Between 2009 and 2013, I had the pleasure of attending Chapman University during times of great change and growth. The students of this era received larger financial aid packages, fancier facilities, and a new pool as to eliminate any question that they were in a place that cared for all their wishes. All needs were met with resources better than the last.

In the spring of 2012, the students of Chapman received yet another change. Reginald Gilyard would become the new dean of the George L. Argyros School of Business and Economics.

I wasn’t a business student, but after hearing that the new dean was an Ivy League, Air Force Academy graduate with experience as a partner for Boston Consulting Group, I began sneaking in to all of his presentations to see what the hype was all about.

One of his smaller presentations aimed at helping a small group of business students find their path in the competitive world beyond graduation, Dean Gilyard advised that the two most important factors to success within the consulting industry were hard work and honesty. Although the barriers for entry into this industry were a high grade-point average, extra curricular activities, prestigious internships, and the stamina for case-study interviews, fundamental pillars of character would help you succeed once you’ve taken your seat at the table.

In the year I had remaining at Chapman, I began desperately applying to anything remotely related to the fast-paced business world Dean Gilyard had described. After hundreds of rejections and a few awkward interviews I landed a job as an associate working for Grant Thornton Advisory in Ethiopia.

I’ve been in this beautiful country for one year now. I write proposals, give presentations, and help clients in Ethiopia navigate this frontier market. And as Reginald Gilyard promised, the turnover for new consultants is high. But my performance review shows that although my technical skills are average at best, my strength in character has allowed me to keep my seat at this table.

Ten years from now, I have no clue what I’ll be doing or where I’ll be doing it. But if Chapman has taught me one thing, it’s that hard work and honesty are the pillars to success.