Read this before you say “I’ll start later…
This is the story of Sahil. A calm, curious and quietly focused student from Delhi. He’s not someone who speaks a lot about his goals, but deep down, he has always been clear about what he wants. And he has never hesitated to work hard for it.
Sahil studied at Modern Public School in Shalimar Bagh. He was always good with numbers, and over time, he developed a strong interest in accounting. So when it was time to pick a college course, he chose BCom (Hons) in Accounting and Finance from Delhi University.
College life brought new experiences. More freedom, more responsibility and a chance to think seriously about the future. Sahil enjoyed his studies and liked being around people who were also working towards something. But during his second year, he started to feel that something was missing. While the degree was useful, it didn’t feel like enough. He didn’t want to finish college and apply for jobs without learning something extra that could really help him stand out. He wanted to build a skill that would challenge him, help him grow, and maybe even give him opportunities to work outside India.
That’s when he heard about ACCA. A friend had mentioned it casually and Sahil got curious. He started looking for ACCA course details. He read about the course, watched videos and went through the syllabus. The more he learned, the more he felt this was the right path. ACCA was not just about passing exams. It was about learning useful skills that could actually help in the real world.
So he made the decision to start.
It was not an easy journey. Sahil had to manage both his college classes and ACCA studies at the same time. He would attend college during the day, then study for ACCA in the evenings and on weekends. Some days were tiring. Some nights were long. There were times when he felt stuck or questioned himself. But he kept moving forward.
After months of hard work, Sahil cleared all his ACCA papers. He is now officially an ACCA affiliate. It is a big achievement and a clear sign of how far he has come.
We spoke with Sahil shortly after his results were announced. He shared how he managed both college and ACCA, how he stayed motivated, and what plans he has for the future.
Here’s how Sahil made it happen, in his own words:
Q: Sahil, how did ACCA come onto your radar while you were in college?
Sahil: During my second year at DU, we had an accounting module that I genuinely enjoyed. I started looking into what more I could do with accounting, beyond just getting a BCom degree. I saw a friend who’d finished ACCA and landed a job at a Big 4 firm, which got me curious. I asked him about his journey, watched some videos online and read about ACCA. The international aspect and the practical structure appealed to me. It didn’t seem like just another exam—it was a way to learn skills that would actually be useful in the workplace.
Q: How did you handle preparing for ACCA alongside your college studies?
Sahil: The first few months were definitely busy. College happened during the day and ACCA studies took up most evenings and weekends. I found it helpful to set monthly goals for each subject and would mark my progress on a whiteboard in my hostel. Some weeks I didn’t manage everything, but when topics overlapped with my BCom classes, they became easier to manage. Keeping that overlap in mind made a real difference.
Q: Was there a specific ACCA paper that you found especially difficult?
Sahil: I would say, SBR (Strategic Business Reporting) was definitely the toughest for me. The first time I took it, I failed. I remember going through the examiner’s feedback in detail, then joining a study group to understand things better. The second time, I worked more on applying concepts rather than memorizing. The passing score felt like a big relief and showed me the importance of patience and adjusting my approach after setbacks.
Q: What kept you motivated on days when things got tough, especially if friends seemed to have more free time?
Sahil: There were times it felt overwhelming, especially on weekends when everyone else seemed to be relaxing. I kept a note on my desk with my main goal to get qualified, become independent. After each exam passed, no matter how small, I’d treat myself, whether it was buying a book or eating out. These small celebrations helped me keep going, and seeing progress made it easier to stay consistent.
Q: How did your ACCA prep and the support you received help you in actually passing the exams?
Sahil: The preparation was really effective for me. Regular mock tests helped me see where I needed to improve and made it easier to focus my studies. Practical assignments pushed me to apply the concepts in real scenarios, which helped them stick instead of just memorizing information. I want to add a word about Shilpi Ma’am. As the head of the ACCA course, she stayed very involved. She checked in often, ensured we had all the materials and paid close attention so that nothing important was missed during exam prep. Having her lead and that sense of support made me a lot more confident when it came time for the actual tests
Q: What are your next steps now that you’ve passed all your papers?
Sahil: I’m focusing on finishing my Practical Experience Requirement (PER) so I can be fully qualified. I’m applying for roles in audit and advisory, especially at bigger firms. Over time, I hope to work abroad for a while, maybe in London or Dubai and develop expertise in areas like forensic accounting or risk advisory.
Q: What advice would you give to someone who’s just starting ACCA?
Sahil: Go at your own pace. It can be easy to compare your progress with others, but what matters is that you’re learning thoroughly. Use the resources—examiner reports and webinars can help a lot. Once, staying up late for an online session helped me finally understand a concept I’d been stuck on. Everyone’s journey looks different like some finish quickly, others take longer and both are fine. Try to make the most of the process as each paper and each setback teaches something valuable.
Sahil’s story, filled with everyday experiences. From late-night studying to waiting for results online shows that progress comes from steady effort, learning from challenges, and making the most of each small win. Consistency and a willingness to adapt go a long way.
You can connect with him on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sahil22sharma/
