For many Indians, going abroad to study, pursue a career there and build an independent life in a new country is often seen as the ultimate dream. But for Sharon Pandori, 23, who moved to Canada from Goa in 2021, that dream has now led her to a very different feeling.
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Pandori, who studied at Western University in Canada and has built his life around education, work and freedom, now plans to come back to India. Her decision, she says, is not rooted in disappointment with Canada, but in a deep desire to build something more meaningful at home.
Speaking to HT.com, Pandori said, “I moved to Canada in 2021 to pursue my bachelor’s degree.”
She said she has always been attracted to media, storytelling, communication and creative expression. Studying abroad, for them, felt like an opportunity to experience a different environment while gaining broader experience in the field.
He said, “A big inspiration for me was also freedom. Seeing my older brother go abroad first made me curious about how much a new environment can shape you as an individual, and at 18, I found the idea incredibly exciting.”
Life in Canada and the education that shaped it
Before moving to Canada, Pandori completed his schooling in Senior Secondary in Goa with a humanities background, mainly focusing on Economics, Business Studies and Mass Media. He said these topics naturally linked to his interest in communications and creative industries.
In Canada, he attended Western University, where he studied Media, Information and Technoculture along with a certification in Digital Communications.
“One thing I really appreciated about studying abroad was the flexibility in the education system,” she said.
Excited by the idea of international exposure, meeting people from different backgrounds, learning in a new environment, and experiencing freedom for the first time, she moved to Canada in 2021.
She said, “Like many young Indians, I have grown up seeing life abroad as exciting and full of opportunities. While this is certainly true in many ways, I think the emotional reality of living alone in another country is something that you can only fully understand when you experience it yourself.”
Despite the emotional challenges, Pandori said she has no regrets. “Living abroad during some of the very formative years of my life helped me become much more adaptable, self-reliant and confident as a person,” she said.
‘Dream Life’ was about development, not luxury
Pandori said that her life in Canada was not just about looks or comfort. For her, the “dream life” meant growth, freedom, and becoming the person she imagined she would be when she first moved abroad.
“For me, the ‘dream life’ in Canada was never just about luxury or aesthetics. It was about growth, freedom and becoming the kind of person I envisioned for myself when I first moved abroad,” she said.
Academically, she wanted to do well and make the most of the education she had worked hard for. Professionally, she wanted to gain experience quickly and achieve financial independence while simultaneously studying.
Pandori said she worked steadily in communications and marketing roles throughout her time in Canada. She worked in social media and marketing for the university libraries, later taking on communications and marketing-related roles in the university’s technical services department and also served as a student ambassador for three consecutive years.
He said that his time abroad was not limited to classes and exams. “Personally, I wanted to fully experience everything that university life has to offer abroad, whether it be career fairs, networking events, workshops, cultural experiences or even traditions like homecoming,” she said.
Pandori also received the Sustained Excellence Scholarship and Excellence Financial Award from the university. He said those recognitions reassured him that his efforts to build a life abroad were being noticed.
Graduate with Dean’s Honors
Pandori also graduated with Dean’s Honors, an accomplishment he described as personally meaningful.
“Graduating with Dean’s Honors means a lot to me personally because adapting to a completely different educational system was initially overwhelming,” she said.
He explained that the learning style in Canada was more focused on critical thinking, discussion and application rather than memorization. It took time to adjust to that system.
“More than anything, it felt meaningful because I knew how much personal growth had gone into that accomplishment behind the scenes. Seeing my parents be proud of me during that trip was also one of the most gratifying parts of the experience,” she said.
When I started thinking of returning
Despite leading a stable and successful life in Canada, Pandori said the idea of returning to India came much earlier than many expected.
“To be honest, the idea existed much earlier than people expected, probably during my first year abroad,” he said.
Initially, she thought this feeling was part of homesickness and the natural challenge of adjusting to life alone in a different country. But with time it became something deeper.
Pandori said, “At first, I assumed those feelings were simply part of adjusting to a new environment. But over time, they evolved into deeper reflections about the kind of life I ultimately wanted to have for myself long-term.”
Every encounter back home strengthened that feeling. She said she can see how fast India is developing, especially for the youth interested in entrepreneurship, creativity and creating something of their own.
“Gradually, the idea of returning to India stopped feeling like just an emotional pull towards home and became a much more deliberate decision about where I see myself making an impact and building my future,” she said.
Canada as a learning stage
Pandori said there was no dramatic moment that made him view Canada as a learning curve. Instead, it was a gradual realization that came from living independently and growing year after year.
“Living abroad changed me tremendously for the better. It taught me flexibility, responsibility, independence and how to adapt quickly to unfamiliar situations,” she said.
She said she became more confident in herself and her ability to build a life anew in an entirely new environment.
She said, “So I will always be grateful for my experience in Canada. I really consider that phase of my life transformative and incredibly valuable.”
Also, as she grew older, she began to think more deeply about where she felt most emotionally connected and where she saw herself building a meaningful life beyond professional milestones.
building something meaningful in india
For Pandori, the word “meaningful” holds both personal and social significance.
She said, “I think ‘meaningful’ means two things to me today. One is creating something that feels connected to who I am personally and what I really care about, and the other is creating something that contributes positively to the people and communities around me.”
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She has always been attracted to fashion and events and is currently working on a resort wear label called Vivasio.
“I always wanted to create a fashion brand in Goa that was based on authenticity and individuality rather than fast-paced trends,” she said.
Apart from fashion, she is also interested in creating community based events and experiences that bring people together.
“Especially today, when so many young people experience loneliness despite being constantly connected online, I think it’s more valuable than ever to have real-life experiences and create community,” she said.
success vs perfection
Pandori said his understanding of success has changed over time.
He said, “Yes, absolutely. I think professional success and personal satisfaction can sometimes be very different things.”
Previously, she linked success to external milestones such as a good job, earning good money, building an impressive career, and achieving stability. But over time, he realized that those achievements did not always guarantee emotional satisfaction.
“Earlier, I associated success primarily with external milestones – getting a good job, earning good money, building an impressive career, and achieving stability. And while these things are important, I gradually realized that they do not automatically create emotional satisfaction. This feeling became stronger during my stay abroad. Even though I was happy with the direction of my academic and professional journey, I also began to question what actually made me feel purposeful beyond productivity or achievement,” she said. Said.
She also volunteered with an Indian NGO and taught underprivileged students to speak English online. That experience gave him satisfaction that wasn’t tied to money, titles or career achievements, he said.
“Today, success for me means building a life that is emotionally connected, creatively fulfilling, and connected to the kind of impact I want to make long-term,” she said.
what he liked about canada
Pandori said she continues to appreciate many things about Canada, especially as an international student. He praised the multicultural university environment, support systems, counseling programs, workshops and campus initiatives that helped students adjust socially and academically.
She said, “Most importantly, Canada introduced me to people, cultures and experiences that tremendously shaped me as a person. I will be forever grateful for that.”
At the same time, she realized that the emotional and community aspect of life with which she grew up in India was difficult to replicate abroad.
“Canada gave me incredible opportunity and growth, but culturally, life there is much more individualistic and independent,” she said.
She said she misses the close family ties, spontaneous social interactions, festivals, everyday warmth and social energy of India.
He said, “There is a certain energy in India, be it the people, the social atmosphere, the festivals, the conversations or just being surrounded by belonging, that made me feel emotionally connected in a way that was difficult to fully replicate abroad.”
‘Homecoming is no compromise’
Pandori said his family is supporting his decision. Even online, the response has been mixed but mostly curious and positive. Many reached out to him to ask about his life in Canada, while some Indians living abroad told him that they too hoped to return home someday.
He believes that more young Indians abroad are now reconsidering the idea of settling abroad permanently.
He said, “I think in the past, settling abroad was often seen as the ultimate definition of success. But today, people have come to define success more personally rather than socially.”
He said India’s changing professional landscape, especially in entrepreneurship, remote work, startups and creative industries, has led many youth to realize that opportunities and satisfaction do not exist outside India alone.
“In the past, many people may have felt hesitant to even admit that they wanted to return because it could be misinterpreted as ‘giving up’ or ‘failing.’ But increasingly, people are realizing that choosing where you want to make your life is an extremely personal decision and returning home can be a conscious choice, not a compromise,” she said.
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For Pandori, the next phase isn’t about starting over. It’s about coming back with a fresh perspective.
She said, “Canada gave me experiences and lessons that I will always carry with me and I’m grateful for that. Now, I’m eager to see what I can build from those experiences at home over time.”
