Can you become a CPA without sacrifices?

Years ago, I thought that accounting was not really for me.

I keep on stressing about how I don't understand the concept of debit and credit.

I was stressed that my trial balances do not balance.

And that I sometimes get zero on our surprise quizzes.

Stressed and unhappy, I dragged myself to class each day.

An Asian person would understand how much people around you, your close family, your friends, your classmates cared about grades and awards.

So even if I'm stressed and unhappy I have to move forward.

My entire school life has been measured and validated on grades and awards.

That went on for two years and a half.

So suddenly, on my third year when I got my first and only C grade in one of my accounting subjects, I faced a reality check.

It's good that I got the grade back then because I needed to make a judgment call.

Will I keep doing things half-heartedly or will I commit myself fully?

Becoming a CPA was not my dream.

It was my mother's dream, it was the dream imposed by a society that rewards respect and trust only when you have titles and money to show.

And I made the mistake of thinking that life is all about numbers.

Grades and ranks and amounts and all that

I dropped two biggest distractions in my life: reading and writing.

I promised myself that I will not open a single non-accounting book again until I get my CPA title.

I left our school publication and literary org in the same year.

I started re-reading all my accounting books like crazy.

I forced myself to love accounting.

Finally, some of the inspirational words from our accounting teachers have started to sink in.

"If you don't love accounting, accounting will not love you back."

Later, I've indeed learned to love all the risks and rewards and opportunities that the accounting profession has to offer.

And it was all because of that mistake which did not turn out to be a regret.

***

P.S. This month, I celebrate my 10-year anniversary since becoming a CPA. Thanks for reading some snippets of the journey through this newsletter. In the future, I hope to be able to provide you with more unfiltered write-ups to help you make the best out of this profession.

Hope we get to celebrate future milestones together!

Welcome to Busy Season Journals—stories and experiences to shape accountants of the future. A newsletter made especially for you by a fellow accountant, adventurer, and coach-guide.

If this post resonated with you, share and invite fellow accountants and auditors to subscribe to Busy Season Journals.

If you’re a millennial and Gen Z auditor/accountant and this email was forwarded to you, click subscribe to enjoy future stories.