $500! After Barbara Ohlheiser, the site coordinator, reviewed the return and confirmed her refund, the client was so ecstatic that she told us that she would never have her sister prepare her taxes again! I was so happy that I was able to help her and ease some of her worry.”

Ohlheiser is very pleased to have Brook on her team. “Nicole is very competent, dedicated to her work and pleasure to work with. Her strong communication and computer skills help put her clients at ease. Nicole helps make running the site smooth and efficient for me and the other site coordinators, by greeting clients, working through a tax return at a good pace and doing peer-to-peer reviews of her fellow tax preparer's returns. She is a real asset to VITA.”

Brooks says her time and experience as a volunteer at VITA allows her to not only give back to the community helping those in need of tax assistance, but helps her academically as well. She said it makes her resume more vibrant and also helps her learning and overall education at Eastern. 

“I am very grateful to the United Way and VITA for offering this volunteer program at Eastern. “This volunteer experience really sets me apart from others when I begin looking for other internships and jobs upon graduation because I have first-hand experience with preparing taxes, and was certified by the IRS after completing the training program for VITA, something most applicants won't have.”

Brooks specifically cited Dr. Candice Deal assistant professor of accounting who teaches her Intermediate Accounting III class, and Dr. Richard Silkoff, who teaches her Federal Individual Taxation and is her advisor. 

“Dr. Deal is very inspiring because of all that she's accomplished at such a young age. I look up to her as a mentor and hope to be as successful as her one day. I enjoy Dr. Silkoff’s class because he is very passionate about and interested in what he's teaching. He also is a CPA. I look to him for advice because I hope to obtain my CPA license in the near future.”

Brooks has been helping others and giving back for a long time. As a freshman at Eastern, in fall of 2011, she served as a member of the Food Justice Committee, a club on campus dedicated to resolving issues with hunger and poverty within the Willimantic community. She participated in several volunteer activities, such as bringing food to various shelters and helped to build a greenhouse at one of the Windham elementary schools so that the students could learn about eating healthy and could grow their own fruits and vegetables. She also participated in the Walk for Warmth on campus and donated canned goods for the cause.

Brooks credits her upbringing with teaching her the value of helping others by volunteering. “My parents have always emphasized the importance of helping others. They would encourage my sisters and me to donate our old books, toys, clothes, and other items to those in need. I am very grateful to my parents for instilling such good morals in me. When I was younger, I participated in a lot of community service through Girl Scouts by volunteering at the local food pantry and homeless shelter. That continued while I was growing up with my involvement in the church.”

Brooks loves her parents so much that she actually moved back home after her freshman year of college. “As a future accountant, I am always looking for ways to save money. Since I live close to Eastern, it just made more sense for me to commute than to take out more student loans for room and board. Plus, my mom is an amazing cook!”

Brooks career goal is to be a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).  She would love to be able to assist people with their finances and to help budget their money wisely so they are in a stable financial position and are prepared for any emergencies. “Since I was a little girl, I've always been very conscious of where I'm spending my money and how much I'm spending; I even keep a journal of my spending. That is why Accounting is a good fit for me as a major.” 

The United Way’s VITA program is obviously a perfect fit for Brooks as well. She is shining as a volunteer and intern there. She is in a class all by herself. She is the real deal. She has set high goals for herself, and holds herself to a high personal standard. She is a rare treat, as she sets the standard by which others should be judged. 

“I am determined to do my absolute best at anything that I am faced with, whether it is school or work. I am extremely proud of all of my achievements and will continue to strive for success in my future.” With students like Nicole Brooks, the future for the United Way and the VITA program is bright indeed.

Story by Dwight R. Bachman