Growing up in the busy streets of Hyderabad, India, I saw traffic merging through narrow lanes, new buildings rising overnight and people constantly adapting to whatever came next. Change was life, and for the most part, it felt natural. I assumed my own path would follow the same logic, a planned journey where one decision would lead smoothly to the next. But looking back, the reality has been quite different. The past few years have not followed a straight line, and I am starting to realize they never really do.
In high school, I thought I had a clear vision of my future. I balanced academics with extracurriculars, immersing myself in projects that mattered to me. One of those was Project Y2C, an initiative I co-founded with friends to help children in childcare institutions access extracurricular activities. At the same time, I spent three years at Indus StartupYou, an experimental startup school where entrepreneurship was not just theory but practice. It was a space that encouraged risk-taking and problem-solving, where ideas became tangible ventures. I was also elected Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) captain of the student council, a role that reinforced my commitment to balancing leadership with service. My mindset was simple. The more I took on, the more meaningful impact I could create.
Then I landed in Boston.
As a first-year in the Hult International Business School, I found myself in an environment deeply rooted in entrepreneurship. Learning felt hands-on, dynamic and immersive. But something felt off. It was not an issue with the school itself but rather a growing realization that I wanted something different. I had a choice. Stay and see where this path leads or take a risk and transfer.
Transferring to Fordham was not part of my original plan, but when I thought about what I truly wanted from my college experience, it made sense. The transition, however, was anything but straightforward. I entered as a sophomore but lived off campus with upperclassmen, skipping the typical transition phase of dorm life and orientation events. Instead, I was navigating a new school while adjusting to life on Arthur Avenue, learning to cook and figuring out how to integrate into a community that had already been established.
I had to be intentional about finding my place. The first step was joining clubs and seeking out opportunities. That is when I found The Fordham Ram. Writing had always been an interest, and working as the Advertising Director while contributing articles gave me a sense of fulfillment. Finding a job on campus was also a priority, as I wanted to be financially independent. That led me to my role as a Tech Assistant at the Learning and Innovation Technology Environment (LITE) center, where I help students and faculty navigate various technologies in the space. It provided structure, introduced me to new people and helped me feel more connected to the school.
Through all of this, I discovered a sense of freedom. I was not confined to one predefined path. I made choices that felt right in the moment, whether that meant working on campus, exploring new opportunities or simply learning to exist in a city that always seemed to move faster than I could keep up.
As my sophomore year comes to an end, I have no clear idea what the next two years will look like. But I do know that whatever comes next will be shaped by the same mindset that brought me here – embracing change, seizing opportunities and adapting as I go. If there is one thing I have learned, it is that things are never set in stone, and sometimes, the best decisions are the ones you never see coming.
Nishanth Aduma, GSB ’27, is a finance major from Hyderabad, India.
