[Anonymous]

Hi Peeps,

I have been really down the past few weeks and studying has been tough. Currently preparing for FAR, my very first exam.Why am I down, well others in my field are flourishing. How? Well, they make bank, live in a condo in the city, and have their MBA and CPA.

I bank a whopping 30k, have 3 yeas of experience in higher ed, and started college when I was 24 y/o. I am embarrassed to say I do not make enough to move out. I do not envy those mentioned above, just gets me down when I compare myself.

I was watching Step Brothers with my small niece, and Will said the following: ” I want to make bank bro, I want to get ass, and I want to drive a Range Rover!” In regard to hosting the Catalina Wine Mixer. I too want what he stated.

Sorry if I come off as naive, but I do feel down. Kindly do not scold me. I find this site to be therapeutic.

I thank you for your time.

[super.senpai]

dude, you have no idea how good you have it compared to others by just having a place to live and employment. keep trying and when its all over and you'll look back at how much you have grown; you'll realize its not about “bank” and “ass” but rather about helping others deserving of it. however, to each their own. Personally, I am taking this exam to challenge myself. Clearly, you can see that its a challenge for me to pass audit, lol. and hey fyi, you live your life comparing yourself to others making more money than you or geting more ass than you, then you wont be living your life because you will be too busy chasing the lives of others. who needs punctuations, this is BEC writing communications.

BEC: 72,72, 77
AUD: 47, 63

[kleon52]

You control your happines, not others.

Read This:

https://tinybuddha.com/blog/7-things-that-influence-happiness-that-you-dont-need-to-have/

The Beginner's Guide to Simple Daily Happiness

and

How to Sustain Happiness

It's not some new-age hippy stuff but just a different way to look at things.

Best advice that I can give you: stop comparing yourself to others, only compare yourself to your past self. Don't worry about what other people think about you and you will be happier..

REG: 80
AUD: 82
BEC: 83
FAR: 83
Finished Feb 2015, 5-6months

Ninja MCQ for AUD, BEC, & FAR

[Anonymous]

Don't get down. You are on the correct route to reach your financial goals in life; you'll get there. I'd be lying if I said financial success isn't a very important thing in life because let's face it, we're accountants. Keep in mind though that it's not the only thing.

I also have been feeling odd, maybe not depressed but certainly something not as happy as I used to be. I find myself in a unique situation waiting for last score and on the verge of getting my license which is exciting and makes me proud, but I have sacrificed a ton to be sitting in the position I am now. I have friends that no longer talk to me because I missed their wedding or I haven't seen them in a year because I've been in either a) my work desk chair or b) my at home study desk chair. I went straight from bachelors –> 3 weeks later starting grad school –> 6 days after my last day of grad class –> moved to another city and started my professional career –> work and exams since then. I haven't spoken to some relatives in a long while (which is my fault), friends, and my dating/social life is non existent. It's funny because now I find myself going through my phone looking for friends, girls, aunts/uncles, anyone to text to go hang out and people aren't as obliged to hang out maybe due to feeling like I shunned them. I guess I don't blame them but this is the sacrifice I'm talking about.

You are about to embark on a long journey that is the CPA exam my friend. There's no short cuts and it's going to test your will once you get your first failing grade (assuming you are part of the high percentage that don't experience a 1.000 batting average at this thing). You've come to the right place for a therapeutic release. Good luck!

[taxgeek83]

If it makes you feel any better, I started college at 18, right out of high school, and after this little thing called Life happened, I finally graduated with my bachelor's at 28. 🙂

You yourself said it – your peers have their MBAs and/or their CPA licenses. You're on your way – you've already taken that first step. Push through it and you'll get there. I won't say I haven't been where you are, but if there's one thing I've learned after the last decade or so, it's that the “normal” path in life isn't as normal as one might think.

[HowLuckyWeAre]

“Comparison is the thief of joy.” – Teddy Roosevelt.

Not judging. Sometimes I feel the pangs of jealousy/envy when I look at my peers and see what they've accomplished versus what I've done. Especially people who I interned with at a top 20 firm who have their licenses already and are probably making bank. Meanwhile I regret not taking that second internship and thus landing in industry with a terrible supervisor who never misses an opportunity to make me feel stupid.

The antidepressants help. What helps most is keeping in mind that constantly comparing yourself to others will make you feel awful for the perceived things you don't have all the while clouding your judgment on all the good things you do have. You're clealy ambitious and are able to make goals and get an action plan going. This is a good thing. Keep your head up and use these negative self thoughts as fuel for studying FAR and knock it out. 🙂 And stick with the forum. We totally understand.

FAR - 78
AUD - 85
BEC - 70, 83! Ninja note bump of 13 points!
REG - 65, 70, 2016 Q1 retake before FAR expires 02/29/16

CPAexcel + Ninja Notes + Ninja MCQ = Success

How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. And boy, I am HANGRY!

[fairylite]

We've all been there, one way or another. If it's not career, it's family. If it's not family, it's your relationship etc. It's a vicious cycle, but the key thing you have to give yourself credit for is that you are making the change. So you're a few years behind, no biggie.

I started off making $15/hour as an accounting assistant while my classmates were starting off at Big 4 and banks. I definitely felt how you are feeling for the longest time, but I kept trying, and I managed to land a great accounting job at a great company where I can say I'm truly happy. My coworkers at my level are all MBA/CPAs etc., and I'm the only one who isn't qualified in that way. I also do get the stink eye from time to time because nobody can figure out how I got hired (sometimes I can't either, ha!) , but It's kind of funny because rather than feeling sad or depressed, not being as qualified as my coworkers make me want to finish my CPA even more now.

Hang in there! it's a few years of hard work and tenacity, but I promise you that if you stick it through, something good will come your way. 🙂

BEC 11/12/2015
REG 1/1/2016
AUD 1/22/2016
FAR 2/28/2016

[mla1169]

But you're doing something to change your situation, don't get frustrated with when you arrive at the point you want to get to, just enjoy the journey to get there.

At 34 years old I was a single parent with a high school education. By 42 years old I had a Masters degree, a CPA and a great job.

Was well worth the wait.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Rocky123]

I know how you feel. Believe me. It seems like the world judges you on how much you make, or what you should be making based on your career.

I feel like the least successful of my college graduating class. I didn't make the best choices in the past and I own that. But I know that I'm doing something about it. I finally got serious about life and got my CPA. I'm almost 40.

I can't change the past but I can control the future. Be proud that you are trying to better yourself. That is more that a lot of people can say.

Best of luck. It will get better. Keep pushing.

The tallest oak in the forest was once just a little nut that held its ground.

AUD-PASS
BEC-PASS
REG-PASS
FAR-PASS

Rocky123, CPA

[Anonymous]

3 years ago, my friend landed a banker job in wells fargo and started it after bachelor. His salary + bonus was a little bit below 50k. I, on the other hand, was still an undergraduate and was rejected by wells fargo for its internal audit internship.

3 years later, now, my friend is struggling about his career because he sees no long term future and the income is somewhere between 50k and 60k. He always talks about getting a master or a CFA. I, on the other hand, started my dream career in Big 4 after my master and 4 cpa pass. My salary (without bonus) is around 60k and it is just my first year.

You have no idea how you two future can change. Life is a long term thing. If you want to compare, don't compare the current. Maybe in a few years later my friend makes a VP and i can be fired by b4. Who knows. Do your best on your current matter and compare your achievement later in future.

[Anonymous]

Don't sweat it. Sometimes life sucks.

I got the most and best tail of my life when I didn't have two nickels to rub together, much less a car. Chicks like swagger. Period.

Just don't get married. Women stop giving it up.

[solescpajourney]

I agree that the worst thing you can do is compare yourself to anyone else! We always tend to look at those doing better than us and we want to be that way. And there are others looking at you and wishing they were doing as good as you! I made 30k with my second accounting job (20k with the first with a Bachelor's!!) and I was living in my own home with my first husband who didn't work very much and raising my daughter. I wanted my MBA so bad, but I couldn't make it happen back then. Now, about 12 years later, I have my MBA, getting ready to study for my CPA and still not where I thought I'd be at this time in my life. But, I have learned to just be happy about it because it could be so much worse 🙂 You're time will come if you keep working for it!!

[Mamabear]

I have come to realize that there will always be someone who has something you don't have or lives the life you hope to live one day. You just have to keep pushing for what you want and try to appreciate what you do have along the way. I failed out of the first college I went to because I wanted to party and have a good time and they don't give degrees for that unfortunately. It took me two months in a low level job to realize that was not the life I wanted. Went back to school, got the bachelor's, got the master's, got the good job, and passed the CPA. This happened over a span of 12 years. It may not be the fast track that you want but I can promise you that those things do not define me and I am grateful that I had alot of other things to make me happy along the way. You can too. The people in your life will make a huge difference in your happiness. The experiences that are not related to school or jobs will make a big impact as well. Surround yourself with good people and have great experiences. It makes the journey go by so much faster. Good luck!

CPA Exam - Finally DONE (November 2014)
BEC (08/10/13) 80
AUD (08/24/13) 65 (11/13/13) 85
FAR (04/12/14) 81
REG (07/19/14) 69 (11/29/14) 87!!

[Kettlepot]

Try to keep in mind that people will broadcast their successes and hide their failures, especially on Facebook and other social media.

I have a friend who clears 100k and I'm here at about half that, but he routinely works 60+ hours a week and goes home to a real cool empty “condo in the city” at 10pm every night while I drove to my house with my wife and son at 5:00 like a normal human being on most nights.

Also, I bought a Range Rover for about $1000…it's a 1993 model with some serious issues, but I can still say I own a Range Rover!

Far: 49
BEC: 79 (Expired)
AUD: 51, 67, 64
REG: 59, 64, 59, 69

[State Aggie]

Good points! It's easy to compare yourself to those doing better then you, but there are plenty that are worse off. If you want an experience that will open your eyes go do some volunteer work. I know happy people who life has dealt a crap hand. Just keep on fighting and push through… and don't take other peoples opinion of your life very seriously. A bit of background, I graduated and started my career as a Wildlife Biologist in 2004. I had a few bad days, but I am happy where I am today.

BEC - 87
AUD - 74, 92
REG - 82
FAR - 65, 85

[jstay]

More importantly, why are you watching step brothers with your small niece lol

you'll get there. time and effort

keep thinking “this is only temporary, this is only temporary”

[Author]

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