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My Story - Lavanya Bedi

Choosing to move away from the luxuries afforded to us at our homes- the comfort, privilege and constant support is a tough call, but many of us opt to study abroad, because we are driven by the idea of independence. For me, this preference came naturally. Since my teenage years I was captivated by the life in foreign lands, the college stories that I heard from my seniors made it seem irresistible. Of course, they talked about the continuous effort and determination it took to cultivate a life there, but I had always felt more than ready for it, given that in school I had managed to conquer every sphere just to fulfil this dream.

I vividly remember my mother reading an article about the quality of life in US/Canada to me on a Sunday afternoon. Even when I had researched universities worldwide, many things about Canada caught my attention: the diversity, the opportunities, academic excellence, resources and the many blogs I read about the quality of life and the social security system the country offered. Needless to say, my parents and I thought it was the very best option for me. When the time came for my applications, I realised that the procedure to apply wasn’t only tedious, it was rather disconcerting. I would find myself sitting outside the school counsellor’s office multiple times in a week.

Then one day she asked me to approach Ms. Renu Mehandru, an Overseas Admissions Coach to simplify things for me. To this date, I count that as one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. For parents, especially, it is hard to trust someone with the responsibility that’s going to affect their child’s entire life but upon meeting Renu ma’am we were dead sure she’s the one we want to work with to achieve my dream. One can easily infer her extensive experience and immense knowledge about the field just by talking to her, she had the answer to all my problems! I immediately felt at ease after meeting her, because her work entirely depends on forming a bond with the student, working with them and understanding their needs and generating avenues according to the child’s personality. Of the endless qualities she possesses, my favourite was that anytime I had a question, be it silly or complicated, she was always accessible and there to answer it. I met her many times, shared my expectations with her about college, and she paved the way for me to make a definite choice. Many universities expected us to write essays about ourselves, and I still remember Renu ma’am asking us to be honest when writing our journey, because she always said it is our blemishes that make us unique. I applied to all my universities with her by my side, always double-checking my work and making sure everything required was there. It never felt like I was one of her students, it was always as if all her focus was on me, and I was very grateful for that. The minute I received my admission offers, she was the first person I shared the good news with, because I owed it to her. I’m a student at the University of Toronto Scarborough, pursuing bachelor’s in Psychology for the past 3 years, and I’m satisfied with my choice thanks to her. I have enjoyed my time to the fullest at my university, I find that my course challenges me and motivates me to work harder, the professors inspire me to look at the world in a different way and I couldn’t have been happier. Toronto defines me, it is free-spirited and brimming with vivacity, it feels as if it is tailor made for me. I am very thankful for Renu ma’am, she didn’t just help me with an application process, she made me believe I could dream, and she accompanied me till I achieved it.

Lavanya Bedi,

Ex Modern School Barakhamba Rd