Accounting
Biography
My name is Victoria Pettko, and I am an accounting major. I am also part of the 2027 Heath Integrated Business and Engineering Program Cohort.
As a child, I often took life's simple comforts for granted until I volunteered with Horses with Hope, where I assisted people with disabilities in learning to ride horses. What began as a way to earn service hours quickly sparked a passion for problem-solving and teamwork. I was fascinated by how, with patience and innovation, we could overcome challenges together. This experience opened my eyes to the power of empathy and adaptability—skills essential in business and engineering fields. The determination I witnessed inspired me to pursue a career where I can develop solutions that make a meaningful impact on people's lives.
Growing up, my academic interests varied but became more focused after taking Honors Computer Science my freshman year of high school. Initially, I believed the class was over my head and felt overwhelmed as the only female student in a section surrounded by upperclassmen. However, I did not back down from the challenge; instead, the class taught me much more than what was written in the book. Throughout the year, I regularly participated in classroom discussions, collaborated well with peers, and posted solid scores on exams. The course provided invaluable lessons about not judging a book by its cover and understanding one’s true potential.
Afterwards, I started pursuing classes that piqued my interest and challenged me academically. Courses in economics, calculus, and physics connected me with professions that I wished to further explore.
As I prepared for the University of Tennessee, I learned about Heath IBEP—a program that bridges two fields which deeply intrigue me: business and engineering. Through this program, I am excited to learn more about engineering while bridging communication gaps between myself and clients.
Through business and engineering, I aim to combine my passion for helping others with a drive to create innovative and accessible solutions that improve quality of life.
