Why Failure is Good for Success

CA Atharva’s Inspiring Story That Teaches Us Whether we like it or not, failure is a necessary stepping stone to building our dreams.

My Journey

“You may have a different story and a different background, but do remember to NEVER GIVE UP.” “Because when you don’t give up, magic happens,” says CA Atharva Apte from Mumbai, India.

“My parents have worked supremely hard to reach where they are today. Because of them, I had a very comfortable and easy life. I only had one job—to study. In general, I was a happy-go-lucky guy. Growing up, I always heard that: “Tu toh hoshiyaar hai, kuch toh accha kar lega.” In the tenth and twelfth grades, I received high marks. IN the first attempt, I passed the CPT (1st level CA exam) and the CA-IPCC (2nd level CA exam).

CA’s Last Journey, First Attempt

So, during my first CA final attempt, all I heard was, “Ki-Tereko kya hai,” “Tu toh aaramse clear ho jayega 1st shot mein.”However, I failed on the first try. My world came crashing down. People started judging me. But to be honest, I did not deserve to pass because I had not studied (our hearts already know the result when we step out of the exam hall). Reason: OVERCONFIDENCE.

CA Final Journey: My Second Attempt and Self Exploration:

• I learned from my past mistakes and studied very hard.
• I put my mind, body, and soul into the endeavor, and I was confident in my hard work, studies, and papers.
• My attempt was amazing. I was 110% confident of clearing!
• I can still recall the day, January 17th, 2017: I saw the word “failed” again.

The first attempt result was shocking; the second attempt result was catastrophic. I had poured my soul into the attempt; how could I fail? probably the worst time of my life. A friend even suggested visiting a psychiatrist. It took time to come to terms with it, but I had no option. Without a CA degree, I had nothing to show.

My parents and my sister were my strengths. They supported me, and I realized that I do have the caliber to achieve anything I want to. They made me look deep within myself.

I was back on track within a month of the results. My hard work had failed, and it was time to persevere. Every day before my studies, I looked in the mirror and told myself, “That’s my time now, and I am clearing this attempt.”

CA Final Journey: My 3rd Attempt and Dealing with Breathing Problems During the Exams

My CA Final 3rd attempt (May 17) has begun. It was going fantastic. While writing my ISCA paper, I suddenly started having breathing problems. I completed the paper somehow, but the problem persisted throughout the evening and got severe in a few hours. My parents rushed me to the hospital at 1.30 a.m. I got admitted.

Although taxes were my weakest subjects, I had confidence in the 6 papers I had written so far, and I knew I just had to go and get a 40 in each of the remaining 2 papers. My prayers were answered, and the doctors let me go within a few hours of getting me admitted. On the day of the paper, the problems resurfaced. This time, it’s accompanied by acidity.

I swore to God that, even if I were dying, I was going to go and write my remaining 2 papers. I had to give a fighting chance to my 4 months of hard work and the fantastic papers I had written up until then. With a bag full of pills, an inhaler, and a never-give-up attitude, I wrote my exam. The remaining papers were horrible, but I just needed 40 minutes to pass, and that is what I got. I cleared CA in that attempt.

The screen flashed “PASS” exactly a year after my first attempt result. I was a CA.

In Conclusion…

CA transformed me from a lazy, irresponsible, overconfident happy-go-lucky guy to a hardworking, responsible, confident, and happy-go-lucky guy as well. Some things just don’t change.