September 2020

Find out how Kirandeep chiselled her way to becoming a national-level gymnast. We bet that many of you are not aware of ‘Rhythmic Gymnastics’ as a sport. So, today we bring for you a promising and motivating experience of a sportsperson who through her hard work, determination and focus made a name not only for herself but also for the sport. Without further ado, let us quickly read how Kirandeep has made way for the future gymnasts in India.n n“I started playing the sport at a very young age as my parents were gymnasts too, but I perused it only as a hobby. It was only in class 11th that I decided to change my school, and the sport became my identity. The sport brought me exposure in terms of travelling to different cities for competitions and meeting new people.nn The journey has not been comfortable, in any case. When I started, I found out that there are no professional coaches available in India for the sport, but I did not give up. I trained myself through YouTube videos for straight three years. I dreamt of participating in Commonwealth games, but I knew that without any professional training, my dream would remain a dream as I lacked confidence, technique and poise. So, in 2017 I came across a training program in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, and I decided to pursue it. The camp was free of cost, but one had to bear the cost of accommodation and travel. It was only after this program that I came across the proper techniques required for Rhythmic Gymnastics. The course involved an intensive training program with practices and test schedules that barely gave one any time to breathe. I saw a drastic change in my performance and realised the lack of awareness around the sport in India. n nDuring the 2018 Commonwealth Games, I had a fair chance of selection and representing India at the International level but then came a blow from the organising committee. They put a cap on the number of participants to 500 inclusive of Physiotherapists, Doctors, Coaches and Helpers. Rhythmic gymnast being one of the least touched upon sports, had only one seat for the participant and that too without a Coach. The seat was allotted to our most deserving senior player. n nPost this experience, I took this as the mission to become a Certified Coach for Rhythmic Gymnastics. I decided to further continue the training with the Federation of International Gymnastics (FIG) – the governing body of competitive gymnastics around the world to become a certified International Rhythmic Gymnastics coach. This is again a week-long intensive session with 30 female participants across the globe. We had to appear for four exams inclusive of one theoretical subject. When I saw other candidates, I realised that India lacks way behind in professional coaching for the sport. I was the youngest there, least experienced in the groups and scared out of my wits. The most challenging part of the entire experience was when I had to coach Russian children who only knew how to speak in the Slavic language. However, I managed and got my certificate of Level 1. Now I can train adults and kids. I had to appear for Level 2 this year, but due to COVID-19, everything has been delayed. n nPresently, I am training toddlers, senior athletes and international players. I also do sessions with summer schools and try to spread awareness about the sport. I believe that Indians have a talent for the sport, but it all goes unnoticed as there is no one to identify and polish it.nI further look forward to changing this situation and spreading awareness to the best of my ability”. n nTeam MOWE on behalf of the citizens of India, request the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India to encourage Rhythmic Gymnastics as a sport in India and create a provision for proper training facilities. The talent for this beautiful sport should not go unrecognised. Also, anyone who is interested in training for Rhythmic Gymnastics can contact Kirandeep through mail or DM her on Instagram. (Mail: kirandeeprg@gmail.com; Instagram Handle: kirandeeppabla). n n

n Today we bring you another story from The University of Auckland, New Zealand. Also, called the land of the mystical culture of Maori Tribe. The experience is about Rohan Khanna, alumni of IP University who decided to try his luck in New Zealand. Let’s read what he has to offer you all from his experience. n nn “After my graduation in 2019, I knew I wanted to move abroad for my further education but did not know where. I applied at various universities in the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand but later on decided to stick to New Zealand only. In New Zealand, I applied at the University of Auckland, Auckland University of Technology, Waikato University and Victoria University. I was interested in LLM in Corporate and Commercial Law, which is a Level 9 course in NZ and provided me with the advantage of 3 years of stay post completion of LLM. It was the primary factor why I decided to go to NZ and also, the fact that immigration policy is comparatively more straightforward. n n I got offers from various universities but chose the University of Auckland as it is one of the most prominent universities with law school right across the main campus and highly reputed. Also, it accommodates students from various ethnicities which made it an International university in real sense. The duration of the course is approximately ten months for international students and is highly intensive research. The best part was that it did not require work experience as entry criteria and offered flexibility to choose the research topics (at least 4) of their interest. I chose commercial law as my field of research due to my previous experience in Intellectual Property Law. Also, since the degree is research-oriented, my grades depend upon projects, research material, dissertation and submissions. In future, I wish to register myself with the Bar Council of New Zealand as a solicitor. For the same, one needs to get their degree approved by the bar council and then appear for the necessary exams. Although, I plan to apply for the exam after attaining the work experience as an Advisor. The basic salary offered to an NZ Advisor is 50-55000 NZ dollars per annum at the beginners level. n n The process for the visa is straightforward. I had to pay my entire tuition fee in one go at university. The only issue I faced was the waiting period. I applied somewhere in December, and my visa arrived in February. So the waiting period was around two months and quite tedious. I highly advise people to apply for an NZ visa for at least two months in advance. It usually does not take this much time, but you never know. New Zealand is a very welcoming country. The flight to NZ takes around 18 to 19 hours, which was very difficult for me to bear. The first phrase I learned upon reaching here was ‘KIA ORA’, meaning ‘Hello’ in the Maori language. One can experience a bit of cultural shock, but that does not last long, especially in a country like NZ, where the presence of Indian culture is in abundance, and people too are friendly. There are plenty of Indian restaurants in NZ and especially in Auckland. To name a few Paradise Restaurant, Shubh Restaurant (in Auckland suburbs). Near the campus area too, the restaurants are cheap, and there are also many places where you can get special student discounts and affordable lunch options like a platter in 5 NZD. In Sandringham, we have a South-East Asian market where you get a mix of Asian foods and grocery shops owned by Indians. Here you can find the Indian masalas as well. n n I am currently in India as I came for vacations before the lockdown was announced. Now, there are travel restrictions between the two countries due to the Pandemic outbreak, but I will be travelling soon once the limits are removed. I am too excited to go back and see what is next in store for me there”. n nn

World Suicide Prevention Day is observed in September each year to promote worldwide action to prevent suicides. To create awareness on the same, MOWE in collaboration with Fortis Mental Health and Behavioural Sciences is organising a Webinar on ‘Mental Health of an International Student’, and would like to extend the invitation to all University students, Academicians and Parents. Over a while, our team has witnessed International students go through substantially higher levels of Mental pressure due to the new environment, different culture, language barriers along with homesickness and anxiety. The pressure passed onto them upon reaching a new country is high and even higher during the Pandemic outbreak. At such timespan, a student feels doomed, low on energy and trapped by a burden of their future. As a result, we at Team MOWE think that there is a dire need to create awareness about Mental Health and also, to be well versed with ‘Measures to cope up with Mental Health issues’. n n The event will be conducted by Nishtha Narula, Lead- Counselling Psychologist, Fortis Healthcare. Fortis Healthcare Hospitals are amongst India’s Top leading and most prestigious hospitals, especially for ‘Mental Health’. n n The details for the Webinar are as follows: n Date – 18th September 2020. n Time- 06:00 PM to 07:00 PM IST. n Topic- Mental Health of an International Student n Registration link: https://forms.gle/12p7KYypDUQqn53s5 nn Don’t miss the chance to have a one on one interaction with Dr Nishtha Narula through the Webinar. nn Make mental health a priority. n

There is a little or no idea about what happened with students during the pandemic outbreak and especially with those students, who travelled abroad for higher education just before the lockdown was announced. nn Today, we share the experience of a person who started with University precisely before the lockdown. Let us read her first-hand experience and see what surprises awaited during this new phase of her journey in the beautiful landscape of NEW ZEALAND. n n “Hi, guys. I am Sambhavi Mehtani, an LLB from Vivekananda Institute of Professional Studies, IP University. I am currently pursuing LLM in International Law from the University of Auckland. I was previously working as a Legal Researcher at the High Court of Delhi’. n n When I decided to continue my education journey abroad, New Zealand was my top priority because of the quality of education offered. Also, I opted for LLM in International Law as I did not wish to restrict myself to one nation. The application process was pretty simple and catered mainly to the academic background. Post application, it approximately took a month to get an offer from the University. Trust me it was a nerve-wracking experience considering that I had only applied at the University of Auckland. I got my conditional visa shortly and post-completion of other formalities, the final visa was also provided by New Zealand authorities in a short period. My advice to those planning to study in New Zealand, make your Visa SOP up to the mark. Every little detail matters but those details should be well constructed in the SOP. The New Zealand Immigration Department is super diligent, so be sure to mention all the right details! n n As soon as I landed in February 2020, the lockdown process was initiated. My entire first semester was Online. I did not stand a chance to interact with other classmates or take that in international class experience. In fact, after a while, it all got mechanical. Things become a little worrisome, especially when you have a baggage of expectations. When I was travelling, I was utterly excited about the University, Country, meeting new people and visiting new places. However, the COVID-19 pandemic derailed my train of expectations from its track. n The curriculum is pretty different yet dynamic. The professors do pay extra attention to International students, and my personal experience with them all till date has been excellent. The professors used to call all international students up to check if we all are doing fine during the lockdown. As far as the course is concerned, LLM is essentially a research-based course and requires frequent library hours. Though the entire database of the library was made accessible online, studying online is very challenging for someone who has studied from books their entire life. It requires much practice to get used to the new mode of study, but it is not impossible. Also, to my luck, I was staying with my extended family, and that kept me sane. I could not even imagine living all alone in such scary times miles away from home. I sometimes get sad, wondering whether I would be able to meet my parents soon or not. nn Thankfully, the New Zealand government is prompt and diligent. Things are sort of back on track. I have started with one on one classes with social distancing measures in place. During the winter months, the temperature is freezing here and fluctuates somewhere between 7 to 4 degrees. It gets quite windy at times, so I would request others to pack clothes accordingly or buy them from here. nn Presently, I have started with my applications for part-time jobs as I wish to explore the country and learn more about the culture here. The country has great potential to offer and is extremely beautiful. After considering these factors, including investment, it is quite affordable to live here in comparison to many developed countries”. nn Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, Mental Health of an International student is highly disrupted. To create awareness on the same, MOWE in collaboration with Fortis Mental Healthcare is organising a Webinar on ‘Mental Health of an International Student’, and would like to extend the invitation to all University students, Academicians and Parents. nn The details for the Webinar are as follows: n Date – 18th September 2020. n Time- 06:00 PM to 07:00 PM IST. n Topic- Mental Health of an International Student. nn Join us and see how the student’s like Sambhavi bravely dealt with the pandemic outbreak. nn

A student application gets accepted or rejected based on his’ Statement of Purpose’ (SOP). Often called the ‘Main key’ to land into a dream university, a good SOP makes a massive difference in your application. Often it is not about the content but the organisation of content. Everyone has their unique writing style, but when in doubt, these guidelines will work as a saviour. nn This essay consists of a gist of who you are, who you want to become, and how ready you are to pursue a particular course in an institution. It seeks to understand a candidate’s life, the motivation behind his chosen career path, their goals and aspirations. So basically, an SOP should be an amalgamation of the past incidents and present details that influenced one to choose a particular career path and define the growth till date. Below mentioned are six things that one should take a note about while writing a good SOP: nn Introduction n Always start with a personal introduction and try to paint the story of your life. It should be crisp and straight forward. It makes the SOP unique and keeps a reader interested. It should not necessarily include struggles from the past, but again if one believes that the struggle shaped his life or made him select this career, then it can be worth mentioning. n Try to keep the truth in front with proper justification. For example, if there has been a history of bad grades or health, explain the reason or causes of it. nn Accumulate points n It is always healthy to make a list of things one wishes to include in their essay. Try to keep a separate list where you can add points as and when you remember them. Also, before writing the essay, try to plan how you will shape it. This analysis will not only help you formalise paragraphs but will also give the SOP a meaning. n n Grammar n Ensure that statements are crisp and made of short sentences. Please note that an SOP should be grammatically error-free. Read it at least five times before submitting. Use software like Grammarly to ensure the sentences are grammatically correct and meaningful. You may also seek help from relatives, professors or friends for feedback about your essay. Remember, proofread, edit and re-edit are keys to a good essay. nn Length of the Essay n A standard SOP is 700 to 800 words long. One must adhere to the word limit before submitting it at a University. Briefly said, an SOP should be summed up in four to five paragraphs. nn Purpose of the essay n It is easier to get lost when writing an SOP, but one should not forget that they are writing it to avail admission at a particular University. Do your research about the course and University thoroughly. Read and reread the webpage as thoroughly as possible and also, try to align the course outcomes with your career goal to create a linear progression. It may also include the skills you will enhance the post-completion of the course. nn Honesty is the Best Policy n This phrase is very well applicable when writing an SOP as it will not only define the admission aspect for a University but also Visa approval. Most of the students do not have a lot of extra-curricular activities, part-time job/Internship experiences or social work to mention in their SOP. In such a case, one should always stick to writing about the reason they choose the subject and what inclined them towards applying for that University. They may also mention how the university curriculum is inclined towards their goals. nn Closing paragraph n Often students forget to write an ending to their essays, which is a common mistake. It makes the ending of an SOP abrupt. An SOP should end on a holistic note by expressing one’s desires regarding the course or career goals in mind. It can also have the glimpse of the professions or subjects you wish to choose in future and include how you would like to contribute back to the society post-completion of the course. n n There is nothing as good or bad SOP, but these 06 points stated above should always be kept in mind. However, SOP can be time-consuming. So, never lose patience. Be more receptive to feedback and learn to improvise them. Remember, proofread, edit and re-edit are keys to a good essay. nn We at the Ministry of World Education also offer services to students to prepare for University admission including Application processing, prepping various other documents like SOP, LOR, Resume or finalising the best University or course for a student. We guarantee that MOWE is a one-stop destination to all your queries. Try us, and you will not be disappointed. nn

Today’s story is about a ‘Powerhouse’. She often refers to the phrase which is now edged into our memory, “Running on a treadmill and not getting anywhere is not the lifestyle one should sign up for”. She is one of the most hard-working individuals we have come across and a person who truly believes in making her destiny. ‘Kriti Dhamija’, an MBA in marketing from Amity University, Dubai. Let us see what this experience has in store for us all. n n “I applied for universities abroad, but Dubai was never my top priority, Soon, I realized I wanted a successful career and not a safe jacket. Other countries like Australia, USA, Canada, New Zealand have specific security attached to them due to visa flexibility. However, the job market in Dubai is highly challenging. I have never been satisfied with the consistency but have always aimed for growth. Hence, I made it my priority and landed up in Amity University, Dubai, with an additional scholarship offered by the University that made the education quite pocket friendly. n n Being a Delhi University student, I thought that the University would have a relaxing environment. However, they always kept us on toes from one project to another. Moreover, I wanted to make the best utilization of time to strive to think outside the box. The best part about Amity University, Dubai is they offer evening college too, which later allows you to look forward to part-time work opportunities. If one is considering Dubai, they should efficiently know how to deal with time management skills. Here, you are always running. My day practically starts at 7:00 AM rushing to work and later in the evening towards the classes till 10:00 PM. Your energy is drained by the end of the day. So one has to be quick, efficient and smart to be able to handle the education and culture in Dubai. In my opinion, it grooms you the best by giving you practical and theoretical experience at all times. Like any other country, attendance is compulsory and up to 75%. The curriculum of the University is pretty much similar to Amity University in India. However, it has that International curriculum attached to it. The course is more practical than theoretical, and apart from this, we do have various guest lectures to keep our spirits uplifted at all times. n n I was kind of disappointed after college got over. However, soon I started looking for a second job because I did not wish to waste the time that I used to dedicate to the University. I found a freelance Digital Marketing role with a company based in New York, apart from my regular job. Also, let me tell you, even for the primary job I held, I took the initiative on my own to hunt down the job in the relevant sector. I did not wait for my college to organize a career fair which they usually do. I intend to say that you create the opportunities for yourself and don’t wait for them to knock at your door. Create your destiny and utilize your time. Make proper utilization of time and Internet. My schedule includes working at least 16 to 17 hours continuously from Sunday to Thursdays (Fridays are Dubai’s Sunday). It merely gives me the thrill to strive to excel and learn new skills. This aspect is significant for me, and I cannot even sit idle for half an hour. I have to do something. The country has undoubtedly made me a workaholic person. People often complain that I overdose myself with work, but I enjoy it. Currently, I am employed at ‘StreamPort Media’ as an ‘Assistant Marketing Manager’ in Dubai. n n Dubai has many jobs to offer for different fields, but from the past few years, there has been an influx of skilled immigrants, which has increased the competition. However, it is highly advisable not to fluctuate between jobs. If you do have the talent, you do not have to worry about employment in Dubai. The best part of living here is that it’s safe, and there are no conditions attached to it. The rents are pretty high in Dubai, which makes it an expensive place to live. According to the Business Insider, Dubai is the 18th Ranked most expensive city around the world to rent a two-bedroom apartment. If you select to live in a posh area, you might exhaust your 60% to 70% of salary on accommodation. So, if you find a good neighbourhood with budget-friendly accommodation, grab it. On an average estimate, you need about AED 3,000 to live a good life in UAE. Food and daily use items are cheap and readily available here. You can visit Carrefour, Al Adil, Choithrams and Lulu to purchase the same. n nn If I talk about ethnicity, Dubai does not belong to anyone. It may be known as the city of sheikhs, but you will witness different ethnicity and background living in Dubai. Dubai gives you international exposure on a large scale. Unfortunately, the government does not offer citizenship even after you have lived here for 4 to 5 decades. Once you are out of a job, you will have to leave the country but try and absorb as much as you can. The place has a lot to offer if you want to learn how to live, earn and enjoy. Also, who says money can’t buy happiness? Habibi, come to Dubai”. n