According to UNESCO, in 2022, nearly 6.9 million students were enrolled in higher education institutions outside of their home country. A number expected to rise to nine million by 2030, according to the same report.
Behind each of these students is a network of parents, siblings, friends, and communities who share the emotional, financial, and logistical load of that journey.
Good on You, Mate! is my way of acknowledging the role of the wider Whānau (family) and telling a story that while being uniquely mine, touches a chord with anyone who’s taken a similar journey. Not from the polished perspective of a university brochure or a salesy agent’s website, but from the raw, lived reality of being one of those students.
A decision that’s no longer just about education
Studying abroad used to be a straightforward aspiration: get a quality education overseas, explore the world, and unlock new opportunities. But in 2025, it’s far more complex.
Students today are navigating a labyrinth of:
- University rankings, career prospects, and visa policies that vary from country to country,
- Relentless marketing emails and influencer content from institutions,
- AI-generated counselling advice and chatbot “support” that often lacks empathy or nuance,
- And pressures from well-meaning family members who want the “best” without always understanding the journey.
Add to this the commission-based ecosystem of education agents and a flood of “must-apply-now” urgency in university campaigns, and it’s no wonder students are more confused and overwhelmed than ever before.
The overload is real
We are living in a time of information abundance but clarity scarcity.
Algorithms are now deciding which university ads show up on your screen. Generative AI is writing the same scholarship pitch in twenty different tones. Counselors are under pressure to hit numbers. Universities are investing millions into digital funnels, often designed to convert rather than care.
And all this comes at the same time when students are trying to decide not just where they’ll study, but who they’ll become.
Refocusing on what really matters
This book brings the focus back to the student. The person behind the application ID. The one leaving behind a familiar world, unsure of what’s next. The one wondering:
- “Did I choose the right country?”
- “Will I find a part-time job?”
- “How do I even cook?”
- “What does ‘bring a plate’ actually mean?”
(Spoiler: It doesn’t mean bring an empty one.)
This book is not about selling a dream. It’s not a manual written by a policy expert or a marketing executive. It’s a first-hand, lived experience of what it’s like to uproot your life, come to a new country (in my case, New Zealand), and grow through the good, the hard, and the unforgettable.
Who should read this?
- If you’re a student thinking about studying abroad and are tired of generic advice—this is for you.
- If you’re a parent, trying to understand what your child is really going through—this will help you see beyond the glossy brochure.
- If you’re an educator, policymaker, or counsellor, this will offer insights you might never get from focus groups or analytics dashboards.
The bigger picture
International education is now a multi-billion-dollar global industry. And yet, the stories of students—the ones carrying the dreams, facing the fears, and making it all work are often missing.
Good on You, Mate! is an attempt to change that. To amplify the human side of studying abroad. To remind us that beyond the metrics, we’re dealing with real people making one of the biggest decisions of their lives.
If you’re ready to walk alongside me on this journey—from Mumbai to Christchurch, from doubt to discovery then stay tuned.
Because studying abroad isn’t just about classrooms.
It’s about life.