I had the absolute pleasure of speaking with Precious Opaleke, CPA, on Episode #80 of the CPA Career Paths podcast. Precious’s story is one of resilience, grit, and pure determination. After immigrating from England, adjusting to American tax laws, cultural shifts, and even vocabulary differences, she dove headfirst into the CPA journey. But it wasn’t a smooth ride—she took the CPA exams a total of 17 times before finally earning those three letters.
Here are some key takeaways from our conversation:
- The importance of community and finding mentors through organizations like CalCPA.
- How repetition and mindset helped her overcome failure after failure.
- The role of faith, focus, and discipline in pushing through.
- Why it’s okay to take a non-linear path to success.
Starting from Scratch—Literally
Precious arrived in the U.S. in 2017 and started learning tax basics at H&R Block.
“I was that person asking, ‘What is a W-2?’” she laughed. But by May 2019, she passed her first CPA section—REG. “I patted myself on the back so hard I overslept and forgot I had more exams to take,” she joked.
Her unique advantage? Starting fresh.
“When the TCJA tax law changed, I had no habits to unlearn. I was a blank slate,” she explained.
The Pain of Repeated Failure—And the Power of Resilience
BEC was her biggest hurdle.
“I failed it six times. Always in the 70s—72, 73, 74,” she shared.
Each time, she had her checkbook ready to reapply the moment she saw her score. “I used to joke: if the Prometric center knows your name, it’s time to switch centers!”
She didn’t just change locations—she changed everything:
- Studied early mornings and late nights
- Prioritized sleep and consistency
- Cut off social events and social media
- Practiced gratitude and reframed her mindset
Eventually, she passed with an 81.
Why Mindset Matters More Than Motivation
“The CPA exam is not like school. It’s about mindset,” Precious emphasized.
Her advice:
- Don’t dwell on failure. “You can’t spend two months mourning a 74.”
- Find your ‘why’. Money isn’t enough. “You need a deeper purpose.”
- Lean on community. Precious credits CalCPA and study groups for her growth.
In fact, her involvement with CalCPA led directly to a job offer. “My boss said that was the reason they called me—because of my commitment to the profession.”
Final Thoughts
Precious’s story is a powerful reminder that perseverance beats perfection. Whether it takes four tries or 17, what matters most is that you don’t give up.
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