McNeese Senior Interns at Ernst and Young  

Semilore “Semi” Bashorun, senior at McNeese State University, spent his summer interning at Ernst and Young. His time at the financial firm in Dallas, Texas, allowed him to experience routines beneficial for his potential career.  

“The internship gave me the chance to rotate across different business areas. That experience helped me identify where my real interests lie and what roles fit me best. Now I can confidently walk into my next opportunity with a clearer sense of direction,” says the finance major. 

Bashorun used ideas he learned inside and outside the classroom that helped him succeed during his time at the multinational company.   

“During my tax rotation, I was able to apply concepts that Michael Roach, assistant professor of accounting, taught about fixed assets and depreciation. It was rewarding to connect classroom theory to real-world applications,” he said. 

 “In comparison, I learned how fast paced the professional world can be. Adjusting to that required me to quickly pick up the skill of asking the right questions, something that isn’t always taught in the classroom but is essential for problem-solving on the job,” he added. 

Through his internship at Ernst and Young, Bashorun, from Nigeria, was able to narrow his focus.  

“What really matters is staying open, asking questions and being willing to learn,” he says. “I developed critical soft skills, especially professional communication. It’s something I practiced at McNeese, but working in a corporate environment helped me elevate that skill. I know this will serve me well in both my career and personal life.” 

To add to his sense of clarity, the senior gained the confidence to attain his future goals throughout his participation at Ernst and Young. 

Bashorun is passionate about financial analysis and says he chose McNeese because it’s a strong school in a smaller community, which made adjusting to life in a new country much easier. 

“McNeese gave me valuable access to professors who are experts in their fields and that support made a huge difference in my education,” he said. 

Bashorun dreams of running a business of his own and chose to major in finance to learn the technical and analytical side of business. His internship experience will help in the future as he pursues a master’s degree and begins his career.  

He gives some advice to peers who are thinking about interning. “Be proactive in networking. Don’t wait for opportunities to come, seek them out. Start early, understand your industry values and prepare yourself.”