Every career has its own rhythm—sometimes it hums, sometimes it roars, and sometimes, it rewrites itself altogether. Mine started with a well-charted dream: to become a Chartered Accountant. But life, as it loves to do, threw in some plot twists. What began with tally sheets and tax codes slowly morphed into market models and mergers. Here’s how I went from CA hopeful to investment banking enthusiast, one lesson (and a couple of heartbreaks) at a time.

📚 Chapter One: The CA Dream Begins

Fresh out of 12th in 2021, I was all in on my Chartered Accountancy journey. I had that starry-eyed ambition that only freshly graduated students do—ready to grind, ready to win.

But my first attempt at the CA Foundation didn’t go as planned.

I failed.

And not the cute kind of fail. It stung. My confidence took a hit, and self-doubt snuck in like an uninvited guest who overstays their welcome. But the dream? Still alive. Still flickering.

💪 Second Wind: Persistence Over Perfection

Failure didn’t scare me off—it fired me up. I buckled down, ignored the whispers of doubt, and gave it my all. In June, I reattempted the exam.

Come August 2022—victory.

That moment? Unforgettable. My parents cried tears of joy. My sisters cheered like I’d just won gold at the Olympics. That result wasn’t just a pass. It was a turning point. A reminder that hard work does pay off—just sometimes not on your timeline.

🚧 The Intermediate Wall

With my CA Foundation cleared, I rolled into Intermediate prep with all the momentum of a freight train.

But reality hit. Distractions crept in. My focus wobbled. My result? Not what I hoped.

Another setback. This one cut deeper. Not just because of the failure, but because the fire I once felt for this path was flickering out. Something was shifting inside me.

🧭 Rerouting: Finding My True North

I stuck around for a bit longer, hoping the passion would return.

It didn’t.

Instead, I found myself drawn to a new world—one buzzing with valuations, IPOs, and strategic finance: investment banking. The more I explored, the more alive I felt. I wasn’t quitting. I was realigning.

That’s a big difference.

🚀 New Beginnings: The IB Way

Making the switch was bold. Scary? Sure. But necessary.

I dove headfirst into financial modeling, brushed up on market trends, and devoured every IB resource I could get my hands on. And just like that, the spark was back. Investment banking didn’t just interest me—it challenged me. And in that challenge, I found purpose.

🔚 The Wrap-Up

My journey from CA aspirant to budding investment banker wasn’t neat or linear. It was messy, emotional, and painfully honest. But if I’ve learned anything, it’s this:

💡 Lessons I’ll Carry Forever:

✅ Failure isn’t a full stop—it’s a comma.

✅ You’re allowed (and encouraged) to change your mind.

✅ Chasing what fuels you is always worth it.

So if you're at a crossroads—take heart. Your current path doesn’t define your forever. Your calling might be around the next corner, just waiting for you to pivot.

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✨ Let go of the guilt. Embrace the growth. And never stop asking—“Is this what sets my soul on fire?”