Rakshit Upreti : Life in the hills, career in hospitality and everything in between
Rakshit Upreti graduated from Himalayan Inter college (HIC) in 2025 and joined a diploma course in Hospitality management at Amrapali university, Haldwani. Presently he is undergoing training at ITC, Maratha, a luxury collection hotel, Mumbai. Rakshit received a scholarship from Himalayan Education Foundation (HEF) while he was at HIC. Let’s hear his story in his own words.
——-
Hi, I am Rakshit, a hospitality management student currently living in Mumbai. It’s a long way from my quiet little native place in the hills- Nayal in Bageshwar district to the maximum city. My dad works as a vocational education teacher at Himalaya Inter College (HIC) in Chaukori, while my mom keeps our home running for me and my younger brother, who’s currently in 7th grade.
I’ve always been fascinated by culinary arts and cooking as such, which led me to enroll in the diploma course. My dream is to get a full degree in hotel management and really build a long-term career in the industry. Right now, life has taken a big turn—I’m living in Andheri, Mumbai, working as a management trainee at a 5-star hotel. Moving from a quiet hill station to a chaotic city like Mumbai was a huge shift, but living here is teaching me how to adapt quickly and see how the real world operates.
Having studied at HIC, I can say honestly, those days in the hills were the absolute best. Back then, life had a nice, easy rhythm to it. My favorite memories aren't about stressing over exams, but the simple stuff—hanging out with the guys, having ridiculous conversations, laughing until our stomachs hurt, and playing basketball on the court. Joining the National Cadet Corps (NCC) back then also taught me a lot about discipline and what it really means to work as a team.
Living in the hills gives you a real appreciation for nature, but it also opens your eyes to how tough things can be for local communities. We face real challenges with infrastructure, jobs, and basic resources. Whenever I think about my native village, I know we desperately need better roads and proper hospital facilities. Down the line, I really want to help uplift my area by pushing for better healthcare, improving local infrastructure, and helping people learn about government schemes and educational opportunities.
Whenever I get some downtime, you’ll usually find me playing volleyball, thinking about what’s next, or just trying to stay present. Music is an inseparable part of my life—I take my AirPods everywhere I go. People are usually surprised by my playlist because I love 60s classics by Kishore Kumar and semi-classical ghazals by Ghulam Ali. I also love traveling; an educational trip to Punjab back in 11th grade completely blew me away with its incredible food, rich culture, and unbelievable hospitality. On top of that, reading Atomic Habits by James Clear really changed my perspective on how small everyday actions stack up over time.
If I could leave the current students at HIC with one piece of advice, it’s this: enjoy every single second of your school days. Years from now, nobody is going to care whether you got 70% or 80% on a test. Though it’s important, what you’ll actually remember is the fun you had with your friends, because once school ends, you rarely get everyone together in one place again. Work hard, practice communicating, learn new skills, but most importantly—cherish the time while you have it.
My contact details: Phone: 6398264846
Email: upretirakshit07@gmail.com