How did you choose your major, program, and/or minor (if applicable)?
My interest in Economics arose during the 2018 presidential elections in Brazil, my home country, when I realized how deeply economics impacts people’s lives and social dignity. My desire to drive economic development and support Brazil’s growth led me to pursue this double major.
Please share 2 or 3 noteworthy internships, co-curricular activities, volunteer experiences, jobs, programs, or other training acquired (if applicable) that contributed to your current success.
I interned at the U.S. House of Representatives during 2023. Working in Capitol Hill showed me how the backstage of politics and economic decisions affect the real world lived by you and me. The reasoning behind each move says more than the decision in itself — and understanding that was life-changing to me. Finally, during my time at the Hill, I had the honor of being in the same room as Jerome Powell, chair of the Federal Reserve, Janet Yellen, 78th Secretary of the Treasury and 15th chair of the Fed, the former director of the FBI, and other relevant personalities. This showed me that they are normal people like you and me, and that we can—and should—dream high to change the world we live in.
Another remarkable experience was serving as President at Good for All Nonprofit Organization. Good for All is a major nonprofit based in São Paulo, Brazil, that assists children from underserved communities—favelas. During my time at “Projeto Bem Para Todos” (as it’s known in Brazil), I had the honor of leading more than 110 leaders, transforming the lives of more than 24,000 people through 25+ events across two states in my country: São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Beyond teaching me about how to lead by example and how to develop culture within an organization, it most importantly taught me how the economic decisions taken at offices in our nation’s capital affect the lives of the ones who need the most in practice.
Have you found any of the following competencies to be essential to your current success? Check as many as apply.
- Communication
- Teamwork
- Technology
- Critical Thinking
- Professionalism
Have you overcome academic, career preparation, or job search obstacles during your time at USF thus far? How?
Totally! I’ve had several challenges during my time at USF, and the people I met, along with the resources provided by the university, helped me overcome them. This process showed me that obstacles are opportunities for you to exceed your own expectations. Obstacles are markers: they separate what’s behind and what’s beyond them. Looking back now, I see all the marks that shaped who I am today, and, thus, separate the Matheus of four years ago from the Matheus I am today.
Please share if groups, organizations, individuals, or other resources at USF have contributed to your success and how.
The Office of National Scholars was vital to my development as a student and a person. I first learned about the ONS in my junior year, and even in a short time, it profoundly impacted my perception of purpose and how to pursue it. Beyond the guidance of my mentors, being surrounded by some of the most outstanding individuals I met at the University of South Florida influenced my views and behavior for the better. Therefore, I’d like to highlight the importance of the people you surround yourself with. You have full control over that, which means that a part of your future self can be defined by your present self. Opportunities like this are not found only at ONS, but in every student organization, extracurricular activity, classroom, roommate. I would also like to mention the Investment Club at USF, which deeply impacted my time at USF. It pushed me to go further, provided me with opportunities, and gave me friends that I will carry with me for life.
What advice would you give to current USF students pursuing similar goals?
Be excellent. You are worthy of your own excellence. Life is too short to settle for the ordinary. But remember, excellence does not mean perfection. Perhaps what keeps you from being excellent is the fact that your best is not as good as your someone else’s. So what? You are worthy of YOUR own excellence.
Please share recent accomplishments and achievements: including projects, awards, and any relevant information.
I would like to highlight three main accomplishments. First, I have recently joined Goldman Sachs as part of the Valuations team within the Global Banking & Markets division. This has been a major achievement for me that keeps teaching me a lot every day. I have the opportunity to collaborate with outstanding professionals from offices across the globe and put into practice what I’ve learned in class, learning how real-world economics truly operates and affects people’s lives. Second, I am proudly pursuing a MicroMasters in Data, Economics, and Design of Policy at MIT. This exceptional remote program connects me with some of the greatest minds in the world when it comes to the impact that real-world economics has in poverty alleviation—an enriching experience so far. Finally, I was honored to be invited to join Phi Beta Kappa, the most prestigious and long-standing honor society in the country, in my last semester at USF. I am grateful for the efforts of our PBK chapter at USF and look forward to contributing to its growth and impact.