Prairie View A&M University senior Wend-Toe Congo’s name, “Nothing is impossible to God” in Mooré, is apt. The wife and mom of two has a bachelor’s in economics management already under her belt, and she’ll add a bachelor’s in accounting when she graduates from PVAMU this week. This, while already planning to pursue her master’s next year with the goal of becoming a CPA – on top of starting a new job.
Originally from Burkina Faso, a country in West Africa, Congo came to the States in 2015 with a dream and a bachelor’s in economics management from Dakar-Bourguiba University in Dakar, Senegal. Upon arriving, she started braiding hair professionally. Since then, she’s maintained her small side business of braiding hair – a skill she picked up as a girl practicing on her dolls and friends that she’s honed over the years.
Due to her demanding workload and busy schedule, Congo now only braids hair for family and friends. However, she said she was able to put into practice the economic and business lessons she learned in class, such as inventory management and client relations.
The reason she works so hard, her driving motivator, is her children. “I wish to serve my children as an example of determination and resilience,” she said.
At PVAMU, Congo is a member of the Beta Gamma Sigma business honor society and the National Association of Black Accountants. “Each has added value to my time here in different ways,” Congo said. “The recognition for high achievement by the BGS honor society has exponentially increased my motivation to keep up the hard work.”
Her favorite PVAMU memory is her first Honor Roll ceremony, which she was so excited to attend that she arrived too early. She said that waiting in the car for the venue to open stirred joy in her.
She’ll continue her education with a master’s in accounting under PVAMU’s 4+1 Program. Thanks to the Program’s flexibility, she’ll also be able to start her new job as an accountant at Oxy, an international energy company based in Houston.
“PVAMU has served as a pedestal in the achievement of my goals,” Congo said, remembering when she first contacted College of Business Department Head Dr. Moosa Khan to evaluate her transcript. “He gave me a long list of courses to take based on the degree plan, and I wondered why I had to take so many classes since I already had a bachelor’s degree.” To this day, she is grateful that her motivation and determination were greater than Dr. Khan’s list.
Congo, even as she earns her second bachelor’s degree, is excited to pursue her master’s. “I have benefited not only from an education of quality that will make me a great candidate for the CPA exam but also from very enriching advice from many professors, which contribute to making me a better person day by day.”
Click here to view a complete listing of this semester’s notable graduates.
By Christine Won
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