My struggles are my strengths. Does strength come from winning? Or does it come from the journey which leads to winning?

“When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength”- Mahatma Gandhi.

It is a well-written quote. Nothing comes till you stand out against all the odds coming in your path. I have a story not different from many of us, but every story gives you a set of different values and experiences. The journey of a small-town kid who outmaneuvered challenges in Mumbai. From an average student to a qualified chartered accountant. Someone who had never traveled alone to traveling a lot. And today, someone that is working with one of the Big 4s.

I was born and raised in a small town of Jharia, a part of Jharkhand. We lived a simple yet contented life. And every time I crossed the narrow lanes of Jharia, there was this dream of making it big in those starry metro cities. I knew deep inside that I wanted bigger things in life. Beyond the narrow lanes lay the wide roads. Beyond the towns, I wanted a home in a city. Early in life I had started aiming for sparkling skyscrapers, a dazzling lifestyle, and an evolving workplace.

Among all the cities, it was Mumbai where I was destined to make it big. Thanks to a few relatives, my family and I moved to Mumbai without having to go through a lot of trouble. I still remember my first day in Mumbai. I got out of the train at CST and noticed the high-rise buildings, wide roads, the kaali peeli taxis, and insane traffic. They all looked like a scene from a typical Bollywood movie.

After some initial hiccups, with decent scores I could manage getting admission to K J Somaiya college. My journey had officially begun to pursue my dreams in Mumbai. Mumbai is a testing platform for your dreams, persistence, and perseverance. Life is not easy here, right from traveling to seeking a job. I started a part-time job with a CA firm during my vacation. This was where I realized my passion.

One of my college friends suggested that I should pursue a Chartered Accountant (CA) course. It was not my childhood dream to be a Chartered Accountant. Since I was already working with a CA firm, the power and prestige of being a CA started to fascinate me and I decided to take it up as a career.

I cleared the CPT and IPCC exams in the first attempt and felt as if I was just a step away to conquer the world. Then came the CA final attempt. Like thousands of students, I also studied day in and out, worked hard, attempted papers, and was ready to rock the exams. But when the results came out, my world shattered. I had failed!

The CA course has taught me many things, a few of them is hard work, determination, and dedication. But it has also made me taste failures and taught me to bounce back with more strength. My first failure changed the way I looked at the world. Conquering my goals had now become paramount. I re-appeared and finally cleared the exams. This was everything I had to date. Everything I had worked on and achieved.

After my qualification I joined a mid-size risk consulting firm and earned accolades there. After some time, I finally moved to a big 4, my dream job. Many of us dream to have a job at a big 4 and I had achieved it! The thought makes me smile. I now know the reasons why a big 4 has its edge. KPMG India has given me my identity today.

During these years of struggles, learning, failure, and achievements I have learned to be more confident and mature. I have goals and I lead by example. I have traveled across countries for work and experienced things that are beyond words. They say CA is not just a degree, it’s a university.

From the narrow lanes of Jharia to the city of dreams, Mumbai, to working with the world’s top firms and my never-ending dreams. Here is a shout out to all the CA aspirants. It might look difficult, and trust me it is tough, but the degree will give you a life that you will appreciate for a lifetime.

If only wishing got you things you wanted, we can wish for the stars, but then only watch them in the sky at night. The difference lies in wishing for something and working for it. Your dreams need hard work, they need determination and dedication. And then you can wish for the best.

So, don’t fear failures. They teach you to sustain faith and confidence. Don’t be scared to go out and make this world a happy place for yourself and for others. Being a small-town guy, an average student, if I could fulfill my dreams, then anyone can.

My parents sum up my entire journey in the best two lines; “We gave you a surname and you gave us a prefix.”

Be proud of yourself and make your parents proud too!!