#3 The Scholarly Pursuit On The Other Side Of The World

From the grind of chartered accountancy to the uncertainty of a new life in Canada, here’s how I discovered the thrill of new beginnings and comfort in chaos.

In this world, nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes — Benjamin Franklin

At 17, already neck-deep in the world of chartered accountancy back in Bangalore, India, I hit a wall. Day in and day out, I was buried in financial statements, business law, and, you guessed it — taxes. It was the first time I realized I couldn’t handle a monotonous routine, and definitely not until death.

I needed a change. I needed a challenge.

So, what did I do? I took a leap of faith, dropped out of college, and worked at a stock exchange brokerage in Jaipur for half a year. But even there, something was off.

I was like a puzzle piece trying to fit into the wrong box.

That’s when the idea of studying abroad hit me (or, more specifically, hit my mom, who then told me to broaden my horizons). After all, I had already lived away from home. Maybe I wasn’t looking in the right places to find my missing piece. My explorer genes overpowered my fear, and I started researching countries where I could work after graduating. I applied to a few reputed colleges, drafted my visa applications, processed my student loan applications, and asked my parents for their blessing. It was wild to think they let a 17-year-old make all these decisions alone.

Philosophical Musings: Education is more than just stuffing facts into your brain; it’s about lighting a fire within you. It’s about questioning the norm and pushing the boundaries of what you think is possible. Moving to Canada may have looked like a shift in location — but it was a seismic shift in my mindset and perspective. I’ve long since discovered that my comfort zone lies in constant motion. If I stay in one place for too long, I get this itch. I feel like I’m stagnating.

But each time I relocated to a new city? I felt like I could solve my problems and reinvent myself. That’s when I feel most alive. Is it wrong to always seek change? Maybe. But it’s also what keeps me exploring, growing, and evolving. The thrill of new places, the challenge of adapting, the excitement of starting fresh — these are the things that fuel my journey. Ultimately, it’s not about where you are, but who you become along the way. Embracing the unknown is where true growth happens.

I was breaking new ground, the first in my extended family to leave the country. I was flying by the seat of my pants, figuring things out as I went along. Somehow, though, everything just seemed to fall into place. There are these rare moments in life when you feel completely unstoppable, and this was one of them.

A New World: London, Ontario

Fast-forward to London, Ontario — yeah, the quieter, less famous London. I enrolled at the Ivey Business School (Western University), stepping into a world far from Bangalore’s constant buzz. My time here was more than just about nailing exams (though I had to do that to get scholarships to pay for school each year); it was about carving out my path in a new world.

Being an international student isn’t a walk in the park, you know. Some people think it’s easy, that anyone can do it. Somebody ask me. I was juggling a ton of stuff — classes, visa scares, three different jobs to make ends meet, and figuring out life in a new country without any family around. Talk about a crash course in adulting. But it wasn’t all doom and gloom — I found respite and companionship in other students going through the same thing. Canada is so big that even people visiting from another province feel like they’re in another country. Being an international student was the biggest life lesson of my life.

And despite the grind, I found my little slice of heaven right there in London. I didn’t have the time or cash for typical student shenanigans, but nature was free, and it was right there. I was lucky to live by the Thames River — yes, London, Ontario, has one too — and I spent every chance I got exploring the trails around it. Over six years, I ticked off every hiking trail I could find, finding peace and a sense of accomplishment in the solitude of nature.

The floating dock at Westminster Ponds, London, Ontario

From Credit Card Sales to the Great Outdoors

After my first year in university, I realized I had underestimated the resources I needed to live in Canada. My family was running out of money, and I had to stay in Canada and work to help pay for my second year. I could have done better at interviews; no one would give me work. I was stressed out of my mind, applying to hundreds of positions. Finally, I caught a break — a job nobody sane would want, but I had no choice.

Selling credit cards at Canadian Tire at 18 was a wild ride and a half. But I consider it the best-worst job I’ve ever had. Why? Because between getting rejected and getting an earful from not-so-happy shoppers, I was learning — about sales, human psychology, and the land of Canada. Every day, I was out there in a new location, trying to turn casual shoppers into Canadian Tire loyalists. Not an easy gig, let me tell you.

At our sales booth, we had a system that would make a social psychologist proud: one person flagged down customers, another got them to play a rigged game that guaranteed they’d win some in-store money, and then we’d subtly pitch the credit card. The psychology behind it? Get them in a good mood, lower their guard, and strike while they’re basking in their ‘winnings.’ By the time they realized what was happening, they were already signing up. It’s fascinating — and a bit unsettling — how easily we can be influenced when we’re riding a high. This tactic plays on our natural inclination to reciprocate and our susceptibility to feel-good moments. It’s a classic example of how creating a positive emotional state can lead to compliance. People are more likely to say yes when they feel like winners, making this method a perfect blend of persuasion and psychology. Next time someone makes you happy — you better watch out!

But, the pros were well worth it. This job had me roaming all over southwestern Ontario, from the quiet beauty of Tobermory to the southernmost tip of Point Pelee. They’d cram five of us into a car and drop us off one by one to hold down the fort for eight hours at a time. Talking to over 300 strangers daily, every rejection and success added layers to my understanding of people and places.

And after four intense months on the job, an unforeseen shift happened. I landed a position at the university’s essay help center — The Write Place. It was a stark contrast to persuading folks to sign their lives away. Here, I was in my element, surrounded by books and fellow literature buffs, many of whom shared my love for the outdoors. This is where things really started to take a turn for the better.

The Student Life Center at King’s University College — my first academic job

Discovering the Canadian Wilderness: Georgian Bay Adventures

Enter my first real wilderness adventure. My crew at The Write Place was fantastic, and we got along incredibly well. Once we realized we shared interests, we didn’t waste a second planning a back-country camping trip. Imagine this: a group of us from the university (and one doggo named Finn) all geared up for a 15km hike into the wild, ready to camp out for two nights. No people, no signals, no facilities. It was a full-on immersion into nature’s embrace. Fresh air filled your lungs like never before, sparkling blue waters to cliff-dive into, and a night sky so clear, the Milky Way and the International Space Station felt like a touch away. That first expedition was a game-changer. Suddenly, reading about nature wasn’t enough.

Science Bite: The Georgian Bay is a geological marvel formed by the retreat of glaciers during the last Ice Age, leaving behind rugged landscapes and clear, cold waters. It’s a living museum of glacial history and evolution. The bay’s unique ecosystems are home to the Massasauga rattlesnake (the only venomous snake in Ontario, and one we almost stepped on accidentally). The iconic windswept pines you see clinging to rocky outcrops and the diverse fauna are perfect examples of how life can adapt and flourish even in the most challenging environments. Watch out though! These lakes have been infested by the invasive zebra mussels which are sharp enough to slice through human skin (speaking from experience) — wearing water shoes is advised.

That first trip led to more. I became the go-to guy for organizing these wilderness adventures, leading three more expeditions, and introducing different friends to the joys of camping. Each journey into the wild reinforced something inside me — a connection to nature that went beyond words, beyond the everyday hustle. It was about finding a piece of myself out there, under the vast, open sky.

Have you ever taken a leap of faith that completely changed your path? I’d love to hear about your unexpected adventures and the lessons you learned in the comments below! Let’s inspire each other to find our true selves.

The next chapter of my journey takes a sharp turn as I reunite with my family in a foreign land, and face the unexpected challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. How do you navigate isolation and keep your spirit intact? Join me as I explore these topics in detail. You won’t want to miss this.