Just the beginning possibilities are endless for CalCPA's YEP of the year.

• Author: Barragan, Abel

Determination, vision and hard work--qualities Abel Barragan credits his parents for passing on to him--have lead the senior accountant with Bartlett, Pringle and Wolf, LLP to be named CalCPA YEP of the Year. Along with his daily work, Barragan is co-chair of the CalCPA Channel Counties YEP Committee and can sometimes to be spotted on the pitch coaching and playing soccer. We caught up to the up-and-corner to discuss everything from mentoring to challenges unique to YEPs to professional expectations.

CalCPA: Tell US about your family, growing up and your schooling.

BARRAGAN: I'm blessed to have an amazingly supportive family. My parents were born and raised in Mexico, moved to the United Stales when they were teenagers and met and fell in love in a small church in Ojai. My dad was 21 and completing his last year of high school at Villanova Preparatory when I was born.

Growing up. we were never as fiscally stable as we are now. but I fell 1 was the richest kid on the block having parents like mine our will never meet anyone as devoted to the well-being of her husband and children as my mom. If I can describe my dad in one word, it would be perseverance. My dad taught me thai any thing is possible with .1 little determination and hard work. I have two younger sisters: Natalia, who is a brilliant and talented eighth-grader, and Stacy, who's in her third year at California Stale University. Los Angeles, where she's studying to be a registered nurse.

Growing up, my mom would probably tell you I was always on die go. If I wasn't working or looking I or work. I would be playing sports or volunteering lor the local teen center and youth Inundation. I'm a first-generation Mexican-American, and I was the first of my family to complete college. I graduated from University of California, Santa Barbara in 2011 wilh a degree in economics and accounting.

CalCPA: When and why did you decide to enter into accounting?

BARRAGAN: My first exposure lo financial statements and financial planning was as a sophomore in high school when I was on the Ojai Valley Youth foundation Strategic Planning Committee. Since then. I wanted lo be involved in business and financial planning.

CalCPA: What were your expectations going into the profession?

BARRAGAN: I was not very involved with the accounting association at UCSB, so mv idea ol the public accounting profession was that it was very conservative, old fashioned and unfulfilling. I thought it was a very uptight; always wear a tie sort of job.

CalCPA: Were those expectations accurate or were you surprised with anthing?

BARRAGAN: No, my expectations were...