It is not often that I take a step back from my current life, and think about the "big" picture. I am a very focused person and sometimes I get caught up in taking everything one day at a time instead of looking down the road and planning for the future.
Yesterday (September 30) I turned 27 years old. Certainly not an earth-shattering occasion, but it was an occasion nonetheless. Normally I do not think much of my birthday and really do not feel like it is a big deal that I turn a year older. I do not feel any different now that I am 27, and although I am creeping closer to the dreaded 30 I do not find myself anxious/nervous/bummed. What was different about yesterday and about celebrating another birthday is that for the first time I truly took stock of what I have accomplished in the past year and what I hope to accomplish in this next year before i turn 28. Let me elaborate:
1) In the past year, I have done all the things necessary to graduate with my masters degree. Though I still have 3 more months until I graduate (and 4 incredibly rigorous and difficult classes stand in my way) I am proud of the fact that I have devoted myself so entirely to my education and eventual career path. I have positioned myself to finish my Suffolk experience with a wealth of knowledge, a great GPA, and some lasting connections with professors/classmates.
2)In the past year I have gained valuable footholds into the taxation and accounting fields through networking events and personal contact. I know exactly what I want to do when I graduate and I have been very conscious of talking to the appropriate people to discuss how I can meet my goals.
3)And briefly (and non-Suffolk related), I have grown closer to my brothers and sister, taken an interest in a number of unique and exciting hobbies that I hope to further pursue when I have more free time, met some amazing new friends, and gained a true appreciate for the people that have shaped my life. I know this is a bit sappy, but it ties in with my experiences at Suffolk this past year. The amount of time I have devoted to school- to my readings and exams and papers- has given me a new perspective on the free time I have and the time I can spend by myself and with others. When I have the opportunity to do something non-tax related or to interact with people that are not my professors or classmates, it is very much a breath of fresh air and honestly helps keep my sanity at times.
1) Within the next year I obviously want to have a job that I enjoy. There are a number of CPA firms that I would love to work for, and hopefully I am fortunate enough to get hired and love what I do.
2) I also plan to have progressed steadily through the CPA Exam. I do not know if it would be possible to do all 4 tests within the next 12 months, but I would like to have 2 or 3 of the tests completed.
3) I would like to start taking Italian classes. I absolutely love the country and the language, and would be thrilled if I can find the time in the next year to start taking language classes. My time at Suffolk has really proved to me that I love being a student and learning new things each day, so hopefully I can supplement my constant learning at my new job with Italian classes.
4) I want to travel within the US. I was lucky enough to backpack through Europe a couple years ago, but I have not seen much of the United States. There are so many places that I want to visit (Chicago, California, Portland, Seattle) and hopefully I will find the time to do so.
So my introspection did not reveal anything life-altering but it definitely allowed me to look back and forward to see what I would like to do with myself in the next year. My time at Suffolk is winding down and I will soon have the time to integrate all sorts of different things into my life. To tell you the truth, it is a weird concept to think about because I have been so immersed in Suffolk and in taxation. But, all things must come to an end and for that, TheDude abides.
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