It’s hard to believe that 2012 is already over and we have begun 2013.
2012
The year started at a fast pace for us. I sat for the last section of the CPA exam in January, anxiously awaited the passing score until the first week of February. The day after the scores were released we had a baby shower for little Leyana, in which we were able to announce to our family & friends in attendance that my CPA study days were behind me. On February 14th I finished my ethics exam and submitted all the required documentation to the State Board. Leyana was born on the 19th of February, our lives were forever changed.
In May I received my CPA certificate and was sworn in by the State Board. I also returned to work that month. The return to work was not as easy a transition as I had thought. So much had changed at the office. I learned that an attempt was made to replace me while I was on maternity leave and the month of August was rocky, to say the least. I knew that it was time to make a career move, but I hadn’t taken the time to set new goals after passing the exam. So this was the time for some quick thinking. I updated my Linkedin account, my resume and started networking. The choice was either stay in the State Government sector or move into the public sector.
In October I accepted a position in the public sector. Leaving the State was a hard decision for me, I had met and worked with so many great people. The work that we did on SHARE was not easy but rewarding. I had worked so closely with the IT side of things, that moving into a purely accounting world was a challenge I was willing to take, I had just earned my CPA after all.
The move has been a very wise and rewarding one. I have been able to work in a limited capacity on a handful of audits in the last two months, the experience I knew I needed to add to my resume. I have also been able to teach my colleagues things from time to time. The group works as a team and is willing to help each other along the way. There are a couple of employees that are about to begin their CPA journey and I hope that my story will give them encouragement to stay the course.
2013
Today begins the first day of the new year, a chance for a new start. 2012 was challenging and yet very rewarding, I pray that 2013 is even more rewarding for me and my family. I usually don’t set new year’s resolutions because 1/3 of the way through the year I forget what it was I set out to do. Instead I set long term goals, goals that will help further either myself or my family. I have also learned that writing down those goals helps you to visualize what it is you want or desire for your life. So some of the goals that I have set this year and in the coming years include:
– Complete the CGFM certification by June 2012.
– Stick to our financial budget.
– Take the kids on vacation this year (we haven’t taken a family vacation since 2009, can you guess why?)
– Grow and expand my knowledge in the accounting field to help propel the firm I work with to the next level.
– Organize myself & my family so that we have more free time to spend together.
– Post on my website more often.
– Get back into shape, I want my pre-baby body back (it’s been 10 years since I’ve seen that body).
I hope that everyone has written down some goals for 2013, if you haven’t now is the time to reflect back on 2012 and set some goals for 2013. Post your goals so that in a few months we can look back and see how we are doing!
Happy New Year!!!
Photo by: Tim Ebb via Flickr