Emerging Professionals

Today was a score release for the CPA exam and I'm so happy that many CPA candidates are closing out 2025 with all four parts of their exam passed! It brings me back to when I got my last score notification and seeing that number on the screen and that I received passing credit.

I was in Naples, Florida on vacation with my family and saw it on my phone - ran to my computer to double check that I wasn't seeing things and that score was real (kind of one of those pinch me is this really happening moments!), and then called my friend to see if he got his results too to make sure I wasn't dreaming. Then I screamed and my mom came rushing in to make sure I was okay haha. I was crying, my parents started crying, and it was a beautiful moment in my life. My family took me out to a fancy dinner to celebrate that night and I will never forget it!

Where were you when you found out you passed all 4 parts of your exam? Do you remember what you were feeling or what your reaction was? 

Congrats to everyone who passed all four parts and for those still on the journey - you've got this! 

------------------------------
Lexi Weber
------------------------------

What a way to celebrate while on vacation! 

I remember this moment so vividly. It was February 2016, within my first month as a first-year external auditor. I was working busy season in New York, even though my home office was DC.

I had just walked into my hotel room and was on the phone with my boyfriend (now husband). I checked my results and felt all the feels: nervous, anxious, scared, then excited and happy. It was around 1:30a, so I had to celebrate very quietly at the moment.

The next morning, on my walk to the office, a man was playing the saxophone. I just knew that moment was for me. :)

My mom was already visiting that weekend, so we celebrated in New York: shopping, a Broadway show, and a nice dinner. A weekend I'll never forget.

------------------------------
Kearia White
------------------------------

I remember mine so clearly. I was in that in-between phase - just graduated and waiting to start full time the next week. Scores weren't supposed to come out until 5:00 PM, and instead of worrying all day, I decided to go on a longish run to clear my head.

When I got back, I checked my phone and saw messages saying scores had actually been released at noon. My heart was racing as I logged in, fully bracing myself - and then I saw that I had passed. The relief was instant. It felt like this huge weight was just lifted all at once.

The first call I made was to my dad, who's a CPA, to tell him I passed. That's a moment I will not forget. And of course, I celebrated properly that night with the biggest steak I could find.

Those moments stick with you forever. 

------------------------------
Steven Eilders
Ridgeland MS
+001 601-326-7125
------------------------------

I only remember when I passed the very last exam. The scores were supposed to release at mid-night, but were delayed for some technical reason. I kept waking up to check the scores. They were finally available at 3am. I was so excited when I found out that I passed and I wanted to call all my friends, but no one was awake. But my manager back then took the group to lunch to celebrate and my friends and I also went to a nice dinner. 

------------------------------
Xing Gao
Commercial Finance Manager
Procter & Gamble
Mason OH
2022905545
------------------------------

I remember that I was living in Beijing, China at the time, and I was very nervous. I had taken 11 CPA exams in total at this point and was at a point in my career where I was like "If I don't pass now, I'm stopping". And because of the time difference it was 12pm where I was and my husband was like "don't check now, it'll ruin your day if it's not the score you want" - but I did it anyway...and I got EXACTLY a 75. 

------------------------------
Brooke Angel
------------------------------

Here is an old school remembrance: I took the exam in November 1995 (I know back in the 1900s LOL) when it was on paper and you had to take all four parts. I had just started my first big girl job at Coopers & Lybrand in the tax department in Raliegh, NC. When I registered for the exam, I must have still been using my home address. I knew what day the letters were supposed to arrive - I think it was in January, so I called my mom. She said, no letter yet. So, I called the NC State Board trying to figure out where the results were sent. They told me they were going to my home address, but couldn't tell me my results.  I must have sounded like I was going to start crying, so she said - I don't know if this means anything to you, but the envelope is stamped "congratulations". I paused and said, I think I do.  The next day the letter arrived and my Mom called me at work - I did have a cell phone, but it was still not the go to way to talk to everyone. She opened the letter with me on the phone and I was so excited to learn I had passed all 4 parts. Whew, what a relief!  Thanks Lexi for helping me remember that happy memory! 

------------------------------
April Walker, CPA/CGMA
Senior Manager, Tax Practice & Ethics
AICPA
------------------------------