This Harvard graduate prefers India over the US: Why staying felt more meaningful than leaving
Many students and young professionals often wonder where they should study, live, or start their careers—India or abroad. The United States is often seen as offering more money, better facilities, and more freedom. But Charmie Kapoor, a Harvard graduate, recently explained in a viral X post why she chooses to live in India. Her story goes beyond money or comfort. She talks about gratitude, community, making a difference, and learning to handle challenges—lessons that students and young professionals can relate to.
Gratitude shapes perspective
Kapoor begins with gratitude. She says living in India makes it easier to notice what you have and what others do not. “When you step out of your house, you see people living with far less—auto drivers waiting in the heat, security guards standing all day, sweepers coming every morning,” she writes. Seeing this regularly changes the way you view life. You stop focusing on small frustrations. You notice the effort people put in every day.
For students, this perspective matters. It helps you stay grounded and understand the value of opportunities. You learn to focus on what is important. Young professionals can benefit in similar ways. Gratitude helps handle work pressure and improves interactions with colleagues and mentors. It also shapes decision-making in ways that go beyond short-term gains.
Community makes challenges easier
Another reason Kapoor prefers India is the strong sense of community. Neighbors, friends, and even strangers often help without expecting anything in return. “You start feeling like you are part of a web of people rather than moving alone from one system to another,” she writes.Life in the United States is different. Support exists, but it is structured. Independence is expected. Systems work reliably, but you handle problems mostly on your own. In India, students find guidance and support in informal ways. Young professionals benefit from mentorship and advice from people around them. The network becomes part of the learning process.
Visible impact of work
Kapoor highlights the satisfaction of seeing the results of her work. She contributed to updating government school curricula with input from Harvard professors. Hundreds of students now benefit from those changes.This is instructive. Working in environments with gaps allows effort to produce visible results. Students and professionals can see the direct effect of their work. In established systems, improvements may feel incremental. In India, contributions can shape outcomes in a tangible way.
Learning to handle challenges
Growing up in India teaches you to work within imperfect systems. Things do not always go as planned. Effort does not always guarantee success. “You learn to find another way instead of waiting for things to fix themselves,” Kapoor explains.For students, this develops problem-solving skills. Young professionals learn resilience, adaptability, and creativity. These skills are useful in any career, whether in India or abroad. Learning to navigate setbacks early makes it easier to handle uncertainty later.
Balancing frustration and positives
Kapoor acknowledges frustrations in India. Systems are slow. Infrastructure can fail. Daily life includes delays and inconveniences. She says, however, that the positives outweigh the difficulties for her. Gratitude, community, contribution, and learning to handle challenges keep her grounded.Her story offers lessons for students and young professionals. Career decisions are not only about money or convenience. They are also about learning, growth, and impact. Choosing a place where work matters, networks support you, and challenges teach skills can be as important as studying or working abroad.Kapoor is not trying to say India is better than the United States or the other way around. She is talking about what helps a person grow. Sometimes, the best place to learn and build a career is where you can see the results of your work, have people around to support you, and face challenges that teach you how to adapt. Students and young professionals can learn a lot from this.
