“It felt like do or die.”
Isha put family over studies,
until his dad said one thing that changed his future.
In 2021, when Isha should have been at uni, a second set of crushing lockdowns shuttered Sydney. His family was hit hard. When his dad’s business went under, they found themselves homeless. They squeezed five people into his uncle’s two-bedroom unit and Isha went to work.
“I decided, you know what, I’ll bite the bullet, I’ll go to work, work my butt off and make sure we have a roof over our heads. It was my decision to make because my sister was studying at the time. I didn’t want her to make the sacrifice.”
Painting some galvanised posts - an average day in the workshopFor years, he worked labouring jobs wherever he could to bring money in for the family. When his dad’s metal fabrication business eventually came back, they started working side-by-side. While he was proud of contributing and supporting his brother and sister, it wasn’t the path he would have chosen. His dad also wanted more for him.
“It broke Dad’s heart a little bit. He turned to me and said ‘you’ve got a good head on your shoulders. Use it. Your brain is stronger than your body. You have talent. You have smarts. Do something with that.’”
The start of my UTS College journey
Planning my first trimester
So Isha decided to work with his brain and not just his hands. He set his sights high, researching what it would take to become a CEO. He found the right degree but needed credits to get in, credits that he didn’t have. That’s when he found UTS College, and the Diploma of Business was his start.
My first Exhibition match for boxing“Starting at UTS College was a bit nerve-wracking. I feel like I was behind everyone else, but I made it a challenge for myself to, you know, stick to it and get right into things.”
Now he’s working towards a double degree. He’s also excited to bring his other passion to UTS in the form of a boxing club, not just for the College but the whole university. He says it’s more than an opportunity to learn some entrepreneurial skills – it’s a way to give back to the College, the students, and the teachers.
Isha's Takeaways
Isha’s life took a different route from the usual student, but UTS College opened a door that once felt out of reach.
“I’ve met like-minded people. I’ve met amazing teachers and lecturers. They’ve guided me and given me great ideas for starting a business.”
From commitment to family to commitment to his future, Isha’s year at UTS College was the start of his next big chapter. It was the year his grit and determination paid off. The year that made him lock in. As for where he’ll go next, the sky’s the limit.