Karen is a NINJA CPA Blogger.

Hello fellow NINJAS!! It is two days post exam score release and I am one happy Southern lady!!

I apologize in advance for such a lenghthy farewell, but that is just part of being from the South. We like to talk.

Based on previous score releases, I was pretty sure that the 2nd wave of scores would start rolling out on Friday, February 21st. I knew I would be at work when this happened but in no way was I about to check my FAR score at work.

I had always been at home when I received my previous passing scores and I wanted the final passing score to be no different.

I kept checking the A71 site and I believe it was around 2:30 EST when I first started seeing scores posted. And it seems once they got going, they were coming out fast! I was extremely nervous. I knew I could either be finished with the exam or would lose my Audit credit and have two more exams to go.

I knew my NTS started with 500 and when I started seeing NTS's of 502 posted I knew my score was out there. Around 4:45 I couldn't take it any longer and left to come home. I only live about 10 minutes from where I work, but the drive seemed to take an eternity.

And then when I got home couldn't find my garage door opener to get inside! Well I did eventually find it. I came inside, took the dog out, fed her and the cat. I then turned my computer on.

I had not even looked or touched my NTS since I returned from my exam nor did I have the number memorized. I only knew the first three numbers. Before I entered my NTS number I told my dog to give mommy a good luck hug. I entered the number and all I could see on the screen was FAR and Attendance date. My heart stopped as I scrolled down and then I saw it:

Advisory Score: 75

I couldn't believe my eyes!! I did it! I have successfully completed all four parts of the CPA exam! I called my mom and dad, posted my good news on Facebook, screamed and hugged the dog again!!!

In real life, I am a martial artist and have been for many, many years. In my cyber life I am NINJA. I received my black belt in 1983 after training for four years. In achieving this rank, for me, it was necessary to practice what I call the four D's: Desire, Dedication, Determination and Discipline. I believe that if these qualities are applied to any dream or goal in life, you will be successful.

Webster defines desire as “to long for, to wish for earnestly.” Years ago (as you will see later) a desire was put in my heart to become a CPA. Sometimes life gets in the way of achieving this goal right away. Yet the desire remains.

When I was a blue belt in karate, I was awarded the Most Dedicated Student. In being dedicated you always show up even when you don't want to. I didn't always want to go work out, but I always had the goal of becoming a black belt so I showed up.

During this exam process, there were so many times that I didn't want to show up. I didn't want to go to the library, drag the books out at home, or listen to videos or NINJA Audios at 5:00 a.m. But I showed up anyway. There was a desire that needed dedication.

When I started taking exams, I took an exam EVERY testing window. I started studying in September of 2010 and it was September 2011 before I received my first passing score. Seeing that first passing score was all it took to make me more determined than ever to pass the CPA exam.

In total, I took 13 exams from November 2010 to January 2013. This required a tremendous amount of self-discipline in that it required me to deny myself of certain things that weren't in alignment of reaching my desire of becoming a CPA.

For example, not even turning the television on when I so wanted to (I've yet to watch an episode of Duck Dynasty), going to the movies, the list could go on. Instead of checking emails some mornings, I was doing 10-15 MC questions while eating breakfast.

Desire, dedication, determination and discipline. All are necessary to pass the CPA exam.

Before concluding, I want to just mention the power of visualization. For month and months and months, I had been visualizing myself talking to my Director at work and telling him I needed his help in completing some “paperwork”. That paperwork being signing off on my license application.

On Friday, February 22, 2013 at 5:15 p.m. I called him at work and had that conversation.

If you see it you can believe it. If you believe it, you can achieve it.

In conclusion, I would like to thank Jeff for establishing this wonderful site!!! Friends and family may “see” how hard we have worked but it is those cyber friends that “know” what it is all about.

Good Luck everyone and don't ever give up.

Karen