Growth Opportunity

Friends would often ask me, why am I decided to pursue my CPA?  My self-employed seems to be doing ok, provided me with the flexibility they wish they have. Why spend the money, time, and effort? 

Firstly, after a few years of being a self-employed bookkeeper and accountant, I have realized my service capacity to my clients is limited.  What I can offer to my hires in terms of career opportunities is also limited.  Although going into accounting was an unplanned endeavour, it is a profession I enjoy doing.  It is a profession that requires discipline, it is challenging and provides opportunities in a constantly changing environment. And most attractive quality is that it is a profession of integrity.  These are the things I value.

Make my Parents Proud

The most important reason is my parents.  In particular, my father, who is turning 80 years old in two years as of this article.  During a discussion on my career, I expressed my concerns about my self-employment and my dissatisfaction with the lack of opportunities to grow on my own.  I then expressed that I may pursue the CPA designation.  He was ecstatic.  As an immigrant, when my dad came to Canada he was having difficulty obtaining employment. All of his past experiences and accomplishments were unrecognized and disregarded.  We didn't come from a well-to-do background. My grandparents were very poor, my dad had a chance to obtain his education by a full scholarship, which led him to an opportunity in a large corporation, and he worked his way up by diligence and hard work. However, all that didn't matter when we moved to Canada.  Already facing financial stress, language barrier, ageism and other hurdles, it was impossible to think about going back to school and start over with family obligations.  

Both my mother and my father are very supportive of my pursuing the CPA designation.  To some, this is such a small accomplishment. A lot of  my colleagues and friends have their MBA, CPA, CFA, and numerous other recognizable credentials years before.  But for my parents and myself, it is a major accomplishment that will make them proud.

For the love of my parents, I have made a decision to pursue my CPA designation before my father turned 80.