Posted on December 4, 2025 by Wendy Frost
Sophia Kayani’s route to graduation was a journey filled with adversity. Her pathway included detours at other universities, different career paths and becoming a mother. But through it all she found her home at UT San Antonio.
Sophia Kayani, BBA '25 Accounting
When Kayani graduates this December with her bachelor’s in accounting from the Carlos Alvarez College of Business, she’ll leave with the confidence, leadership and professional development skills needed to be successful.
“UT San Antonio invested a lot in me as a student,” said Kayani, who worked full time as an esthetician while attending school. “They made me think about the future.”
Her first step was finding her academic passion. During an accounting class, she was surprised to learn that other classmates were struggling even though it came naturally to her.
“Our accounting professors teach in a way that was compatible for me,” said Kayani, a native of Temple. “For the first time I thought, maybe this is where I belong.”
Kayani soon found a community among her peers through the college’s student organizations. She became a member of the Professional Businesswomen Society (PBWS), was active with the Accounting Professionals of Tomorrow and joined the Investment Society.
“I had the privilege to mentor Sophia as the advisor to PBWS,” said Rosa Garza-Girdy, assistant dean of student services. “It was inspiring to watch her spread her wings, gain confidence and shine. Building relationships with students is at the heart of what we do at the Alvarez Student Success Center.”
Looking to expand her leadership skills, Kayani ran and was named president of PBWS. “I love their mission of empowering women,” she said. “I raised PBWS like my baby. I worked hard to create the best structure and programming for our organization.”
In the midst of her successes, Kayani faced a personal struggle, an unexpected pregnancy. She gave birth to her now 15-month-old son Rahfee just one week before the start of her junior year.
“My professors were understanding, encouraging and supporting,” she said. “I always bring him the last day of class to meet my professors. And he attended many PBWS meetings and events with me. I felt so supported by UT San Antonio.”
Kayani was grateful for the resources UT San Antonio provides to parents. Through the university’s Student Assistance program she learned about on-campus and off-campus resources available to her including childcare and transportation assistance as well as academic support. She also participated in their Pathways to Thriving program, where she met other students who are parents and participated in workshops to help her achieve her goals.
“I received a lot of support from the women around me,” said Kayani. “I’m doing everything I can for me and my son."
Although she was a new parent, Kayani still found the time to expand her horizons. She was chosen to participate in a two-week college immersion program to Prague, and she was selected to attend a leadership development conference in Atlanta.
“It was hard since it was the first time that I was away from my son, but I knew that in the end those types of experiences would support both our futures,” said Kayani, who received the 2025 Mentoring Award from the college’s Student Success Center.
Leveraging the skills she learned in the classroom and her leadership acumen, she attended the college’s Accounting, Finance and Economics Expo and connected with a recruiter from BDO. As luck would have it, at the Atlanta conference she networked with another employee from the firm.
“That connection helped me secure my internship,” she said. “Networking and connections can really help you get in the door.”
Kayani will intern this summer with BDO in Dallas. Her professional goal is to work in public accounting.
“I feel confident graduating and going on to the next step in my life,” said Kayani, who also plans to study to earn her CPA certification. “This internship is my first step. I’m looking forward to seeing if this is the right path for me.”
Looking back at her time at UT San Antonio, she is most grateful for the connections and the opportunities that the college and university provided her.
“My community at UT San Antonio supported me on my journey,” said Kayani. For other parents uncertain about making the leap, she offers this encouragement. “Don’t give up. Look for resources available to you and know that you don’t have to do it alone.”
— Wendy Frost
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