Rachel Huynh ’27 | Fargo, North Dakota
Majors: Accounting with a concentration in Public Accountancy, Business with concentrations in Management and Finance
Minor: Communication Studies

Please tell us about yourself.

I am a first-generation Vietnamese American college student. I was born and raised in Fargo by two of the strongest and most hardworking individuals I know. My values of family, growth, and authenticity stem from my upbringing and the lessons they taught me along the way. I also have a younger sister. She is loving, a little bit silly, and my best friend for life. My family reminds me to live life each day unapologetically as myself. Without them, I wouldn’t be who I am today.

I am a curious person. I love being involved, working with others, and exploring all of the opportunities around me. I tend to put my heart into everything I do, which I have started to realize is one of my greatest traits.

How did you hear about Concordia and why did you choose to attend college here?

I have heard about Concordia for as long as I can remember, especially because I grew up in the Fargo-Moorhead area. I chose to attend Concordia because of the sense of care and community that exudes from this campus.

Concordia went from a place that I was scared to love to a place I chose to love.

Was there a defining moment in your college search?

I actually applied to 20 different colleges, ranging from the Fargo-Moorhead area to the West and East coasts. Becaue I grew up in the Fargo-Moorhead area, I had intended to leave for college. However, I knew that the likelihood was slim. As a first-generation student, the navigation and support I had was different from my peers. It honestly still is.

Family is one of my greatest values. My family is who I think about when I first wake up and right before I head to sleep at night. While I created way too many lists for each college and what I had ranked my factors to be, it all came down to what would be best for my family and myself.

Toward the end of my search, I was torn between Concordia and another institution. I toured Concordia three times because I couldn’t decide. However, every single time I toured, I felt the sense of community grow. That stood out to me in comparison to the other institution, but I still had doubts because deciding on a college is a big choice to make at the age of 17.

A week after the third time I toured, I was accepted as a Community Achievement Scholar. Concordia went from a place that I was scared to love to a place I chose to love. Now, I call it my second home.

Looking back, I am amazed by the number of applications I sent in, but I am happy that I figured it out. I am a firm believer that everything will work out well in the end, and choosing Å·ÃÀÊÓƵ was the best decision I could have made.

What do you enjoy about the Fargo-Moorhead area?

I’m a foodie, so I enjoy going out and seeing what’s new. I especially love coffee and tea shops. My absolute favorites are in West Fargo and in downtown Fargo.

Fargo gives both small city and big town vibes and that’s something that I also enjoy because you can always find something to do. Moving to Moorhead was exciting because I hadn’t spent much time on this side of the river and now I live here! I’m still exploring the area, which is super fun. For example, I recently discovered pickleball courts at two parks near campus!

When I’m not out and about or on campus, I’m usually at home with my family. I enjoy a lot of things, but quality time with my loved ones is what I enjoy most about the Fargo-Moorhead area.

What campus activities are you involved in?

I’m the president for , the director of communication for , and the secretary for. Some other groups I’m a part of include the , , the Hollstadt Women in Leadership mentorship program, and . I also participated in the this past fall.

What is your favorite Concordia tradition and why?

My favorite Concordia tradition would definitely be the one about walking under the bell tower. It’s a silly tradition, but I wholeheartedly believe it.

How did you decide on your area of study?

I always knew that I wanted to help people. However, I didn’t and still don’t quite know what I want to be. I had a love for numbers, but I knew that going into mathematics wasn’t the path for me. That’s when I discovered accounting back in high school and realized that it might just be the right fit for me.

I later added business management because of my love for people. Then, business finance was added shortly after as I began to learn more about my money habits and realized that understanding the monetary values in one area doesn’t equate to managing money well. So, I knew I wanted to learn more about that to help both myself now and others in the future.

My minor in communication studies relates to my major in business management but also because I’m curious about it. It’s such a strength to be able to communicate well and is especially necessary in the business realm, so this addition came from personal and professional interest.

Do you have a favorite course? If so, why is it your favorite?

My favorite course so far has been Nonprofit Leadership with Dr. Pederson. It was my First-Year Seminar course, so it is a rare offering.

The course allowed me to explore what my vocation is. Coming into Concordia, I didn’t even know what the word “vocation” meant. But I started to break away from my priority of striving for exclusively job security and money and began to acknowledge that it’s more than OK to focus on other aspects, which was when I engaged more closely with my passion for helping others and how it can connect with my other goals.

What are the benefits of taking classes in the Offutt School of Business?

This applies to all the classes on campus, but I enjoy the small class sizes. I am able to ask my professors questions and have a relationship with them by the end of the semester. As a business student, my professors are also mentors in a way with their willingness to help with both professional and personal development.

If you were talking to a prospective student, what would you tell them is a reason to study in the Offutt School of Business at Concordia?

I would like to share the number of opportunities available for students who study in the Offutt School of Business. There are mentorship programs and networking events, such as tabling or informational sessions about postgraduate options. There are also a number of additional scholarships available, for both academic and entrepreneurial ventures!

Have you had any internships? If so, what were your responsibilities and key takeaways?

So far, I have had two internships.

My first one was with a local tax office in Moorhead, which I completed in the spring semester of my first year. I focused on maintaining the organization of the office and learned how to electronically file tax returns.

This position helped me to explore more about the tax side of accounting and was the first time I worked in an office setting. Overall, I loved the people that I did work with and many of the clients were some of the sweetest people. “Minnesota nice” is real.

Now, I’m working as a student office coordinator for a larger company in Fargo. I support engineering groups with my efficiency of administrative support tools, such as generating reports and creating purchase orders.

I have been able to see organizational management and understand the other management concepts I hear about in class applied in the real world. I often learn something new in this position, whether that is the utilization of new systems or something about workplace culture. This is a different office setting than my first internship, but it gives me more of a glimpse of what the corporate world will look like.

What are your career goals?

People are my passion, so I hope to be in a management position for either a nonprofit or accounting firm one day.

What do you value most about being a Cobber?

It may sound cliché, but I value the sense of community. It’s commonly heard but often shared for a reason.

What advice would you give to a high school student who is considering Concordia?

College is a transformational time, and you only go through these four years once. There are many colleges around this area, but Concordia is different. It provides a liberal arts education, which holistically prepares you for the real world. Even though Concordia is a small campus, that’s the beauty of it. There’s always something going on and you get to know those around you. If you feel drawn to Concordia, go for it.

Is there anything else you would like to share about your Cobber experience?

Roll Cobbs!

^{Published February 2025}