In high school, Cherry Hill native Maria Tsakiris was a figure skater who performed in front of large audiences on an international stage.
Next week, she will be in front of a large audience again, speaking in front of family and friends at her college graduation.
A former figure skater who competed nationally for Greece, Tsakiris recently completed her bachelor’s degree at Rutgers-Camden and will be a speaker at the college’s school of business commencement on May 21.
An Olympic hopeful, Tsakiris was able to compete for the Greek national team as a dual citizen. As she graduated from Cherry Hill East, she hoped to continue skating during her college career.
“The plan was actually to keep skating,” Tsakiris said. “I wanted to apply to schools locally and keep training.”
However, just before she began school in the fall of 2011, she received a call from Greece. Because of the country’s financial troubles, they did not have the funding to allow her to continue skating.
While the news was upsetting, Tsakiris quickly shifted her focus entirely on school.
“I miss the sport, but the transition was very easy because I am a hard worker,” she said. “Once I concentrate on something, I’m completely focused.”
With her focus entirely on school, Tsakiris considered a number of possible career paths. Her dad, who owns a granite and marble shop, ultimately motivated her to get into business.
From there, Tsakiris took the fast track, taking and extra course load to finish her degree in three years. While the extra classes could be intimidating to some, Tsakiris’ focus allowed her to forge ahead.
“I am the kind of person who takes off running and don’t stop,” she said.
Tsakiris’ career prospects took a big leap forward when she began an internship with Morgan Stanley last May. She became acquainted with the company through Rutgers’ business leader development program and continues to intern there today, working with financial advisors in wealth management. Tsakiris is hoping to pursue a career in financial planning.
For a time this fall, Tsakiris was overwhelmed with classes, her internship and a teaching assistant position. It was the first real time when she admits she had trouble balancing the workload.
“Last semester in the fall was one of the most difficult semesters in my college career,” she said. “I had a lot of very late nights, and if it wasn’t for my boyfriend and my mom, I wouldn’t make it out.”
Tsakiris has competed in front large crowds many times before, but this is the first time she is speaking to a large audience. Still, she is really excited and honored to have been selected as a speaker.
“People I went to school with for the past three years are going to be sitting in the audience and celebrating,” she said. “I’m really honored that they chose me, because I’m graduating with so many of my friends, and we worked so hard to get here.”
