Have you ever felt excitement and nervousness in the same heartbeat? That’s exactly how it felt EVERY time I boarded my plane to a new study destination.
Studying abroad sounded like a dream – exciting and glamorous. I imagined exotic places, new friends and unforgettable experiences. Homesickness? Always sounded like some fancy, distant concept until… it hit me like a truck!
When I got the opportunity to be a part of SP Jain Global’s tricity BBA program – studying across three countries – it felt like hitting the jackpot. Travelling to three different countries while pursuing my studies was a ‘wow moment’ and I couldn’t wait to dive in.
Singapore was our first stop, and hands down, it was the perfect place to kick off this adventure. The city, its people, the culture felt like a warm hug. I still remember the sounds of the bustling streets, the buses and the sweet taste of the fresh IJOOZ juice.
At first, everything seemed a bit overwhelming, but soon, I settled and found my tribe. I attended my first-ever concert – Bruno Mars, no less! Celebrated festivals like Diwali about 4,200 miles away from home and made memories that will surely last a lifetime.
Living in Singapore also pushed me to come out of my shell and become the independent version of myself. I was also proud to make it into the Dean’s List for both the semesters, and my research project team RIP (no, it doesn’t stand for Rest in Peace, it’s actually the Regional Immersion Project) reached the finals in a tough competition with over 15+ teams from all the divisions.
I also learnt the power of communication – how important it is to voice your needs (because, honestly, it’s the crying baby that gets the milk). I served as a wellbeing ambassador, organising activities within my cohort. Public speaking, which once used to terrify me, no longer felt the same.
Finally, interning at a Singapore-based startup was another highlight. My professor was right – working at a startup offers exposure and learning like no other.
Next up was Dubai, a city with its own unique charm, and of course, an iconic skyline. Staring up at the Burj Khalifa was surreal - reminding me of when I as a little girl who once dreamed of visiting Dubai on a holiday, and now there I was, spending an entire year studying there. Life is wild and how!
I continued my role as the wellbeing ambassador, organising fun awareness activities and celebrating World Mental Health Day with max energy and plenty of smiles. I even ran my first marathon – the Dubai Run 2024! Waking up at 4AM to join 2,78,000 runners on Sheikh Zayed Road was incredible and being a part of such a massive celebration of health and community felt like a dream.
Dubai taught me resilience – how to keep pushing forward through hard times. It taught me patience – especially while we wait for results after putting in the hard work.
One of the biggest highlights was participating in the Young Researchers talk that later became a podcast episode on Spotify (this is your sign to go listen to it, if you haven’t already). I also interned with a company that showcased their humanoid robot, RIA at an education summit in Dubai this year. The tech and innovation scene there blew me a....w…a…y.
And now, here I’m in Sydney – my dream city. I’m beyond excited to continue learning, meet new people, strengthen old bonds and uncover some great opportunities.
Gratitude is honestly an understatement when I think about the journey so far. The challenges, the wins, the growth – it’s all been life changing.
And guess what?
The journey has just begun :)
Sree Sneha V is a part of our 2023 Bachelor of Business Administration cohort, currently completing her degree in Sydney, Australia.
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Bridging Classroom Knowledge with Global Tax Practice: My EY Internship Journey
Building a Legacy Across Borders and Sectors: SPJ Alumni Spotlight with Anant Kapur
Eureka! – My journey to the top 15 of IIT Bombay’s E-cell Competition