By Jessica Kester CPA
Preparing for the CFE while being a mom to an infant and a toddler was challenging for Jessica, but she made adjustments that helped her succeed. Jessica is the Vice President of Accounting and Finance at Explor.
When I began my CPA journey in early 2019, I didn’t anticipate how heavy the load would become. At the time, my daughter was two and a half and I was expecting my second child while also working Mondays to Thursdays during the week. In December 2019, I managed to write and pass the Tax elective exam just before giving birth to my son in January 2020. Three months later, I started Capstone 1 and the five-month countdown to the September CFE began.
2020 was challenging for several reasons: 24 hours in a day didn’t seem enough to take care of a newborn and a toddler while juggling my studies and other responsibilities during the COVID lockdown. Also, my husband was working full time and occasionally on the weekends.
My adult relationships suffered the most because I spent my spare time with the kids or preparing for the CFE. Sleep deprivation hit me hard and made it difficult to find the energy to focus and study.
I was grateful that both of my kids napped well during 2020 as I could complete some Capstone 1 edits or Day 3 case studies during that time. I was also able to study in the evening after putting the kids to bed and on weekends when my husband would take them out. When we had family visiting, I would take a morning or afternoon to go study at the local library, especially around exam time.
The support of my family helped immensely; I wouldn’t have been able to find the time or energy to study without them. They allowed me the time to disconnect from home life and focus on my studies.
To manage my responsibilities successfully, I had to make a few adjustments. Naturally, when I start something, I like to finish it. I had to switch that mindset and accept the fact that sometimes I could only complete what I could during naptime or what my energy level in the evening permitted.
The best way I found to deal with stress was to mentally disconnect from whatever I wasn’t doing. If I was spending time with my family, I wouldn’t think about school and vice versa. This was the only way I could focus and be a hundred per cent present with what was in front of me.
I also had to come to terms with the fact that I could not be perfect in any activity. So I was alright with giving it my best, whatever that looked like on a particular day. Sometimes I just chose to rest when I had quiet time, which certainly helped my mental state.
I would advise CPA candidates, especially those managing multiple responsibilities, to have a plan, whether it’s for Core 1, Capstone 2, or anything in between. Lay out when you can study, take breaks, and go on holidays and outings. To avoid burnout, make sure your breaks are frequent enough.
Communicate openly and clearly with the people who support you; talk about your struggles and make sure everyone is on the same page regarding the level of support you need. Take time for yourself, as this is often forgotten when there is so much responsibility on your shoulders. Above all else, know there is an end in sight; it gets a lot easier after you write the CFE!
The views expressed in this post are those of the guest writer, Jessica Kester CPA. Please refer to cpawsb.ca for the latest guidelines from the CPA Western School of Business.
