Happy New Year! 

Admittedly, I just have one resolution last year, I want to pass my ACCA exams. And it finally came to fruition in 2017, alhamdulillah :)

So, how did the darn exams go?

There were no words to describe my feelings when I saw the final result. Tears immediately started flowing and my body just started shaking uncontrollably. Hehe. I guess I was overjoyed or just in disbelief.

Result was expected to be out on 16 January 2017 at 8.00 a.m (Malaysia time) via email or sms but I didn’t get mine until 9.00 a.m. Imagine that agony of waiting when your friends keep on updating about their results one by one. But thank God, it was good news.

As I mentioned many times, ACCA was THE hardest exams I have taken in my life. I MUST pass 5 professional papers and it took me many years to complete them all. I even went to the UK in 2014 to study full time but I failed miserably.

Well, I registered as student since 2010, and passed my first paper in 2011 after second attempt. Took another paper, failed 3 times and I gave up. The journey wasn't easy at all when failures always hit me. Getting average marks (50-55 marks) was okay but failing few times wasn't a familiar feeling. I mean it is okay to fail once, or twice but not thrice right? It was bitter, I hated it so much and so I GAVE UP. And that was in 2012.

In 2013, I felt soooo overwhelmed with my work and I just want a career break. So I applied a student loan from MARA and I was thinking maybe I can complete my ACCA in the UK. My thought was soooo simple back then and I didn't know what I was getting myself into.

Truth to be told, I was struggling to finish all the papers and at the same time I have to keep in mind that 100k loan MUST be paid in full if I cannot complete them. Sobs. The very thought gave me shivers. Haha. It was difficult emotionally, physically and mentally. And that is one of the reasons of the abandonement of my miniature page. Hehe.

To be honest, I just pass 1 paper when I was in the UK. The fact which I was tooo ashamed to share about. Hehe. And I completed the remaining 3 papers here, in Malaysia. My life wasn't easy peasy last year, I was soooo busy with my work, had to go to classes during weekends, spent my time in libraries and had less than 5 days to prepare for an exam. And the last paper was the hardest, I've finally passed after 5th attempts. Can you imagine?

After all, I am sooo glad that I did not really give up. It is okay to take a break but please DON'T GIVE UP. I managed to pull through and finally passed my ACCA after 6 years :). All the years of hardwork, sacrifice, time, money and tears have all been worth it. I couldn't be happier.

It wasn't my effort alone, but the prayers of many people. My parents, my family, my friends and it is all in Allah's will. It wasn’t the achievement that matters but all the lessons learnt along the way. I feel that I have grown so much throughout this course.

And I am writing this not to show off because really, there is nothing to show off. I have failed so many times and get up again, and again. Just remember this; fall seven times, stand up eight! I hope this will be an inspiration to all you young people ( I feel so old, haha) who are struggling and was as lost as I was, before. Whatever the situation you are in, if you cannot change the circumstances then change your attitude towards it. Be positive.

Last but not least, to sum up my travel diaries in 2016, just like the year before, the year before that, and all the other years previously, I have been to quite a number of places.

So, where am I going to, next? Stay tuned :)