First of all greetings to everyone. I am neither a CA nor a CA student but yes, madly in love with this credential for the past 4 years. The intention behind this write up is not to show my craze for it or to prove it. Its neither a piece of advise nor a suggestion, just my thoughts and feelings associated with the CA course.
The Beginning:
I took admission in class 11, commerce, merely to be graduate. Things changed by the time I was in 12th class. A T.V interview of Mr. Rakesh Jhunjhunwala brought about a sea change in my concept of higher education. The interview made me fall in love with CA course and off course the Stock Market. I took every opportunity to educate and update myself about CA and stock markets.
The Fear And The Excitement:
After passing my class 12 exam, with a distinction in accountancy, I made up my mind to do B.Com and CA-CPT. I had to move out and stay alone(the place I was living earlier with my parents had no commerce college). I took admission in B.Com with Accounting&Finance as my Honours. After settling down in a new place, I looked around for help or at least some sources which could pave the way for CPT level, I only ended up finding not even a single institute offering CA coaching/ guidance out here and I got to know that ICAI had no operations in my region, I had to go in some other state, which was not possible. people whom I knew advised me to focus on B.Com. some said that CA was very tough and time consuming, some directly said that its not for an average student like me.
All this left me disheartened, quite often I spent hours browsing ICAI website and some other sites reading the success stories of CAs. I was in a state of utter confusion, dark clouds of fear of failure filled up the sky of my thoughts and I almost gave up the perception of being a CA. I felt helpless, I was so obsessed with my future prospect of being a CA that it was hard for me not to think about it even for a day and time went by.
During the 2nd year of my graduation, I stared to prepare for CPT without having registered, as I was not sure when would I be able to appear for it. But I could never complete it and later I was in the 3rd year of B.Com. by that the time ICAI announced its direct entry scheme for graduates, all I needed was 55% to go for CA-IPCC and so focused mostly on finishing my graduation, and finally I was done with it. MBA- From The Blue: On completing B.Com. I thought it was time to embrace CA but I was wrong, circumstances compelled me to opt for a Master degree, I had to compromise.
I decided to go for M.Com. in distance mode and work in a CA firm. I was really feeling bad inside, every time I red about a CA or came across one, I got jealous, frustration was at its peak, I felt its all over! any how I tried to calm down and accept the situation tried to maintain a balance between my emotions and the bitter fact of not being able to pursue CA. Every one advised me to complete my PG and support my parents being the eldest son rather than going for a long duration course like CA, where success is never fix. At that point of time, though financially week, my parents suggested me to do MBA(Finance) perhaps they didn't want to hurt my sentiments for a professional degree in Finance.
MBA was out of the blue, I had no aspiration for it, finally I took admission in MBA.(ICFAI, University) I took it positively and accordingly adjusted my mind set. Be it MBA or CA we have subjects in common like, Financial Accounting, Cost & Management Accounting, Financial Management, etc. as per the course curriculum. we have our own prescribed text books but for practical subjects like those mentioned above, I attempt CA questions, say, I am working out problems on Cash Flow Statements, so apart from those problems in my MBA text books I collect questions from CA-IPCC exams and solve it. Now that gives me the touch of CA exam in an MBA question.
Two Golden Principles:
I reminded myself of two good old sayings, that keeps the desire of being a CA student flaming inside me.
1. "Where there is a will, there is a way".
2 . "Better late than never". I may be wrong, but that's all I can do for now. I know, practically doing CA after MBA, when one is expected to be in a job supporting family and looking at the age factor is difficult, but I think not impossible. its none less than a Capital Budgeting Decision. But I have no way out and I also cannot give up the thought of being a Chartered Accountant. Thank You, all comments, advises and suggestions are highly appreciated. Ashish Sharma. B.Com(Hons.) MBA(Student)
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