This story is contributed by AB to share that simple students from unknown schools can become CPAs.

Anyways, isa po akong ordinary student from an Archdiocesan College in Mindanao na di gaano kasikatan. I graduated with no good foundation in Accounting. I dunno bakit ako pumapasa. I just keep on praying to God for wisdom during exam. I never cheat in our exam, because para sa ano pa ang pagdarasal ko if masasaktan ko lang si Lord through cheating, diba? That’s always my promise to myself, and the least thing I can do for God. Honestly, ang set-up ko talaga after exams ay delete lahat ng pinag-aralan. Kalimutan ang nakakastress na kahapon. I’m not even fond of buying and reading reviewers. So I keep on asking myself, “Hmm hey Fat Kid! Sure ka na ba magboboard exam this May 2016? Parang wala ka namang naintindihan sa undergrad days mo!”

Yun ang always sinasabi at tinatanong ng mind ko sa akin, ni Process Costing di ko po alam. Pero di po ako nagpatinag sa doubts ko, dahil alam ko si God ang may gusto na grumaduate ako ng BSA course. So I have to finish this marathon. I need to become a CPA. God took me this far, so why not finish it with Him?

I enrolled in a review school in Davao to pursue my dreams, to follow God’s will. Yun ang nafifeel ko ehh. I even bought 8 reviewers to read. Yes, doon pa ako nagsimulang magbasa.

First day namin ay, diagnostic exams. Kabado ako nun’, cause I don’t know anything and results will be posted after a week. Sabi ko sa sarili, okay lang yun if mababa scores ko this will help me pinpoint my weaknesses. This can help me grow and be better. Paglabas ng results, classmates ko masaya sa ranking nila at ako, dali-dali sa pagtingin sa results. Yun! Ang baba ng ratings ko like below 50% halos lahat ng exams ko the worse was tax, 17%. Nakakatakot at the same time nakakaencourage sa sarili na dapat better performance ko for the preboard.

So struggle is real talaga po, I disciplined my self for 6 months (from December 2015 until May 2016). I feel like I’m back to zero in our review. And I must feel that way, considering I have no strong foundation in accounting. Dinisiplina ko ang sarili ko, ni pag-absent it is a BIG NO! I wrote everything what my reviewers say dahil I’m not good at listening I’m more on reading type of person. Dun’ ako nakakaintindi. So every important details sinasabi ni reviewer dapat nasusulat ko. I always buy 3 ballpens a week for next week’s lesson. I keep on rewriting what I wrote from class and make summaries on all topics as based on what I have heard and read from my reviewers and my review materials, respectively. 

That was really a complete struggle for me, sakit na ng kamay ko sa pagsosolve at paggawa ng summaries per topics. I even wake up very early just to finish every booklets even on Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Especially in P2, na ang hina ng comprehension ko, so I need to make diskarte for me to learn it quicker. I even make my own logic in understanding things. Like sa Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities, yung logic ko ay “If masaya ka ngayon bukas iiyak ka dahil i-tatax ka (DTL). But if sad ka ngayon, it is okay dahil di ka itatax (DTA).” Yeah I think that really helped me a lot. Kahit funny. I won’t even share my review notes to others not because of being selfish but because they may make fun of my funny logics and bully me for the rest of my life. Hahaha pero if ever they want to asked me to explain anything, I am very open to it. But please don’t borrow my notes. 

If walang klase naman, sometimes pumupunta ako sa review center to study. Kahit nag-iisa ako, okay lang. Bahala na masabihan ng iba na loner ako, basta makapag-aral lang. I mean, marami pa akong catching-up to do. It was always like one step forward and two steps backward. Hirap!

Pre-board Days. Yun yung isa sa mga pinakakatakot na exam. This will either make or break you. This will test if you are efficient enough in using your time. Kabado ako kaunti, pero alam ko naman I did my best in preparing. I got my summaries and I understood it. As usual, P2 ang pinakamahirap, next is audit. Di ako magaling sa audit ehh. Sa theories nalang po ako bumabawi. I keep on praying that day, sana okay scores ko. Na makita ko na nagimprove performance ko. A week after, lumabas ang results. Nakapasa ako, general average ko ay napakalaki. I really can’t believe it. Grabeng dasal ko nun kay God na maka 65% is sapat na. Pero bonus na bonus na po yung masali ka sa top 10 overall ranking ng review center. That was really shocking kasi di ako nagexpect na mapasali ako nun.

Board Exam Days. Please wag niyo ko gayahin. Still, may doubts pa rin. Yes, I studied during the board exam. Taga gabi. Walang tulugan, I was pressured because of the what ifs. What if makalimutan ko yung pinag-aralan ko? What if wala akong maisagot mamaya sa exam? My mind was tired. For me to refuel, I brought Gatorade in the exam to help me think. First subject was tax at napakahirap. I was devastated. I prayed kahit kumabit lang, promise babawi ako sa ibang subjects. Maka-65 lang. To keep myself going, I kept on saying “Don’t give up, last exam mo na to’ as a reviewee, enjoy mo nalang. CPA ka na next week.” To cut the long story short, sa hirap ng exam, I already hope na condi is sapat na. Hirap ng exam, dapat alam mo at di lang familiar sa rules and principles.

After Board Exam Days. That was the longest 5 working days of waiting. Since Lunes nag end yung exam at next week lumabas yung result. I never expect na makapasa ako dahil alam ko sa sarili ko na nahirapan ako. I was expecting na either bagsak or condi ako. But when the results are out, I received a chat message from my friend congratulating me. Kinabahan ako, dahil baka prank. Binalitaan kasi ako ng kaklase ko prinank sya ng iba naming classmates. So dapat ready ako sa mga pranks. Hahaha Dali-dali ako search ng results at yes, nakita ko pangalan sa listahan. I was shaking that time, I can’t believe that my name was on that list. Wow! CPA na ako! The cliché line of “Ma, Pa CPA na ako.” was really a tear-jerker pala. My parents are really proud and happy upon receiving the news. After all the sleepless nights, CPA na ako.

This story is not about bragging but showing to you that nothing is impossible with God. Inaamin ko kahit wala akong alam sa start, di pala yun importante. Ang importante is what you did during the process for you to grow. Kinaya ko ang challenge ni God by discipline and sacrificing. Marami akong parties at get-togethers iniwasan. But meron pa rin akong reward system if ever pasado ako o nafinish ko yung study schedule ko. Hindi ako KJ or nerd ah?

Kinaya ko, alam ko kaya mo rin. Focus lang. “Never depend on others to discipline you, discipline and help yourself.” Yun yung motto ko. I hope nakatulong ako sa inyo at sa iyo. May bukas pa upang itama ang kahapon. It is never too late. To earn that license, you must sacrifice something for five to six months to reap your lifetime passport of success. So focus and make the learning fun!

P.S.

Don’t deactivate your FB, it won’t help.

During your study time, set 30-60 minutes of break time to absorb what you learn.

#NeverGiveUp

#CPAbyGod’sWill

Thank you for sharing your experience. It is inspiring. God bless you in your career.

This is what really inspire me. Thank you for sharing this.

Thank you for this.. Inspiring!

“Ma, Pa CPA na ako.” -- sa totoo lang natouch ako sa word na yan. Naramdaman ko talaga pag yan rin ang sasabihin ko sa parents ko. :) Thanks for sharing your story. In God's perfect timing, magiging CPA rin ako :)

very inspiring... Thanks for sharing.😊

wow! 

Thank you. 😊

Thank you so much! :)

Thanm you so much po:)