Meet Christian Smith

Natalya Merida
July 6, 2022
Blog
69 likes
Meet Christian Smith

RDF has the great pleasure of welcoming Christian Smith to our Familia as a summer intern. Christian is now a sophomore at Arizona State University’s W. P. Carey School of Business. He was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. He grew up alongside two brothers and sisters, so he always had someone by his side in his childhood.

Christian’s hard work radiates so much so that Juan Camilo Quintana, Credit Associate, said, “When I first meet Christian, he was quiet at first, but as soon as I got to know him more, I realized he was a very friendly and a smart intern that catches on to things quickly.”

Learn more about Christopher in this Q&A

What are you majoring in? Why did you decide to study this? 

I am majoring in accounting at ASU’s W. P. Carey School of Business.  I decided to study accounting because I enjoy working with data. I would also describe myself as analytical, so my personality fits well in this area. Plus, there is always a need for accountants, so I wanted to be helpful and be in a growing area of work. ASU’s W. P. Carey School of Business is a great business school and an even better university for me.

What are your goals after graduation?

After graduation I plan to go to ASU’s nine-month accelerated program to become a certified public accountant. I know that it will help me in my future endeavors.

What skills do you want to gain from this experience as an RDF intern?

I want to gain skills that will help me in my future accounting classes since I will start taking accounting classes next semester. All the new skills I am learning as an intern will help me prepare for these classes and for my future. Thus far, the internship has given me hands-on experience with wonderful people that mentor me in the right direction.

What has been your favorite experience working in RDF so far?

Even though I am just meeting new staff and have only been in the office recently, everyone is amiable. It is refreshing to meet people so welcoming and take you in with open arms. I enjoy my working environment. Juan Camilo Quintana, RDF’s Credit Associate, has shown me how lighthearted and funny he is as a person. RDF is an enjoyable place to be around because of its staff and atmosphere. I wanted to intern at RDF because I enjoy working to follow RDF’s mission because it stands with my values.

What is your favorite part about serving your community?

I believe that all should make an effort to help. I get satisfaction in working with a place striving to help the community, like RDF. This service mindset has been engraved into me since I was little. My mom, Rosie Villegas-Smith (RDF’s consultant), has a foundation titled Voces Por La Vida where I have volunteered numerous times. I enjoy helping my mom pursue her and Voces Por La Vida’s mission of helping families. I am also involved in helping with church service. Overall, I enjoy providing a helping hand wherever I can.

Do you have any fun hobbies or interests to share? 

I enjoy nature and skateboarding. I love going outside to do outdoor activities. I like getting away from the chaos of Phoenix and enjoy nature with a hike or camping with my family.

We are excited to have Christopher with us this summer.

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Natalya Merida
Natalya Merida, intern at RDF, is a senior at Moon Valley High School in Arizona. She is interested in a career in the medical field because of experiences she had at a young age seeing her parents struggle to communicate with their English-speaking physician. She is working with the Communications team for the summer of 2022.
Phone 602-417-1400
Raza Development Fund (RDF) is the largest national, Latino-focused nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI). Driven by a mission to close wealth and opportunity gaps in Latino and other under-resourced communities across the United States, RDF provides responsible and attainable financial solutions to community-based organizations focused on health, education, affordable housing, climate resilience, homeownership, and entrepreneurship. RDF was founded in 1999 as a support organization to UnidosUS, the nation’s largest Hispanic civil rights and advocacy nonprofit, formerly known as the National Council of La Raza. As a testament to its exceptional financial strength and impact, RDF stands out as one of the few CDFIs with a prestigious AA- S&P rating. Since its inception, RDF has invested more than $1.3 billion across 38 states, leveraging over $6 billion in additional capital.
In accordance with federal law and U.S. Department of the Treasury policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. Submit a complaint of discrimination, by mail to U.S. Department of the Treasury, Office of Civil Rights and Equal Employment Opportunity , 1500 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20220, (202) 622-1160 (phone), (202) 622-0367 (fax), or email crcomplaints@treasury.gov (email).

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