The last chapter of my life started with CA, some six years back. I remember how I was then : An introverted, shy, quiet seventeen year old, immature, naive, who didn't have any idea about what the next five years would bring. To her, CA just seemed like any other series of exams to be taken and passed, and in the end, at the most, a good job or a corporate position.
Little did I know how very wrong I was, and how much the next few years would change me, my life incontrovertibly.
The first change happened, when I joined my first work place, which was a small firm where I planned to intern and gain some experience before the IPCC results. It was the first time I dealt with seniors, bosses and clients, and it gave me the shake up I needed badly. While I did gain experience with audit, tax, and other matters, what I really learned was how to manage people, whether they be difficult clients or irate superiors.
The next was when I joined a major firm, where I would be working for the next two years. I truly believe that these two years have shaped me, changed me, and most importantly, forced me to grow up. Learning to deal with corporate politics, back stabbing colleagues, clients who just did not give information, and all while completing work on time did have its challenges, but as a result, that naive, innocent person was replaced by a somewhat smarter (I hope) , more assertive, open and independent individual. This was when I learnt that CA wasn't just about passing exams, but it was about growing professionally and personally. It was about experiencing life and work first hand, becoming tougher and street smart.
Passing CA Final was no joke, but I did not expect it to be this hard either. Failure in exams was something I had never contemplated, so even though I had not written my exams spectacularly, the thought was not passing was completely alien. Therefore, when I got the results the first time, it was an enormous shock, particularly when most of my peers had passed. It took a while to recover, but I somehow managed to rally and move on. It was less of one, but still a shock when I did not pass the second time around either.
This was when I realized, that the most vital lesson CA teaches the students is one of perseverance. Only a CA student would really understand the value of hope, the will not to despair at failure, but to keep trying till the luck turns. This is what sustains students through years and years of attempts.
An equally important lesson is to know when to cut your losses, and bow out before it is too late. After the next two attempts did not work out, I decided to follow another dream I'd always had, that of going to university. Maybe, just maybe, CA wasn't meant to be for me.
So, here I am, two months before university starts. For the first time ever, I'm going to study away from home, in a foreign land. I'm scared, nervous, and excited in equal measures. A new page, a life altering new chapter opens. But after reflecting on the old one, I see how much CA has taught me, how it has irreversibly altered my life, my perspectives, and those are qualities I'll always carry, whether or not I eventually become a Chartered Accountant.
Little did I know how very wrong I was, and how much the next few years would change me, my life incontrovertibly.
The first change happened, when I joined my first work place, which was a small firm where I planned to intern and gain some experience before the IPCC results. It was the first time I dealt with seniors, bosses and clients, and it gave me the shake up I needed badly. While I did gain experience with audit, tax, and other matters, what I really learned was how to manage people, whether they be difficult clients or irate superiors.
The next was when I joined a major firm, where I would be working for the next two years. I truly believe that these two years have shaped me, changed me, and most importantly, forced me to grow up. Learning to deal with corporate politics, back stabbing colleagues, clients who just did not give information, and all while completing work on time did have its challenges, but as a result, that naive, innocent person was replaced by a somewhat smarter (I hope) , more assertive, open and independent individual. This was when I learnt that CA wasn't just about passing exams, but it was about growing professionally and personally. It was about experiencing life and work first hand, becoming tougher and street smart.
Passing CA Final was no joke, but I did not expect it to be this hard either. Failure in exams was something I had never contemplated, so even though I had not written my exams spectacularly, the thought was not passing was completely alien. Therefore, when I got the results the first time, it was an enormous shock, particularly when most of my peers had passed. It took a while to recover, but I somehow managed to rally and move on. It was less of one, but still a shock when I did not pass the second time around either.
This was when I realized, that the most vital lesson CA teaches the students is one of perseverance. Only a CA student would really understand the value of hope, the will not to despair at failure, but to keep trying till the luck turns. This is what sustains students through years and years of attempts.
An equally important lesson is to know when to cut your losses, and bow out before it is too late. After the next two attempts did not work out, I decided to follow another dream I'd always had, that of going to university. Maybe, just maybe, CA wasn't meant to be for me.
So, here I am, two months before university starts. For the first time ever, I'm going to study away from home, in a foreign land. I'm scared, nervous, and excited in equal measures. A new page, a life altering new chapter opens. But after reflecting on the old one, I see how much CA has taught me, how it has irreversibly altered my life, my perspectives, and those are qualities I'll always carry, whether or not I eventually become a Chartered Accountant.
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