In the journey towards higher education, many of us dream of attending a prestigious college and achieving top grades. I, too, was among those ambitious students until a dinner conversation with my parents sparked a new idea: pursuing my education abroad. Little did I know, this path required more than just dreams – it demanded a standout student profile.

Navigating through the maze of opportunities in grade 11, I found myself overwhelmed. Choosing the right activities that truly resonated with me felt like searching for a needle in a haystack. That's when I turned to Lesli India for guidance and my journey took an unexpected turn.

The initial sessions with Lesli were all about self-discovery – what I enjoyed doing, what areas I wanted to explore and where I aimed to improve. With their help, I narrowed down my choices and dove into various activities, from Model United Nations to organizing blood donation drives and undertaking online courses.

Meeting my mentors regularly kept me accountable and motivated. These experiences taught me the importance of consistency, time management and giving back to society. As my profile grew, so did my confidence.

But when it came time to condense my experiences into a resume for university applications, I faced a new challenge. Despite the irony of a life filled with diverse experiences being squeezed into two pages, continuous support from my mentors and editors helped me articulate my journey effectively.

Just as I thought I had it all figured out, life threw me a curveball and I made the spontaneous decision to take a gap year. Little did I know, this year would become the most transformative chapter of my life. Buckle up, because what happened next was beyond anything I could have imagined. So, stay tuned as I unravel the adventures that awaited me during my year of exploration.