Hello World!

My name is Pia and it is my goal, through this blog to change your lives, even if it is just a little bit.

With that aim in mind, let me tell you a little more about myself. I spent seventeen years of my life in Bombay, India with my parents and younger brother. I owe everything to the manner in which they raised me. They never let me feel unfulfilled and worked hard to give me the best education possible. By education I don’t just mean schools and books, they educated me through travel, music, art and late night conversations over chai and biscuits. Unorthodox would be the word I would use to describe the seventeen glorious years I spent with them. My upbringing set me apart from the thousands of Indian students making their way over the America to pursue an education.

So there I was at seventeen, ready to start a new chapter in my life, miles away from home at Fairleigh Dickinson University, New Jersey. Over the four years that followed; I hosted my own radio show, made three student films, worked campus orientation, served the community as a tutor, resident assistant and student government member. I also completed a undergraduate thesis and graduated magna cum laude. The best part though, was the people I met, lived with and grew to call my friends. I met people from over thirty different countries. First, we learned each others hometown curse words (as is customary). Then we exchanged cultural food and music. My undergraduate years saw me grow as an young adult and made me extremely hopeful about the future.

The hope and excitement was short-lived. Graduate school and my pursuit of an MBA brought along with it an unhealthy obsession for coffee and wikipedia. I was torn because I wanted to hold on to my remaining months as a student but I was longing for the future, longing to finally start my life. Failed relationships, difficult roommates, fake friends, and trying financial situations all seemed to find their way into my life simultaneously. So here is my greatest lesson from the twenty-five years I’ve lived: “Our greatest transformations come from moments of sorrow, loss and pain.”

After years of pleasing people around me I decided to change focus and concentrate on me. I stood up for myself and asked for what I wanted. I’m not easily satisfied and the truth is I don’t ever want to be completely satisfied. As I wrap up my MBA and embark on the future I have learned another valuable lesson: “The future isn’t a particular destination, a home or a large paycheck. The future is a journey.” And for someone like me, it will always be. For my part, I will always attempt to be the best traveler I can be. Everywhere I go, I will leave back a part of me and carry part of that place with me as I travel towards tomorrow.

Thank you for taking the time to read about me. I certainly hope that our paths meet. In this blog you will find my thoughts about love, travel and dreams. I will feature some of my photography and share stories about my friends and family.

Please feel free to leave a comment or email me at pia.shetty@gmail.com