Florida Banking December 2025/January 2026

Pressure Makes Diamonds How the FBEF Helped Me Reach My Dream Role FACES OF THE FOUNDATION

I highly recommend exploring the opportunities offered by the FBEF. Their scholarships provide vital financial support, enabling individuals to pursue their educational and career aspirations. In my junior year at FAU, all my classmates were applying for internships and programs they hoped would lead to corporate roles in Fortune 500 companies. I, like my classmates, applied for many internships. Unfortunately, I received multiple resounding-rejection emails. I did not take that as a sign to stop, though. As the semesters continued, and I was able to focus more time and effort on my studies instead of my tuition payments, I noticed my grades only got better. In my final semester, I reapplied for one particular opportunity, leveraging the feedback I received to become the strongest possible candidate. After an ordinary workday in November, I received an email that changed the trajectory of my career. I was offered the position I had worked so hard for, in an analyst program. I was euphoric! All those long nights studying, long drives home after work and after evening classes at FAU, all the hard work I put in, finally paid off. Graduating Cum Laude from FAU, I learned that “pressure makes diamonds,” and resilience is key to creating lasting success. Without the help of the FBEF, it wouldn’t have been possible. They say everything happens for a reason and I believe the day I read that issue of Florida Banking magazine was no coincidence. The FBEF is an amazing foundation that saw my value as an individual and saw my financial need preventing me from reaching my goals. I am forever grateful to them.

The journey to my dream role in a global investment bank is a testament to the power of perseverance. It wasn’t an easy road, but a rewarding one. It started in my junior year of pursuing my undergraduate degree at Florida Atlantic University (FAU). I was halfway through my bachelor’s in finance and felt the immense pressure of tuition payments weighing me down, making me consider part-time classes just to be able to afford each semester’s tuition. I felt as though if only I could put more focus into my studies versus my school payments, I could set myself up for a dream job at a Fortune 500 company by the time I graduated. At the time, I was working at a small community bank as a CSR, but my manager saw my potential and promoted me. As a deposit operations specialist, I took an interest in the Florida Banking magazine my CEO received, as there were always new articles on current industry trends and fraud prevention strategies. It was within those pages that I stumbled upon the FBEF scholarship opportunity, a beacon of hope during my senior year. With an expectation of getting another rejection email for yet another scholarship, I was pleasantly delighted to see that FBEF accepted my application for funding. All I needed was a glimmer of hope and FBEF was the silver lining. This was an opportunity I did not take lightly. I was truly struggling with the stress of upcoming school payments, paying rent, planning a wedding, working full-time and trying to keep up with my hectic schedule. It seemed as though all the stars aligned the moment I received my approval email. I took it as a sign that, yes, I was meant to be where I was, but also that there were more opportunities for me to discover. For prospective students and recent graduates considering a career in finance,

KATHERINE GUERRERO SENIOR YEAR FBEF

SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT “ For prospective students and recent graduates considering a

career in finance, I highly recommend exploring the opportunities offered by the FBEF.”

Reach Out! Working to advance your career through education? The FBEF can help! Learn more at FloridaBankers.com/FBEF or contact Letty Newton at (850) 701-3522 or lnewton@floridabankers.com .

Katherine Guerrero graduated in December 2024 from Florida Atlantic University with a bachelor of business administration degree in finance.

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