A life reinvented: COB student finds his passion after heading back to school

Picture this: You earn a bachelor’s degree and land a stable job with a financial institution. Then, after several years, your job is eliminated following a buyout.

What do you do?

If you’re David Flak, you reinvent yourself.

After finding himself in this situation, Flak decided it was time to head back to school to pursue a new career. He always had a way with numbers so accounting seemed like a natural fit.

And, as soon as he arrived at University of Michigan-Dearborn, he hit the ground running.

“David brought with him real-world work experience and perspective to campus,” said Susan Baker, lecturer of accounting. “He approached his studies with a lot of dedication and focus. He knew what he wanted to accomplish and the timeline he wanted to complete it in.”

Wanting to get more involved, Flak joined UM-Dearborn’s Beta Alpha Psi chapter and immersed himself in the organization. He served as both deputy vice president and vice president and regularly took it upon himself to find ways to help his peers prepare for the future.

“Professor Baker and I worked together to start an etiquette dinner to help members learn how to conduct themselves at professional dinners and events,” he said.

Flak also immersed himself in community service activities, which he describes an eye-opening experience. He prepared taxes through the Accounting Aid Society for low-income families, participated in the Life Remodeled project to help clean up a local neighborhood and taught Junior Achievement at the Paul Robeson Malcolm X Academy in Detroit. Flak even got the chapter involved in the Environmental Interpretative Center’s Adopt-A-Habitat program.

His joy for making an impact and helping others is purely selfless—and something he plans to continue long after graduation.

“I feel like I’ve been blessed and given so much,” Flak said. “I want to share as much as I can and give back for all that I’ve been provided.”

As Flak prepares to walk across the stage at commencement later this week, he’s optimistic for the future. He will begin his next chapter as a staff auditor with Plante Moran, an offer extended to him following a successful internship.