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Story time, everyone.
I’ve stopped by the forum to say hello and read some of my old posts but it got me thinking about the process of studying. I had 2 accounts here on Another71; one from when I first started studying in 2014 and another in 2018 when I actually completed the exams. I want to share this reflection as of 2021 looking back at myself in 2018, 2014, and my hope is that it can inspire someone in the studying process because it’s a hard thing to do.
Finding my old account and re-reading my posts from 2014 was quite embarrassing because of what I know today and it was actually hard to empathize with my previous self, even though I wrote it and experienced it so along ago.
Specifically, someone replied to a rant I had about my study plan (2014) and I wish I had just taken the time to sit with that post, read it, and patiently think about it. Their advice was the exact study process I used in 2018 but I had a tendency to let my thoughts run wild and ended up ignoring it. I feel like I’ve been inefficient with my time.
The day I passed my first exam was in May/June 2018. It was such a huge relief. I had previously failed 3 sections and it was an overwhelming amount of pressure to put on myself. It was almost like I was going through an identity crisis and I didn’t know who I was if I didn’t pass. At the time, I was in the middle of a breakup, not having my own place and living at my sister’s (again), and just recently let go from a job.
I had nothing going for me and my self-worth was at an all time low.
I was sitting in the parking lot of the local barber college waiting for a cheap haircut. A friend texted me that NASBA had released its scores for everyone besides CBA (California Board of Accountancy). Did I want to check? I’d be complaining to the barber for the whole haircut if I didn’t pass.
I loaded up my phone, logged in to NASBA. Wrong password. Frustration mounting and desperation sinking in. And not wanting to miss the barber who I built a relationship with over the past couple of weeks; I urgently did the last pass dance, submit a ticket, checked my email, reset the password and logged in and I saw the score.
A fucking 85.
I was pumped, overwhelmed. I sat in my car for the next 15 minutes just sitting. Tears started to flow, I recorded some shaky footage that I haven’t looked at since. The hours studying in dusty home renovation sites (my sister’s future rental property), a cramped family library, thinking through MCQ’s I got wrong while ordering coffee, and being just lucky enough to get a simulation that was on the practice SIMS made this such a memorable experience for me.
Everyone has a different experience. Some candidates just study right after college and forget how difficult it was, some candidates are like me and struggle with time and toil just to make any progress.
If you’re looking for exam advice, it’s this:
Believe
I don’t know who you are and I can’t tell what your future holds for you but I encourage you to get to know yourself, seek counseling, and figure out if this goal will be worth it for you. It’s not easy but after 3-years since my first pass, I can say it was worth it.
I’m glad to see all of your success Jeff and so happy you kept this forum with all of your changes to the business.
AUD - 75
BEC - 83
FAR - 85
REG - 84He who controls others may be powerful, but he who has mastered himself is mightier still.Lao Tzu
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