Butch Warren M. Hojas, a 32-year-old from Jasaan, Misamis Oriental, has achieved one of the greatest accomplishments of his life by topping the CPA licensure exam. What makes his achievement all the more impressive is that he started off as a construction worker before deciding to pursue a career in accountancy.
In an interview with The Filipino Times, Hojas’ shared that his journey towards becoming a topnotcher started with his humble beginnings.
As he puts it, “I was a full-time construction worker for 7 years before I finally decided to go to college.”
Despite his challenging work as a construction worker, Hojas did not let it hinder his dreams of pursuing higher education.
He was a full scholar, which allowed him to sustain his financial needs without the need to work part-time.
Hojas’ preparation for the CPA licensure exam began on his first day in college, where he did what he was supposed to do as a student, study consistently on a daily basis. But his journey towards becoming a topnotcher was not without challenges.
“There was the COVID-19 pandemic and I got my wife pregnant as I was moving up to 4th year. Despite all that, I was still able to take on the board examination on the date planned,” said Hojas.
When he found out about the results, Hojas admitted that he was not expecting to top the board, but he knew he had prepared well. He felt a little bit of disappointment upon himself because he failed to get the top spot, but he was also relieved that the agony of waiting for the results had ended.
“I did not actually feel anything. It was like nothing happened. If any, at the time, I thought I felt a little bit of disappointment upon myself because I failed to get what I really want. The top 1 spot,” said Hojas.
Becoming a CPA was not a dream Hojas had always wanted. As he puts it, “It was something I just decided while trying to figure out the course that best suits me.”
However, he fell in love with the challenges that the accountancy program presented, and the next thing he knew, he was excelling in it.
To those who are pursuing their dreams, Hojas has this to say: “Just keep going no matter the challenges life may give you. Do not dwell on your mistakes. Learn from it and just move on. We only fail if we stop trying.”
Today, he is a proud father to his 11-month-old baby and a Certified Public Accountant.
Hojas’ story is proof that with hard work, dedication, and perseverance, anyone can achieve their goals, no matter how challenging they may seem.
