How I went ‘from zero to hero’: the journey from undergraduate to graduate
Sagar Kumar (BSc Management 2020) had a less than stellar start to his University career. But with a little help from the University and his friends he completed his degree and is now (amongst many other things) a life coach who is helping other people through their own journeys of self-discovery. Here he describes how that happened.
From zero …
I chose to study Physics at St Andrews because of the reputation of the Department and when I packed my bags and arrived here as Fresher, I naively expected everything just to fall into place.It didn’t.
Unfortunately for me I got extremely homesick, didn’t make many friends and I didn’t enjoy my course at all. Surely, I thought, life had more to offer than this?
… to hero
Fortunately, it did.
Fast forward to Graduation and the picture has changed completely: I co-founded VS Charity Fashion Show in St Andrews, I invest in UK Property including two upcoming Hotels with some of the Companies I started and I love every aspect of my action-packed life spent with the most incredible people!
So what created such a dramatic change?
I learned the following four key lessons during this journey that made it all happen.
1 Learn to pivot
Despite my very best efforts Physics was just not working for me: I failed class, didn’t enjoy the subject and felt trapped. Thankfully, the University got on board to help – they were flexible and accommodating, moving me straight into second year Management. I learned through this experience that if your course (or anything in life) isn’t working then learn to pivot and change direction – never stay stuck.
2 Try self-improvement
This one mindset shift was the catalyst for the rest of my growth. Tony Robbins became my mentor and it changed my life. He is the world’s leading performance coach and practical psychologist and his programme and YouTube videos set me on the path of perpetual self-improvement. If in doubt, find a role model.
3 Get out there and meet people
Sadly, you don’t meet them watching Netflix! Everyone is nervous. Everyone is busy. Make this the one thing that you consistently do in any new environment – join clubs and societies and try to meet a new person every day. I recently joined Facebook groups during the pandemic and found many like-minded people as a result. When all’s said and done, every study shows that at the end of their lives the happiest people had the best relationships, so if you’re not sure if you should approach that one person, remember where it could lead!
4 Look after your wellbeing and pursue your passions
I’ve lost £8,000 in a day’s trading, lost family, had my debut Fashion Show almost cancelled at the last minute amongst all the other kinds of things that life throws at us – so I’ve learned that nothing is more important than your wellbeing. Meditation and exercise are vital to maintain this.
Also – nobody actually cares if you make mistakes. Most things look bigger up close than they really are. Most of what we worry about does not happen. If you have role models, always remember that they are ordinary people doing extraordinary things.
If there is something that you really love, life is too short not to do it and share it. This stage of our lives is about just that – trying things to see where our passions lie and following those.
The next stage of the journey …
I am now a life coach, helping people achieve their own goals and journeys: www.sagarkumar.co.uk.
It’s thanks to the environment of the University, my wonderful friends and my mentors that I’m now in this amazing place in my life. Whatever journey you are on, remember that it takes time – I never would have believed where I’d end up. Keep on ascending – the view at the top is breath-taking.