Dr. Bijesh Mishra

I completed my Bachelor in Agriculture Science degree from Tribhuvan University, Rampur Campus Chitwan, Nepal. After finishing my bachelor’s degree, I was not sure what would be my next step. I had to wait for a few months to get result of finals from my bachelor’s degree. During that gap period, neither I can apply for a job nor I can start the next level of my educational journey. So, I was stuck in home and have nothing to do other than wasting most productive time of my life. Instead, I decided to join a Graduate Record Examination (GRE) classes following the flock of my friends which opened my journey of abroad study. I joined GRE classes just to utilize the time that was going to be wasted.

Though I joined GRE classes, I knew nothing about how to move forward with the abroad study because I was taking a route that I never planned to go. Even Though I made up a mindset a few months before my graduation that I will not continue my Master’s degree from the same place where I graduated with a bachelor’s degree (Rampur Campus, AFU and IAAS/TU), I was not sure where I want to go–India, US, Canada, Australia, China, Japan, Germany or other European countries. Sometimes just a desire to progress takes you a long way; that is what I did. I am writing this blog post based on my experience of how I found a pathway forward in my academic journey.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

By Robert Frost (1874-1963)

As I said earlier, I joined GRE classes following my friends. Let me take you back to the last year of my college. When I, along with my 150 friends, were about to graduate with a bachelor’s degree the dispute between newly established Agriculture and Forestry University (AFU) and existing Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science (IAAS/TU) was on peak. Because of the dispute, campus was closed for about 150 days due continuous strike from staff, students, politicians, and teachers inside campus and throughout the Chitwan district. This threw me away from my regular career track. It took me 5 years to graduate with my four-year degree. Also, I was against the establishment of AFU in Rampur because replacing one agriculture institute by another in same location would not serve any novelty; instead, establishing AFU in a different location could help to enhance the agriculture of different place (separate topics to discuss). Because of this instability, a few close friends of mine and I decided not to further study in Rampur. Also, I was not interested to continue Master at IAAS/TU which was newly transferred from Rampur to Kathmandu. So, the only option left for me was to further my academic journey outside Nepal.

One good alternative I was looking for to further my academic journey was in Indian universities, only if, I get a scholarship. I was looking for a scholarship from the Indian Embassy or from Indian universities. But because of various requirements to secure scholarships, long waiting time, and paper works, deadlines and administrative hardships, I was not ready to waste my time. There were a few alternative scholarship opportunities such as DAAD scholarship, scholarships from the various embassies in Nepal. However, the opportunity cost of waiting for these scholarships and working to meet requirements, terms and conditions to secure these scholarships for me was not worthy and was a waste of time. So, I went with the only option left for me: GRE preparation. I went to Collins at Putalisadak, Kathmandu.

While I was preparing for GRE, some of my friends were already talking about joining TOEFL/IELTS preparation classes, but I had no idea what they were talking about. I used to think that GRE would be enough to apply for MS in the USA but realized I was wrong. Again I followed the flock of my friends to the TOEFL classes to know why TOEFL is necessary for abroad study and that took me to a whole new world of information. I realized TOEFL is a more basic requirement than GRE for abroad study. So, I joined TOEFL classes following my friends again. The only force that was driving me through these steps was to use free time, keep me occupied, and progress ahead, nothing else!

One important lesson to learn from this post is that do not get stuck and remain still even if you don’t know what is next. Learn to trust the journey even if you do not understand it. Sometimes what you never wanted or expected turn out to be “what you need” and could be your best decision/ choice. Also, big or small, find a way to progress; as long as you are progressing everything is good. As long as you progress, life will find your purpose for you if you don’t have one. That is what I have now. I keep on progressing accepting what life has offered to me and now I am finding a purpose in life.

Good luck and best wishes for those who read through this blog post and get motivated by my words. If this post inspires you, motivated you or give you comfort even just a little bit by making you think “I am not the only one”, this post finds its purpose. If you feel so, please let me know via comments I’ll be glad to hear. I will interact with you.