- Meet CA Reena Khamesra, a 49-year-old chartered accountant and an inspiration to all of us who think that it’s too late to achieve something.
- She had pursued a B.Ed before all of this but failed twice and had forgotten about going after a dream.
- Until her daughter brought up the idea of pursuing CA together thus commencing her 7-year-long journey of becoming a CA.
- She shares with us that despite handling the responsibilities of being a wife and a mother she holds the designation of not only just a CA but also a Company Secretary.
Deciding to pursue CA to motivate my daughter
It all started with my daughter Radha Bordia wanting to be a CA like her dad – CA Sanjay Bordia.
One day she randomly mentioned, “Maa why don’t you start studying CA with me?”. This idea stayed with me and I quickly decided that yes I wanted to be a CA. So I went and registered for CPT and there started my CA journey of 7 long years!
I was an Art & Crafts teacher in Don Bosco for 6 years before we moved to Bangalore as my husband got a transfer there.
I failed in my B. Ed, so it was difficult to continue as a teacher without a B.Ed degree in Bangalore. Hence I had a lot of time on my hands, and the idea of doing CA meant using my TIME effectively.
Also, ICAI was so close to our house in Bangalore that it felt like it was meant to be.
CPT Journey
CPT was a challenge. Getting back to books after so many years was not easy. Maths was tough; it gave vibrations in my head. However, with family by my side, I managed to clear CPT (124 marks). In fact, Radha and I both cleared CPT, Together!
IPCC Journey
Then came IPCC! We both registered together, joined classes together, and took the exams together.
I decided to give just the 1st group of IPCC since I had to manage the house and family. I didn’t clear it on the 1st attempt. I cleared it on the 2nd attempt.
Then, for Group 2, I got together with my daughter. She had her 1st attempt and I had my Group 2.
We both cleared IPCC in this attempt and felt like we had crossed the hill. But the mountain remained (CA Final).
After clearing IPCC a LOT of people told me – “Why do you want to pursue CA? After articles of 3 years, you would have to give the CA final exam and that’s a lot for you. You’re already 44 years old. Are you considering doing jobs or something?
It’s assumed that once you have a grown-up kid there is no need to find new passions.
It’s assumed that there is no possibility to rise to unexpected heights.
It’s assumed you are too old.
But I didn’t let these things affect me. I was sure to not let go of this. I had no reason to quit. I have come so far and I will keep the same attitude and move ahead.
The enthusiasm for achieving greater things got to me so bad that I even enrolled in a Company Secretary (CS) course.
Articleship journey
I registered as an article. I used to attend 3 hours of class in the morning and then go for my articles, then 3 hours again CS class in the evening, along with managing my house.
I dedicatedly attended all my classes, studied regularly, and managed the house the same way I used to earlier. I am very organized and disciplined as a person, and this quality added to my advantage!
At times I used to feel tired and everything wasn’t smooth sailing but again looking at the brighter side does help! The phase of my articles to becoming a CA has made me so much stronger than I was before.
CA final journey
My daughter and I both gave our CA Final attempts together. In the 1st group, we both cleared together in the 3rd attempt. In the 2nd group, we appeared together but couldn’t clear.
We pushed ourselves to the limit and we helped each other immensely. The journey of becoming a CA becomes way easier and less stressful when we have somebody to prepare with. I was playing a dual role of a mother and a student.
It was tough on Radha too. However much she was proud of me – she had two kinds of pressure; peer and mother pressure. I was her competitor indirectly!
Everyone kept telling her- “Hope you clear before your mom”. As a mom, I could feel her situation.
In the next attempt, I took a drop as I did not want to stress my daughter, even though she was against the idea of me doing so.
Unfortunately, she couldn’t clear the CA Final attempt. Meanwhile, I cleared CS.
In the coming attempt, I had to take the exam as there were rumors of IFRS / GST being introduced. Had I waited for my daughter to clear and the new stuff comes in I would have to literally restart my studies.
We both made this attempt and luckily Radha cleared. I felt so relieved that she cleared first as I knew the unsaid things that she was going through.
I started my studies again since it would be my 5th ATTEMPT in Nov 2016. Suddenly another twist was introduced, to my already worrisome situation!
Handling family responsibilities
My in-laws, who live in Udaipur, wanted us to visit them ASAP. My husband keeps visiting them every fortnight. However this time they kept calling and insisted we come immediately.
We went there, spent some time with them, and just when we were about to return my father-in-law got a paralytic attack and was rushed to the ICU.
My husband couldn’t stay for long as he is in the service sector. So I had to stay back. My father-in-law was in the hospital for 90 days!
I studied outside the ward literally for 75 days! It was tough, with so much noise, so many people calling up, doctors visiting, etc. But it was my duty to be there for my family. We had a lot of relative support as well.
Finally achieving victory by becoming a CA
My exam days were nearing, as they were scheduled to start on the 10th of November. I was registered in Mumbai for the exam so I had to get back. As destiny could play a part Radha couldn’t get a job so she came in and sat with her grandfather. And after I took my exams I came back to Udaipur.
I was sure that I wouldn’t be clear! I hardly had 10 days to study. On the result day, I was in Udaipur tending to my in-laws (both sick in different capacities). Suddenly I got a call from my husband saying ‘You are a CA now‘ I had nothing to say, I literally froze.
I was so elated that on hearing this I went and hugged a distant relative who came to visit my in-laws in the hospital. That’s how I celebrated my success, my victory, and myself.
Later on, I went and told my father-in-law about it. He was so happy.
As I was still recovering from the greatest shock of my life that I had finally become a CA, destiny played a sick game with me and the next day my mother-in-law expired and so did my father-in-law in a few days.
What next?
All this would not have been possible without the support of my husband and daughter who stood by me and motivated me to pursue my studies.
It was difficult for my husband to come to an empty home where his wife and daughter were busy with studies. But his patience and encouragement have been my strength.
Amazingly enough, the alone time he had, made him write a suspense-detective fiction novel on the life of a CA – THE CLAIM!
Now that I have achieved nearly everything that I wanted to, the question “What next?” remains. To that, I would say maybe mentoring, coaching, or whatever I feel like. I have yet to decide.
Not to mention, I have already been featured in newspapers and got a lot of recognition & respect.
Wrapping up…
A lot of people told me that CA was bound to make people fail. And I was entering an age where I would give up easily. I want to tell them all that they were wrong and that nothing is impossible.
You can be whatever you want to be at any age!
By clearing my CA I have set a new benchmark for my daughter. She has always been fearful of growing old and not getting to do things that she could do right now. But after seeing me achieving new things, she takes it easy. It’s made her believe: Life is interesting!
Struggles are a part of life. By pushing oneself, seeing the brighter side, and working towards it one is bound to succeed. Enjoy the process and be happy.
