I started my CA course many years ago. It was an expensive dream for a lower-middle-class family. To register, I had to borrow Tk 20,000 out of the required Tk 25,000. At the time, I started my journey with just two pairs of pants and three shirts.
To repay the borrowed amount, I had to take on tuition jobs. You might know how difficult it is to manage CA articleship, studies, and tuition all at once. I used to walk from Science Laboratory to Tejkuni Para for my tuition sessions. Often, I had to wait for hours at bus stands. Many days, I got drenched in the rain and had to dry off at the bus stop. To satisfy my hunger, I survived on water alone. Bread and bananas became my go-to lunch.
After working the entire day, I would return to the library, often dozing off from exhaustion. Ignoring my tiredness, I tried my best to focus on studying. While my friends gossiped at tea stalls, I was busy reading in the library.
I never accepted invitations to trips outside Dhaka with my friends because I couldn’t afford them. Entertainment became a luxury I had to give up. Over time, I stopped caring about what people thought of me or what they said. I avoided parties and gatherings so often that it became a habit. Now, I do what I want without second thoughts.
This avoidance gave me the strength to sit in the library for days on end and work long hours at the office.
I am aware of the side effects of this lifestyle. Many relatives and close friends were hurt by my behavior. But I never allowed myself to feel sad about it—if I did, I ignored those feelings and moved on.
That was my mindset.
Do you know what happened next? I passed my CA exams few years ago. I still remember the tears in my mother’s eyes when she heard the result. When she said, “My son is a Chartered Accountant,” you can’t imagine the emotions behind those words.
Yes, having an empty pocket made me stronger, but it also brought a smile to my mother’s face.
This is my story…..
