“To those who can dream, there is no such place as far away.” A friend had gifted me a poster with this quote just before I applied to Fuqua, and coincidentally, it became the theme of the last couple of years. I would like to make one addition to the statement though: For those who can dream, and those with a strong support system, there is no place such as far away.

My Road to Fuqua

Coming from a family of generational Indian chartered accountants, there was almost no other profession I knew much about or even considered.  The tax consulting role I held for more than four years at Ernst & Young was very much in my comfort zone. While I knew that I loved solving problems for clients, I realized that I wanted to work in broader business realms in my long-term career.

I wasn’t able to shake off the feeling that I needed a change of direction. I realized I knew little about the world beyond my immediate radius of a couple of miles (literally!), having lived in Chennai, India all my life. It was an almost overnight flip of the switch in my head that I needed an MBA.

However, it was just then that wedding plans were underway with my partner of eight years, Sreepadh, and he had just accepted a job in Bangalore, India. We took a huge leap of faith and decided to get married on June 3rd, just a month and a half before I left for the U.S. After a rollercoaster ride leading up to and after the wedding, we began our long-distance marriage. That made leaving home seem more difficult, with a much bigger family and all my friends back home.

Fuqua was both exhilarating and daunting at the same time. The campus was filled with 400 new faces, and everyone was excited about new beginnings and countless possibilities. Amidst navigating that part of my life, combined with recruiting for consulting, I figured out a fine balance with a lot of planning and a lot of heart.

Family and Friends: My Pillars

My family and friends back home were my steadfast pillars. They stayed in touch consistently, encouraging and celebrating my milestones from afar. I joined quite a few events and family functions through video calls, and technology became my best friend.

Maintaining a long-distance marriage was no small feat either. Sreepadh and I set aside dedicated time for video calls factoring in the 10+ hour time difference, ensuring we stayed connected and shared our daily lives despite the miles between us. While our busy schedules permitted us to meet only once in 5-6 months, we made every reunion special and created new memories with travel.

When it was time for graduation, having my whole family by my side was a proud moment, a testament to our collective effort and support.

Fuqua’s Supportive Environment

Fuqua played a significant role in making this journey a success. The school’s partner-friendly environment and the significant percentage of married classmates made it easier for me to navigate this new phase of life. Even from afar, my classmates befriended Sreepadh, and we joined student-organized trips together. The opportunity to visit Japan with my classmates was particularly special, allowing Sreepadh to bond with them.

In essence, my experience at Fuqua was about bridging two worlds — combining new experiences in a different country with family ties. It was about proving that distance is merely a number when dreams are big and hearts are connected.

I’m now spending two months with my family in India as we fondly look back on their trip to the U.S. As Sreepadh and I navigate this chapter of our lives, we remain optimistic about what lies ahead, knowing that we are capable of bridging any distance.