Athlete and Aspiring Manager : Himanshu Papola
Himanshu Papola is a young and ambitious student currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree in hospitality in the town of Haldwani, known as the 'Gateway to Kumaon,' where he presently resides. Originally from the village of Papoli in Bageshwar, Uttarakhand, India, he completed his intermediate education in 2025 at Himalayan Inter College (HIC), Chaukori.
He received Himalayan Education Foundation’s scholarship while pursuing his studies at HIC. His father is a driver, and his mother, a homemaker. He has one sister, who is currently a student in their local village school. Himanshu was a member of National Cadet Corps (NCC) and received a ‘B’ level certificate.
While currently focused on hospitality, Himanshu's academic interests lean toward business, accountancy, and economics, with a specific fascination for finance management. He attributes his enjoyment of his schooling in the hill country—which he describes as offering a calm environment, fresh air, and a close connection with nature—to fostering a peaceful and less stressful life for students. He appreciates city life in Haldwani for its access to amenities, cultural diversity, and career opportunities.
When discussing the challenges faced by hill communities, he points out the lack of resources and facilities. He believes the most pressing needs in his native village are good health care facilities and education. For his part, he intends to contribute by making people aware of their responsibility towards society and Mother Earth.
Himanshu wants to build a career that is both creative and meaningful. His ideal career paths are diverse, ranging from the Army and media to working abroad. To support his future goals, he is keen to acquire additional skills, specifically public speaking and management.
His hobbies include playing volleyball and, notably, exploring new places and traveling, which he enjoys the most. Himanshu's love for travel has taken him to numerous places, including Munsyari, Pindari Glacier, Chandrashila, and Harsil Valley, all in Uttarakhand state.
In his free time, Himanshu also enjoys listening to music, watching web series, and spending time with family and friends. He cites the TV show Game of Thrones as his favorite movie, and Beyond Psychology by Osho as his favorite book. He is a fan of the band The Smiths.
Himanshu has a competitive spirit as indicated by these remarkable achievements in sports during his school years:
He attained National Level recognition in Ju-Jitsu Martial Arts competition
He also reached State Level multiple times in Volleyball..
His fondest memory of HIC is simply spending time and having fun with his close friends. His advice to current HIC students is to enjoy their school days, decide on their goals and work hard, and to do everything they want, so they don't carry the "burden of regrets."
HEF wishes a great future and successful career to Himanshu Papola.
Himanshu can be contacted at papolahimanshu03@gmail.com