December 3, 2021: An unforgettable day!

Entrevue

Interview with a future CPA determined to reach his goals!!

December 3, 2021 was an unforgettable day in the life of Ghulam Nader Adel, because that’s when he learned that he had passed the September 2021 Common Final Examination (CFE).

The Foundation is happy to have awarded two scholarships to this talented student during his college and undergraduate studies. In both cases, Ghulam set himself apart through his social involvement and academic results.

Tell us about your journey.

I was born in Afghanistan and grew up in Quebec, more specifically in Sherbrooke. My parents fled Afghanistan when the Taliban took control of the government. They wanted to provide a better future for their children and chose to come to Canada for that reason. I will never be able to thank them enough for making this decision, because if they hadn’t, my life would have been very different.

I am also happy to say that in the spring of 2021, we celebrated our 20th year in Quebec. We are privileged and grateful for all the services that the province has provided to us since we arrived because it is in large part thanks to them that I was able to pursue a post-secondary education and choose the CPA profession.

What does passing the Common Final Examination mean to you?

When the Taliban regained control of Kabul on August 15, 2021, I was studying for the CFE. At that time, I promised myself that I would pass the exam and find different ways to support young Afghans who immigrate to Canada, specifically by getting involved in various projects and initiatives of the Order and other educational and community organizations. I would like to set an inspiring example for these young people to help them make their dreams come true and remind them that anything is possible and achievable in life.

So you can understand why passing the CFE means a lot to me! In fact, it means that one of my greatest dreams has come true. Passing it is also a great source of pride for my family, friends and other loved ones who have always been there to support me in my education and personal life.

After this wonderful accomplishment, what’s next for you?

One of my next goals is obviously to finish my 24 months of practical experience and ultimately obtain my CPA designation. It would make me extremely proud to have this designation, and even more to have succeeded in completing every step to achieve it.

For now, I will finish the 2022 winter session of my MBA program, where I am focusing on accounting, at the Université de Sherbrooke. I would also like to get more involved in the Sherbrooke and Afghan communities.

Why did you choose the CPA profession?

When I was studying at the Cégep de Sherbrooke, a guest speaker came to talk to us about the CPA profession and I knew at that very moment that I wanted to become a chartered professional accountant and that I was going to make every effort necessary to achieve my goal.

Knowing the extraordinary impact that this guest speaker had on my journey, I would obviously like to participate in presentations that promote the CPA profession someday. It would be a wonderful way to motivate other students to set personal goals and do what needs to be done to achieve them. Plus, I think that my story might encourage and inspire some students who, like me, fled their country of origin because of war. I want to explain to them why I chose the CPA profession and tell them how resilience and persistence can take them far.