For one accounting student, helping people with their taxes helps her take her education from classroom to real life.

“It bridges learning and service,” says Chhaya Langhnoda, a fourth-year Bachelor of Commerce student. “You’re not working through textbook scenarios – you’re interacting with real clients. You’re building professional confidence while applying your knowledge in a meaningful way.”

She says she signed up to volunteer with the MacEwan Accounting Club’s annual tax clinic – which helps people file their taxes by guiding them through the process – for the practical experience and to bolster her resume. But it has become much more than that. 

“Very quickly, I realized how impactful the work is, not only for developing technical skills, but also for helping people who rely on these services.” 

Those people include MacEwan students who may be doing their own taxes for the first time or even members of the community who might feel overwhelmed with doing taxes, provided they meet the CRA’s guidelines for accessing a free tax clinic. Volunteers also do outreach to high schools and seniors’ residences.

For four years, Langhnoda has been volunteering as a tax preparer with the clinic, which is set up in the Robbins building in the middle of March and provides a no-cost option for those needing help filing their taxes.

This year, as the accounting club’s co-president, Langhnoda is helping to lead the whole operation. 

“Transitioning from preparing returns to helping lead the club has taught me the value of teamwork, stepping into leadership opportunities and mentorship,” she says. “It allows me to help create opportunities for others, similar to the opportunities that helped me when I first joined the club.” 

She says those lessons will influence how she approaches her career and professional relationships in the future. 

“I joined without knowing exactly what to expect, and it ended up being one of the most valuable parts of my university experience.”

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Visit the tax clinic March 16 to 27 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Robbins Atrium, on the second floor of Building 9. More information can be found on the MUAC Instagram page. In addition to the tax clinic, the club holds networking and professional development events to connect students with industry.