Somewhere in September 2010, I enter FACT Foreign Academic Consultancy and Training‘s Office in Thane where I meet Mr. Sunil Shah and discuss with him on what to do ahead in Life as I had just returned to India after completing my MS in Industrial Engineering from Clemson University, USA few months ago and trying to figure out Life… He was very clear that, I can hire you, but do you wish to work here? And my answer was a big fat YES… Learnt a lot from him throughout…
I was introduced to him by Late Dr. Avinash Veer who over the years was more than a Friend to me… A true Friend, a Mentor, a Guide… Some one whom I miss every now and then when I have some Life Challenging Situations as well as during some interesting Sporting Tournaments happening across the Globe… We all lost Dr. Veer in September 2021 and filling the void left by him in this World is actually quite difficult…
I joined FACT exactly on 4th October 2010 at 11am IST (remember the specific timing for reasons which can’t be described here)… And the journey from then till now, which has taken 16 years in the making has been extremely memorable and at the same time quite emotional as well…
After working at FACT for around sometime, I met & started working at Imperial Overseas Education Consultants( Imperial Platforms Inc) with Dr Banit Singh Sawhney since 1st March 2012 and Life has obviously seen a lot since then… We have grown from inch to inch, from office to office, from city to city, from state to state, from country to country… What started as a small office space in 2012, we now have multiple offices across various locations across the globe helping multiple students achieve their dreams of studying abroad…
In the past 16 years, I along with my ever so strong team would have helped countless of students reach the Foreign Shores at their desired destinations and start a new life of their own… We have seen them grow from strength to strength, be it education-wise or work-wise or personal life-wise or family-wise… Many are now married, well settled with their respective better-half’s, raising kids of their own… The eyes become a bit emotional (obviously in a positive manner) seeing their growth on all fronts… Many of these students when they are back home for Vacations or for some other reasons do try taking out time to catch up for either lunch or dinner or coffee and it feels so good to see these students who were roughly 22 or 23 years old when we helped them reach their desired destinations have turned into extremely matured individuals who can actually impart knowledge of the world in today’s day… Like from what the hell is AI to how AI can be Good, Bad, Ugly for us… How Drugs (medicinal) are created and distributed, what strategies are used… How modern practices in the Supply Chain across the Globe are changing… How Chip Designing has become a very core part of industry today… How the Vehicular Dynamics are now changing with EV and Automated Cars coming into the picture now… How the World of Finance is changing with the latest use of Analytics with more efficiency… What is happening in the world of Journalism and Literature as well… How newer Marketing Trends and Strategies are changing…
At the same time, we are interacting with the latest Generation known as the Gen-Z who have their own idiosyncrasies set around… Their own language, their own mindset, their own theories, their own problems, etc. etc. etc… Honestly speaking, we learn a lot from them as well. And as we are growing older physically, the mind still remains quite young interacting with the next generation regularly… At times, we feel that we have some simpler solutions to their problems, but when you try stepping into their shoes, life takes a different perspective all together…
Helping or rather, Guiding these students and at the same time their Parents comes with their own pros and cons… Their own satisfaction and challenges and it is very safe to say that life has surely changed in the last 16 years, both for positive in negative as well… It has been a roller-coaster for sure… With the Geo-Political changes affecting business in both plus and minus, we surely have learnt to hold on to things and at the same time, move on in life as well… At times, health has taken a toll, certain personal commitments have taken a toll, but as they say, life moves on and the show must go on… You adapt to the newer changes and the ones to adapt to the changes faster survives better…
This photo below was clicked somewhere in 2018 when a particular incident happened professionally. This is exactly mid-way in my professional career thus far and 16 years have surely taught me that come what may, a little bit of humor and as they say ‘this too shall pass’… Whether you take it positively or negatively…
Overall, life has been kinder in the past 16 years and waiting for things to either be more positive or lets put it more challenging in the times to come. But one thing is for sure, whatever challenges come up, past 16 years have surely taught me on how to deal with them and whatever good happens, past 16 years have surely taught us to be humble irrespective of whatever happiness life has gotten for you… Surely looking forward to many more years to come in this ever changing field wherein things do change dynamically at times…
Am I creating a difference around??? Many will argue on this statement… However, I would like to put my point across that Yes, I am… I strongly believe that I am trying my best with all my heart and my skills to get these Students to a better place then where they are Career-Wise… And yes, if anyone asks me if what I chose was the right decision back then, today’s day, I would say a BIG FAT YES with all the exuberance… A decision which seemed dicey way back to many (including myself), has proven to be something worth enough as well as very close to my heart now… One thing is for sure that, Esha Chakravarty-Rathod, who used to be a close friend back then who later became my Girl-Friend and subsequently my Wife was the only one in 2010 who thought that I would make it in this field… So, yes… A lot of credit goes to her for where I am today…
Obviously, my Family, Friends, Colleagues, Bosses, Students, their Parents, College Professors, University Partners and maybe I am missing out on a few details here, but they all have been a Cornerstone of whatever I am today and whatever I have achieved till Date… So a BIG THANK YOU to ALL… 😊
Hiren Bharat Rathod.
A very long, yet beautiful journey it has been, sir! It was truly wonderful to read this.
I am one of the many students you have helped pursue their dreams of studying abroad and, in turn, helped fulfil not just my dreams but those of my family as well.
I will always be grateful for your guidance, support throughout this journey. Thank you so much to you and the entire Imperial Overseas team for being a part of this important chapter of my life. 😇🙏
!6 yrs what a great milestone and how!!!
What an amazing journey, Sir 👏🏻