Before attending the NAEA Tax Summit, Christine Foster felt like her career had reached a plateau.

Based in Greenwell Springs, Louisiana, Christine had been working in the tax field but found herself searching for the next step, something that would help her grow professionally and move deeper into the profession.

At the time, she described her career in one word: static.

She knew she wanted more, but the path forward was unclear.

“What I kept asking myself was how I could advance my career as a tax practitioner,” Christine said.

That’s when an opportunity appeared that would change everything: a scholarship from the Accounting Cornerstone Foundation (ACF) to attend the NAEA Tax Summit.

The Starting Line: Wanting to Move Forward

Before the conference, Christine had been considering a major professional milestone: becoming an Enrolled Agent (EA).

The EA designation represents one of the highest credentials in the tax profession, allowing practitioners to represent taxpayers before the IRS and demonstrating deep expertise in tax law.

But like many professionals considering a new credential, Christine was unsure whether she should take the leap.

She had the interest and the ambition, but what she needed most was confidence that the goal was truly within reach.

Receiving the ACF scholarship provided the opportunity to immerse herself in the tax community and explore that possibility more deeply.

The Turning Point: Realizing the Goal Was Within Reach

At the NAEA Tax Summit, Christine experienced something that changed her perspective almost immediately.

Being surrounded by tax professionals who were actively developing their skills created an environment that felt both energizing and motivating.

“It was electric to be surrounded by folks who were learning and honing their skills as tax practitioners,” she said.

The experience helped Christine see something clearly that she had not fully realized before.

“There was no reason why I couldn’t begin this journey to become an EA.”

Through conversations with peers and the atmosphere of the conference itself, Christine began to view the credential not as a distant goal, but as something she could realistically achieve.

In fact, the moment of decision came quickly.

After the Conference: Taking Immediate Action

Christine did not wait until she returned home to act on her new determination.

While still at the conference, she made a decision that would change the trajectory of her career.

“In my hotel room, I decided I was going to go for it,” she said.

That same evening, she scheduled her first EA exam, just four weeks away.

The momentum she felt at the conference carried forward into the months that followed as she studied and prepared for the rigorous three-part exam required to earn the credential.

A Milestone Achievement

Within 18 months of attending the conference, Christine accomplished her goal.

She became an Enrolled Agent.

Even more impressively, she passed all three parts of the EA exam on her first attempt — a milestone she considers one of the proudest moments of her career.

The achievement opened the door for new opportunities and positioned her to take her work as a tax professional to the next level.

“I’m now in a place where I can begin taking my career further as an EA,” she said.

Why In-Person Learning Matters

For Christine, the conference experience was more than education, it was a shift in perspective.

Before attending, she felt like an observer looking into the profession from the outside.

Afterward, she felt part of the community of professionals shaping the field.

“I went from looking in from the outside to being in the realm of an expert-level designation.”

That transformation, she believes, came from the power of being physically present with other professionals who were pursuing the same goals.

Paying It Forward

Christine is deeply grateful for the opportunity the Accounting Cornerstone Foundation gave her.

“My scholarship allowed me to make a complete 180 in the trajectory of my career,” she said.

Her message to anyone considering applying for a scholarship is simple.

“Try. There’s no harm in it.”

Sometimes, the biggest breakthroughs begin with a single decision — the willingness to step forward and take the opportunity.

If Christine had to sum up her experience in one sentence, it would be this:

“Go for it.”