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Featured photo: Blue Ridge accounting student James Knierim. (Photo provided by James Knierim.)
By Emily Gill, Marketing & Communications Dept.
In May, James Knierim will graduate from Blue Ridge Community College with an associate degree in accounting—but this won’t be his first degree. An avid comic book artist, Knierim previously earned a bachelor’s degree in the arts. After he earned that degree, he took a job unrelated to the arts and comic book drawing. At that job, however, he discovered a newfound interest.
“I was doing receiving, processing invoices and such, and I realized I really enjoyed the accounting part of it,” said Knierim. “I’m getting the associate degree in accounting because the idea is I’d have a day job that I quite like—doing spreadsheets and accounting things—and that will fund the art habit.”
Still a comic artist in his free time, Knierim balances his creative pursuits with work and study. That’s why flexibility was key to his education at Blue Ridge.
“Online asynchronous classes worked really well for me, especially since I’ve been working while studying at Blue Ridge,” he said. “I really enjoyed the courses themselves. The professors have been professional and knowledgeable.”
After graduation, Knierim hopes to find work in bookkeeping or a position related to supply chain operations.
Learn more about the Accounting program at www.blueridge.edu/accounting.