Bartek Kadela’s family moved from Krakow, Poland, to the United States when he was 2 years old.

That move inspired him to make the most of his DePaul University experience many years later.

“Growing up, I saw my parents working really hard because they didn’t have a foundation here,” said Kadela, who grew up in Glen Ellyn and now lives in Chicago’s Lincoln Park. “They had to work hard for everything that they have. That helped drive me throughout college; just the attitude that I need to earn everything.”

Kadela’s tenacious work ethic followed him to DePaul, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting in March from the Driehaus College of Business.

“When I look back, I don’t want to regret not working very hard or not taking an opportunity,” he said. “I don’t want to feel like I could have done better.”

While on a study abroad trip to Hong Kong, Kadela worked an internship, studied Mandarin, networked and forged friendships with students from around the world, and traveled to a number of other countries, including Singapore, South Korea, mainland China and the Philippines. “My time in Hong Kong was life changing,” he said.

“I definitely think at least one internship is necessary at this point to be competitive to get a job,” Kadela said. “DePaul does a great job hosting career fairs and events where you can meet the firms both for jobs and internships. I’ve been going to those since I was a sophomore.”

Kadela earned the “Dean’s Outstanding Senior Award” in the Driehaus College of Business. While at DePaul, he also worked three internships, served as a student leader for microeconomics students in DePaul’s supplemental instruction program, worked as a volunteer tax preparer for low-income Chicago residents, volunteered making meals for the St. Vincent de Paul Church soup kitchen, and participated in two business fraternities.

“I surround myself with other people who work very hard and are very ambitious in their careers, and they push me,” Kadela said. “If I see someone waking up at 6 a.m. to study or go to work early, I feel like I should do that.”

Kadela is glad he came to DePaul for its professional atmosphere and connections to the business world.

“I feel like you develop professionalism dealing with professors who work for the Big Four accounting firms or have their own businesses,” Kadela said. “Interacting with them and interacting with students who work in those environments helps you build a professional atmosphere.”

By the fall of his senior year, Kadela had six job offers, including two from the Big Four accounting firms. He chose to start his career at Abbott Laboratories as part of a two-year financial development program where he will rotate jobs every six months at various locations throughout the country and abroad.

“The most valuable thing I learned at DePaul was that life is not just about where you end up, but, more importantly, how you get there,” Kadela said. “I genuinely believe that my time at DePaul was more about the journey than the destination.”

Written by Deborah Snow Humiston