‘Everyone was celebrating Diwali, but I locked myself in a room’: Bengaluru CA recalls emotional exam-day sacrifice

Diwali is one of the most extrvagant festival that is celebrated lavishly across India. Families gather, gifts are exchanged along with laughter and food. However, students who are preparing for important examinations, find it difficult to enjoy the festival. Bengaluru-based Chartered Accountant Meenal Goel recently recalled one such Diwali from 2018, when she purposely kept herself away from the celebrations to preprare for her CA final exams.

She shared that her family and cousins celebrated the festival, she remained confined to a room, trying hard to focus on her upcoming examinations. Her account offers an insight into the sacrifices of students.

Bengaluru CA Meenal Goel recalls missing Diwali celebrations for CA final exams

Taking to LinkedIn, CA Meenal Goel shared how she spent Diwali in 2018, which was just two days before her CA final law examination on November 9. She recalled the difficulty while studying when everyone around was busy celebrating. From crackers bursting to everyone dressing up and enjoying, there were several distractions that she found it difficult to ignore. In the post, she asked, "How can one ignore? The bursting crackers. Everyone dressed up except you. Your cousins sitting and giggling together and I shut myself inside the room," she wrote.


CA added that her mother also made sure that the celebrations do not hamper her concentration and reminded guests to not create too much noise as her daughter was preparing for exams. Despite this, concentrating was not easy. "But it was Diwali and I just couldn't", she added.

‘Diwali will come every year’: CA shares what kept her motivated

But amid all this, she continued to remind herself why she needed to stay focus. She kept telling herself that to work hard this one year and she will be able to celebrate Diwali every year. She also reminded herself that the CA final examinations were "the last mile of the 5-year race".

Another thought that kept her going was that her parents were also missing out on enjoying the festival because of her exams. "Meenal your parents are also not enjoying, at least focus now! It's a do-or-die situation," she wrote. Goel said she did everything within her power to concentrate that day.

Two months later, her efforts finally paid off. Recalling what happened next, she wrote, "And 2 Months Fast Forward, I was CA Meenal Goel."