Here is what I wrote:
“If you love something, let it go. If it comes back to you, it’s yours forever. If it doesn’t, then it was never meant to be.” Anonymous
When does forever start? How much time elapses between the “letting go” and the “coming back”? For me and my dream of becoming a Certified Public Accountant, forever is getting closer. Just when I thought it was never meant to be, along came renewed hope that perhaps it just might become a reality.
At age 18, I knew I loved mathematics and analyzing numbers and helping other people understand how numbers fit together. I did not know what career choice or college major would be the best way for me to use those talents. Therefore, I majored in Mathematics and, upon the advice of my parents, completed the requirements to teach secondary students. Before long, young and in love, my goals transitioned to marriage and children. Education and career faded into the background of my life and family responsibilities took center stage.
Some bookkeeping duties with a local retail store and an awareness of the responsibilities of a certified public accountant drew me into consideration of going back to school in 1988 to explore the possibilities of a new degree, this time in accounting. My dream was identified at this point in my life. I completed a basic accounting class at the local community college via distance learning, earning an A, and igniting the flame of desire for continued studies in the field. However, my sons were 5, 2, and newborn and their needs were so much more pressing and important. I let my dream go!!
Nine years later, in November 1997, my children’s needs were becoming more and more financial and less “hands on”, therefore, I entered the work force. I found myself employed as an administrative assistant’s assistant at a local accounting firm. My duties consisted of shredding paper, filing, copying, and recording the professionals’ time in software for time and billing purposes. Although my duties were not that glamorous; I was happy to be working in an accounting office and found myself eager to learn any new task that anyone would teach me. Fortunately, this firm fostered the ideals of on-the-job training and the professionals in the firm began satisfying my appetite for learning new things and continually challenged me to attempt more and more difficult projects.
Currently, my job responsibilities at that same accounting firm include preparation of more complex tax returns and financial statements, supervision of other staff members, detail review of tax returns and financial statements, consultation meetings with new business owners, and signing partnership, corporate, and individual tax returns. I am so blessed to experience many of the benefits of a CPA without actually having my license. My “something loved and let go” is coming back!
My sons are now 25, 22, and 20 years old. It’s time for “forever” to begin. It’s time for me to pursue a degree in accounting and to earn the professional designation of Certified Public Accountant. It is my desire to enroll at
