Arju Bagale, 25, is an ACCA-qualified professional and the youngest Academic Director of an ACCA-approved learning partner in Nepal and serves as the Director of Seekshya Academy. Additionally, she is a part-time content creator on Instagram. During the 59th session of The Storyyellers, Arju shared the unexpected turns in her career and how her life changed along the way.
Born as the youngest among four sisters, Arju often found amusement when people would ask, "So, it's all daughters? No brothers?" As a child, she found it funny because she was well aware of the privileges she enjoyed as the youngest. However, as she grew older, she began to realize that society wasn’t just acknowledging the fact that they were all daughters—it was implying something else entirely.
One winter afternoon when Arju was in 9th grade, she went out to buy snacks. Her aunt had recently given birth, and as soon as Arju arrived, the people there asked, "What did your aunt have?" Excitedly, she replied, "A baby boy!" However, instead of simple congratulations, she was met with remarks that weighed on her heart. "Some families keep having sons, while others don’t get one no matter how much they wish for it."
As if that wasn’t enough, another person added, "Exactly! If only she had a son earlier, the family line would have been secured." Hearing this, Arju felt heaviness in her heart. She started wondering—was it really true that daughters couldn't achieve anything? That moment sparked something inside her. She had always wanted to become someone, to do something meaningful, but now she felt the need to prove it—not just for herself, but to challenge these beliefs of society.
Her elder sister was a nurse, and growing up, Arju had seen the respect that came with wearing a white coat. To her, being a doctor was the most honorable profession. Determined, she set her heart on becoming one. The moment she joined high school, she started preparing for MBBS entrance exams. She absolutely loved those classes. On lab days, before packing her apron into her bag, she would stand in front of the mirror, put it on, and picture herself as Dr. Arju Bagale. Everyone around her believed she was destined to become a doctor.
So how did someone so determined to enter the medical field end up in ACCA instead? Watch the full video to find out!