passing on the torch

yesterday, our batch, together with a few friends from upper class, went to visit the next batch of cpa reviewees at sampaloc as part of the yearly tradition, lasallian cpa's (read: from bacolod) are known of. off we went to cayco-loyola streets to meet the aspiring cpa’s, chat with them, hoping to inspire and encourage them amidst the difficulties they are facing in the review.

after some meet-and-greet session, and after a little debate with some classmates along the way (as to where to eat, who are or how much to pay, is the food enough, are we going to fit in that place, why didn’t we plan ahead the food, implied gestures that you should be responsible for this, can you cover muna the pay-with- a deadma reaction!?—those kind of actions children play, of which i should be a graduate already, resulting to my annoyance (read: MALDITA) at that particular time…hehehe), we treated them for some merienda at yellow cab. (and thank God it ended without me having to show off my—read: MALDITA, also thank daping for covering up for my one big weakness—collecting dues)

it was just last year when i had the biggest melodrama of my life—those days when emotions were overflowing, sensitiveness was a fad, and crying was just a natural thing to do. funny how i recollect those times i would cry to the extent of paranoia, thinking i had failed my preboard results and learning later that i got satisfactory grades all the while. my world back then revolved only around three letters: C, P, and A. letters i dearly want to place after my name which later on, thankfully, i was able to realize.

after months of getting over with the review, and now slowly but steadfastly approaching the core of living in the real world (by my lonesome, with the help of a few good friends for already a year), i realized that being a cpa is not the be-all-end-all of my career, more so my life. it maybe is one of the more significant portions of my life, if not the most, but it does not define my life in its entirety. out there is a fierce competition. a million more cpa’s throughout the world, even a billion more non-cpa’s in the corporate world. being a cpa or not being a cpa does not mean you have the makings of being successful or otherwise. at the end of the day, it is still you who defines your own success, still you who decides to accept or reject the opportunities that will come your way, still you who designs your own gameplan—how you want your career to grow, how you want to perform in your workplace, or how you even want to live your life.

i pay great respect to my friends who may not have passed the board exams, but practically moved on with their lives realizing that there is much more to do in this world. they may have a few regrets, but they carry with them plenty more hopes. because out there is an equal opportunity for all, the three letters would soon no longer matter, neither your grades will matter, instead character will still prevail.

to the next batch of cpa hopefuls, good luck and God bless. exist, thrive, work hard, if you fall you can stand up and try again, or you can also move forward.