On wings of dreams

Manpriya Singh 

The pursuit of greener pastures and green card meant the struggle to settle overseas had to start right after school. A student visa was the next best thing to H1B visa! Once upon a time that is. For the countless students walking out of high school, well, the aspirations of going  abroad remain but the reasons (thankfully!) have somewhat changed. “I am definitely coming back to India. For sure,” announces Vidur Ahuja, a Class XII pass-out from Vivek High School, originally hailing from Fazilka. 

All set to pursue BSc (International Business) in University of Groningen, Netherlands, he is one of the several students placed overseas for studies by a three-year-old company eduVelocity, which is in the business of helping students with admissions abroad. Elaborates Vinu Warrier, the managing partner and founder, “We help a student build his profile. Post which the application process and paper work starts. After that we help the applicants with life skills.” 

Why not India? 

For Vidur, the decision to pursue a course in Europe rather than UK or any other place was governed by several factors. Primarily being, “If I get admission in Europe, I will alongside be able to travel the whole of Europe and also with this course I can later join United Nations in a certain capacity.”  It’s all a part of the exposure that he yearns. “I ultimately want to come back and help my father expand his farm-related business.”  

Getting admission at a post-graduate level meant much more struggle than getting through an under-graduate course. But Dikshita is finally all set for Royal College of Art, London. While for Class XII pass-out Raika Sethi, it was the advantage of being able to club her two interests, comprising psychology and music, which is taking her abroad. “I’ll be majoring in psychology and studying music therapy as a branch of psychology,” shares the girl, who is a vocalist and has trained in Indian classical music.  

Slow & steady changes 

Those in search of better opportunities now only seek exposure. That’s one of the subtle shifts. Adds Warrier, “A lot many students now finally come back…people are also showing a little bit more of interest in Japan as far as pursuing higher studies is concerned.” The clichéd destinations of preference, for instance US and London, might see some competition from countries across the globe. “There was a major dip in applicants for US, post Trump’s win.” Who know, what’s further in store?    

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