Finding my way to entrepreneurship (Part 3)

Gratitude and living in the moment: my journey towards a life unplanned

I often heard the adage that life is what happens when you're busy making other plans. It wasn't until recently that I truly understood the gravity of this phrase.

Growing up, my life had always been a series of checkboxes waiting to be ticked. In high school, the next big thing was college. In college, the focus was the internship or job. While working full-time, my efforts were set on navigating the challenges of a long-distance relationship and getting my partner to move to the U.S. The cycle was seemingly never-ending – always looking forward but rarely looking around.

It was in 2021 that the life threw a curveball my way – the end of a long-term, long-distance relationship. We had crafted plans for years, dreaming of a future together in the U.S. The end of this relationship was my epiphany – the most meticulously laid plans can sometimes crumble. But rather than wallow, I chose to live. For perhaps the first time in my life, I began to savor the present. I began to live my life for myself.

With a newfound determination, I spontaneously took the GRE to apply for business school – a dream I'd shelved in the past for love. Why? Because I realized that while compromises are essential in life, I'd been sacrificing my ambitions and desires far too early and far too often for my relationship and others.

Despite the spontaneity of the decision, I was lucky to have so much incredible support. My cousins, friends and family stood by me every step of the way. Specifically, Noni and Tasneem Apu, who have ALWAYS helped me with every single essay I have probably ever written, deserve so much recognition and thanks for their unwavering support through every essay, every application.

My gratitude journey took form particularly when I stumbled upon Jay Shetty's "Think Like a Monk.” Shetty talks about the power of starting your day by expressing gratitude. This simple act could reframe your entire day. This resonated with me deeply. The end of my relationship, instead of being a source of pain, became a lesson in gratitude. The love, the learnings, and the growth – I was thankful for it all.

Fast forward to early 2022, I was incredibly lucky to have been accepted to all five business schools I'd applied to - with scholarships! The moment was surreal. When this news came out, I wasn't just celebrating the acceptance, but the journey, the leaps of faith, and the people who held my hand through it all.

I decided to go to London Business School (LBS), where I was lucky to have received the school's most prestigious scholarship. When I got to London in August 2022 and I was walking the streets of London, I felt such an intense feeling of awe and gratitude. The realization hit hard in that moment when I arrived to a place that was purely my own decision and no one else’s. A decision that required risk and uncertainty and not much of a plan. This experience and journey truly proved to me that sometimes, life doesn't just meet your plans, it surpasses them.

My first moment on London Business School’s campus at the beginning of my MBA.

Today, I try to start my mornings with penning down three things I'm grateful for. While the list may often be repetitive (my friends, family, etc. typically make the top three), it's an incredible reminder of the universe's benevolence. The trajectory of my life may not always align with my plans, but with gratitude as my compass, I'm confident of getting through all the ups, downs, and uncertainties that lie ahead.