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Friday, 17 July 2020

Hi, adulthood.

Three years of degree life has come to an end last month. After receiving my results for the final semester, I have experienced a tremendous transition from student life to adulthood. Desperate job seeking, preparation for job interview, anxious wait for interview results, pre-employment medical checkup, received offer letter from company, got my first car, refreshed my driving skills to buying my very first insurance plan. All happened in a short span of time.

And now, I have started my career for two weeks. My first job is not in my plan, regardless the company or the department. COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted everyone's plan for year 2020. My ACCA sitting in June was cancelled, and my job offers were put on hold until further notice. I was confronting with a dilemma, unsure whether to continue waiting endlessly for reply from my ideal company, or proceed to look for a temporary job so I could cope with part time ACCA studies. Although we have witnessed gradual economic recovery following the announcement of RMCO, numerous corporations have decided to freeze hiring on top of cost containment strategies.

Words couldn't articulate my feelings when the HR congratulated me for successfully passing the final interview stage. Finally, I can become financially independent from my parents. I am grateful to land a job in one of the big 4 accounting firms at this tough job market condition. 

However, anxiety hit me badly before I start to feel excited about the idea of getting a new job. On the bright side, being an IT auditor has opened many doors for me and I believe kick-starting my career in one of the prestigious firms would go too far wrong. On the other hand, I had totally no idea where my life will be headed with this job, as compared to my original plan to become a tax accountant. 

Uncertainty is unsettling, especially when watching my friends landing in companies with higher salary and seem better job prospect. I couldn't refrain myself from questioning my decision to not applying for management trainee program and follow the traditional pathway to start my career at big 4 instead. For the very first time in my life, I questioned my choice to study ACCA. I even started to be skeptical about the return on investment of taking professional papers.

That was the point that I realized I had lost myself in the endless cycle of comparing myself with others. I have forgot the fact that pursuing accounting profession is my passion! When my mind was busy comparing myself with others, I have failed to recall that my passion to study accounting is the reason that drives me throughout the ups and downs in my university life.

But now, I am second-guessing my decision because my friends are getting higher pay than me. I couldn't believe that I feel like a failure as I reckon them more successful than me! I am frightened by the idea that monetary compensation has become the only benchmark in defining success. Besides, all of us have just started our career, it would be to soon to assume success. Life is a marathon, we got a long life ahead! In fact, running a marathon takes perseverance and dedication. Early bird will get the worms for sure, but late birds could have amazing skills in catching worm too. Who knows eventually which bird will hunt the highest number of worms?

Upon reflection, I have realized the importance of resilience, which refers to the ability to handle hardship in life. Life can always throw us unexpected challenges, and resilience is the key that allows us to handle them properly rather than fall apart. Once, I had a misconception that someone who is mentally strong would not be emotionally affected by any problems. In fact, they will feel sad, depressed, frustrated or anxious, just like everyone else. Beyond feeling so many emotions, they are able to pick up pieces and move forward. Instead of giving up easily, they take these failures as growing experiences and come out stronger than they were before.

It has become my expectation that working hard and being constantly busy will get me everything I want. However, there are times that we would not get what we want when we want, no matter how much effort we have put in. This is where resilience comes in. I have to pick up and move on. When things do not go your way, who knows something better might come along? We could choose to see the good in every occasion. 

Adulthood begins now. Despite the fact that I thought I am well-prepared for it, the transition from student to employee still caught me off guard. There is nothing that I can do other than accept and enjoy it. The small small wish I have for the rest of my life is, I am able to follow my passion and be happy everyday.

"Cross the bridge when one comes to it"

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