Taking It One Day at a Time

After NYU Abu Dhabi Anushka Malla Upadhyay, Class of 2022, went home to Kathmandu to take a much-needed break and figure out next steps. From the start she had one main goal in mind: to focus on her mental health.

Anushka Malla Upadhyay took a few months to recharge and then started applying for temporary jobs as soon as she felt mentally ready. For her, part of staying healthy is having a routine to look forward to.

She asked herself, “What can I do while taking a break and needing time to relax and figure out life?” The answer was taking a temporary six-month role as an education consultant working with students in Nepal who want to study abroad. It was the perfect way to build a regular schedule and get some work experience. And it led to her current full-time position.

Major: Social Research and Public Policy; Theater
Home Country: Nepal
Current: Community and operations associate, Crimson Education

“I'm working in a field that I never really thought I'd work in,” she says of her current full-time position with a global organization that helps students with their college admissions. It’s “exciting” she says because she gets to mentor young people from around the world while spending weekends volunteering in her local community.

Success is having good relationships, knowing how to maintain mental and physical health. It’s knowing how to do your taxes!

Anushka Malla Upadhyay, Class of 2022

Upadhyay hopes her story will help others see the value in trying out jobs that provide a steady paycheck and practical experience, even if it’s not their passion. For her, feeling successful doesn’t mean having a fancy job title or six-figure income, instead success, in her definition, is more nuanced.

“Success is having good relationships, knowing how to maintain mental and physical health. It’s knowing how to do your taxes!” she laughs. “I’m just taking things one day at a time.”