Taking part in the FHGR-Mentorship Program has been one of the most important experiences in my studies and career. I’m the first person in my family to go to college. I grew up in a modest, lower-middle-class family in a tier-two city in India. I often faced financial challenges, and I had little guidance when I was young.
Since a very young age I dreamt of studying abroad. My mother worried it would cost too much and discouraged me. My teachers told me to give up on my dreams. They said if I failed, it would hurt more than trying. They said I should try, but only for my kids’ future. But I believed education was my chance to change my future. I ignored the doubts, took the risk, and left my comfort zone. It was very hard at first.
I believe studying abroad needs mostly a clear, focused, devoted mindset and then action (90% mindset and 10% action). Along the way I faced many distractions and obstacles, but I never gave up. Earlier I followed religion very strictly, but over time, as I read more research articles and books, I moved away from religious teachings about God and blessings. Now I am a “Lapsed Muslim”. I now believe human life is better explained by science than religion. I feel more powerful when I rely on preparation, not faith. To me, there is no failure, only winning or learning. And I believe learning is a continuous process.
About the mentorship program
What made my mentorship program special was Mr. Christian Schoch’s kindness and respect. Even though he holds a senior position, but he always came down to my level and interacted with me, discussed real world topics and made communication so easy, which is rare. He shared his work stories with openness and humility. His advice about tourism helped me tackle both academic and personal challenges with more confidence.
One wonderful part of the mentorship program was visiting the Switzerland Tourism head office and going on FAM-trip (familiarization trip) in Zurich. The Switzerland Tourism office is in the old “Stadthalle” — it used to be the municipal hall for concerts and gatherings. I saw how heritage and art can be part of tourism. Different floors handled different things: passes, lakes, rivers, mountains. And just as test-driving a car helps you decide whether to buy it, the FAM-trips let travel agents see the destination firsthand so they can later recommend it better. I attended the presentation, went to Uetliberg (also called Uto Kulm) with Indian travel agents, joined workshops, and even got small gifts for correct answers.
These experiences showed me how complex tourism really is, and how important it is to make decisions based on theory to reduce mistakes. They helped me connect what I learn in class with what happens in real life.
This mentorship program made me more professional, more self-confident, and clearer about what I want in my future. I am deeply grateful to Mr. Schoch for his guidance and to Ms. Riccarda Ryffel for her constant support in making this experience possible. She is the real architect behind this success.
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Sk Mukhtar Rahaman
Masters’s Student Tourism and Change
University of Applied Sciences of the Grisons