For years now my New Years Resolutions have only been two things: First, to pass the CPA exam. Second, to get and stay in better shape. I have yet to achieve either resolution. I know the second resolution is directly related to the stress of the first resolution. Even though neither resolution has been resolved I will not say that I didn't live up to my potential to achieve them.
Starting Summer 2009 I passed my first part of the CPA exam, Financial Accounting and Reporting, or "the Beast" as it is known. I was so excited. I was jumping around my house shouting with excitement. That was a great feeling. It gave me the motivation to study for Regulation with my all. I passed that the following quarter. The next quarter was during tax season. I decided to take that quarter off as I had to work crazy long hours and would not be able to put the time in to study for the Auditing section. After tax season, I hit the books hard. I passed Auditing. 3 down 1 to go! I was on a roll!
I put my life on hold for the next quarter and studied Business Environment and Concepts like it was no body's business. I knew it. My practice test scores were in the high 90's. There was no way I wasn't going to pass this test. When I got my grade back I almost had a heart attack. I failed... by A LOT. It was the lowest score I received since I started taking the exams back in 2006. How could that happen? I knew it. It was the hardest I ever studied. I went into a deep depression for a few days. I told myself to snap out of it, schedule it again, and get back to studying. So that's what I did. I had it scheduled for the next quarter. Again I gave it my life. Again I FAILED. What was going on! Now I only had one more quarter to pass until I started losing the previous parts I passed due to time constraints. I was baking Christmas cookies and studying. My Christmas vacation was all about studying. No way was I going to lose parts that I put so much time and energy in. But the accounting gods have come to HATE me. I FAILED again. Third time in a row. My scores were getting better. I was only 3 points away from passing. I thought I was depressed the first time. This time was the most awful feeling that I would never want my worst enemy to feel. I lost FAR. Now I had BEC and FAR to take before I lost REG. I cried for about an hour, then got up and rescheduled both tests. I scheduled them both for after tax season.
I received my FAR score back but not my BEC. I failed FAR. I failed the part I had already passed. I felt a dagger go through my heart. When will this ever end. Not only did I now have to retake FAR again, I needed to retake REG. Who knows about BEC. Apparently most of the BEC scores were released but a very few were not yet. Of course mine is one of the ones not released. I am waiting but not very patiently! There is a $75 application fee that needs to be paid at the time of reapplying. I am not paying that twice if the accounting gods really hate me like they seem to.
Now my life is all about FAR again. I took it end of May so it is still fresh in my head. I plan to take it mid-August before my vacation. I want to take REG beginning October.
As for my workouts, I can't say the last two years have been a waste. Just about the same time in 2006 that I started studying for this massive test, I started a weight loss plan. I was able to take off about 30 lbs and keep it off. Like any girl, I would like to lose about 10 more lbs. I work out (almost) daily and follow an eating plan. I have my days when I get off track. Putting my heart into studying and not getting back what I put in definitely contributes to that. However, it normally only lasts anywhere from a few hours to a day or two. Does eating awful and being lazy ever make anyone feel better about themselves? It certainly does not help me. It makes me feel worse.
I will be the Fit CPA. No more almost Fit. No more CPA Candidate. The year is only half over. I still have 6 months to accomplish the HARDEST, most stressful thing I have ever wanted from life. .
