Passport to the World of International Investment: Business Administration Student Achieves CFA Level 1 Certification
Congratulations to Ryu Napat Pounjan, a Finance Programs from School of Business Administration, who passed CFA Level 1, a globally recognized professional qualification in finance and investment, especially for those aspiring toward careers as fund managers and investment analysts.
CFA or Chartered Financial Analyst is an essential certification for those who want to pursue a career in financial analysis and serves as a basic qualification for those seeking endorsement from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to become capital market investment analysts. This examination, which uses English as a universal standard worldwide, is one of the most challenging tests and is widely recognized in the international financial sector.
The Beginning of Inspiration Toward a Professional Path
Ryu explains that his interest in taking the CFA exam began in high school when he started researching career paths in the financial sector on his own. "My interest in finance existed even before entering university, which is how I first heard about the CFA exam and became curious about its real importance. At first, I only knew that the exam fee was quite high, but passing it would greatly benefit my future career. Everything became clearer when I enrolled at Bangkok University and received advice from faculty professors who recommended that I take the exam because it aligned with the career path I wanted to pursue in the future. After that, I decided to start preparing seriously for the exam."
Gathering Knowledge Bit by Bit to Reach Dreams Step by Step
Ryu spent two years preparing for the exam, starting from his sophomore year, planning his studies systematically, beginning with searching for free resources from YouTube and various online channels. "The early period was very difficult because I didn't have a strong English foundation. But I tried to work at it every day, accumulating knowledge and building a financial vocabulary gradually. By my junior year, I could read various theories more fluently and began doing practice problems independently, practicing consistently for 3-4 hours daily, which allowed me to continuously improve my skills. Although I scored less than 60% when first attempting the practice problems, with determination and perseverance against obstacles, I was able to overcome this challenge."
Overcoming Obstacles with an Unyielding Heart
The biggest obstacle for Ryu was English, as the CFA exam is entirely in English. "I studied intensively in class, and when I got home, I would spend time preparing for the exam. There were many times when I wanted to give up, but I refused to back down. I sacrificed time spent playing games or watching movies and allocated more time to reading books and doing practice problems. Especially for developing English skills, I memorized specialized vocabulary and regularly learned new words. Any words I didn't know, I would write down and memorize by heart."
The Actual Exam Day: More Exciting Than Expected!
After intensive preparation for over two years, Ryu found that the actual exam day was full of challenges and new experiences that he had never anticipated. "I was very fortunate to have prepared two years in advance by reading books and doing practice problems. Most of the problems I practiced were 4-5 lines long, but the actual exam questions were much shorter due to the limited exam time, which made me feel confident that I had already encountered more difficult problems." But what also impressed Riu was the international standard of the examination. "Entering the examination room involved very strict security checks because this exam is an internationally recognized standard. The exam places great importance on integrity. I even had to remove the prayer beads bracelet I was wearing, and when I went to the bathroom and returned, I had to go through security checks again."
The Importance of CFA Certification
Passing CFA Level 1 is a significant step in a career path in finance and investment, especially for students who are about to graduate. "CFA is like a passport, opening doors to dream careers in investment, and if we pass, it gives us a greater advantage, especially when applying for jobs in finance investment sectors."
Next Steps for the Future
Ryu doesn't stop at the success of passing CFA Level 1; he also plans to pursue a Master's Degree in France, inspired by the professor who recommended he take the CFA exam. Additionally, his success in the CFA exam is a source of pride for his family. "Passing the CFA exam was another challenge I wanted to accomplish because I wanted my parents to feel proud and confident that I could continue with the education I aspire to in the future."
Advice for Those Interested in Taking the CFA Exam
From his experience, Ryu offers thoughts for friends and juniors who want to take the CFA exam: "I want everyone to start by knowing themselves well. The first thing is English language skills; you need to be able to read and write at a certain level because all reading materials and the exam are in English. The second thing is knowledge of finance, and the last is financial resources because the exam fee is quite high. But don't be discouraged. For those who are really interested in taking the exam, I recommend looking into exam support scholarships. And lastly, I hope that my story will inspire other students to develop themselves and pursue their dream careers."
