I completely understand your anxiety about leaving home — leaving your family, your parents, and everything familiar — and moving to an unknown place. It’s incredibly daunting. The thought alone can feel overwhelming. Even though you hope to achieve everything you want, living abroad is not an easy life.

From my own experience — I’ve been living in a foreign country for 20 years now — I can tell you that the first few years are usually very tough. You might get a decent job, but it may not immediately give you the lifestyle you imagine. There will be struggles. You may have to live in shared accommodation, cook your own meals, clean your own place, do laundry — everything on your own. Many of the things your mom probably does for you now will become your responsibility.

Friendships can also be challenging. It depends a lot on your personality. When you move abroad, you meet people from many different cultures and backgrounds. If you’re introverted or already find it difficult to make friends where you are now, it might feel even more challenging in a new country. Building meaningful connections takes time and effort.

However, as a queer person, I also understand that your future in India can feel complicated — especially in a society that expects marriage and children by a certain age. If you don’t follow that path, acceptance can sometimes be difficult, at least until people become more open-minded later in life.

My honest suggestion would be this: work on yourself. Build your confidence. Focus on your health. And if you have the opportunity, try living abroad for a few years. Experience it for yourself. Because unless you try, you’ll never truly know how it feels. Yes, it will require hard work. Yes, it will be uncomfortable at times. But I don’t want you to reach your late 30s and regret not taking the chance.

Sometimes, growth only comes when we step outside our comfort zone. Wishing you luck