“While many of my friends were enjoying their Sundays and holidays, we were going to Abhyudaya — and honestly, that was our jackpot. I believe that the creativity and confidence I have today have their roots in those years.”
But perhaps the most beautiful gift Abhyudaya gave Aafiya was her mentors and the people who stood by her. They inspired her through the way they lived, studied and worked. Some became role models she looked up to and thought, “I want to become like them someday.”
Then came the COVID-19 lockdown.
Aafiya was in her first year of college. Mentor sessions moved online through video calls, and those conversations became a source of comfort, motivation and guidance during an uncertain time. The lockdown also unexpectedly marked the beginning of Aafiya’s entrepreneurial journey. What started with boredom, curiosity and experiments with sewing scrunchies and creating resin art gradually grew into a business and, eventually, a source of income that helped her pay her college fees. Since then, Aafiya has continued to fund her own education, developing a deep sense of independence, responsibility and confidence.
“There is something about a call from Ajay Dada that instantly makes me happy, because somehow, whenever he calls, it is always for a very good reason or feels like a blessing. He was the one who called me about Sashakt, and that opportunity came at a time when I truly needed it. He has stood by me whenever I needed support and has been there for me in ways that sometimes even family couldn’t be. His encouragement and belief in me mean more than I can put into words.”
Aafiya shared a particularly special bond with her mentors, Ipsita didi and Rashmi didi. They became like family. When Ipsita graduated from SPJIMR, she invited Aafiya and her mother to her convocation. Aafiya was in Class 8 at the time, and the experience left a lasting impression.
“For a young girl like me, it was more than just attending a convocation. It showed me what was possible. I was seeing someone I admired achieve something incredible, and suddenly, that world didn’t feel so far away.”
Years later, Aafiya returned to SPJIMR as a temporary Admissions Counsellor for the PGPDM and later became part of Sashakt, the fully funded entrepreneurship programme.
“Walking through those gates again as an adult brought back a feeling I can hardly put into words — adrenaline, calmness, motivation and purpose, all at once.”
Today, Aafiya has completed her M.Com in Advanced Accountancy and Finance and works as an HR professional at a fintech company. She manages the employee lifecycle, employee engagement and event planning, along with end-to-end technology recruitment for India and Dubai.
Aafiya aspires to pursue certifications such as SHRM-CP while developing her expertise in HR Analytics, business and strategic HR.
