A 22-year-old woman has gone viral on Instagram explaining her decision ₹When she was just 20 years old, she had taken an education loan of Rs 40 lakh for her master’s degree abroad. He argues that returns on investment should not be measured only in monetary terms. The post has sparked widespread debate on education costs and financial risk.
‘The network is the real return on my investment’
The video was shared by the Instagram page @ekta.explains, where the woman Ekta introduces herself and talks about studying at INSEAD, one of the world’s leading business schools. She says she funded her education ₹40 lakh loan, a decision that many people question when discussing the ROI.
“Everyone asks me about ROI and that’s what I tell them,” she says in the clip. “Money is important, but if you graduate from a good university, it has to pay off because of the opportunities you get.”
Ekta further adds that her calculations of ROI include more than just salary possibilities. She highlights her global exposure and contacts as key advantages. “I now have friends in 33 different countries and access to an alumni network of over 20,000 people working at top companies around the world,” she says.
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She also emphasizes personal development and experiences gained at an early age. “I’ve had experiences at 22 that most people don’t even have at 40. And most importantly, I’ve made friends for life. It’s a return on my investment,” she adds, concluding with the idea that “your network is really your net worth.”
The video quickly gained popularity, drawing mixed reactions from social media users. One user agreed with his viewpoint, commenting, “Couldn’t agree more, network = net worth.” Another pointed to practical concerns, saying, “People from 33 different countries will not pay EMIs, and how much do you earn now?”
However, not all responses were supportive. Questioning her academic timeline, a user wrote, “You said you did your Masters from INSEAD, but which course exactly? For MBA, you need 5-7 years of work experience – how did you join at the age of 20?”
The clip has since continued to fuel online discussion about the rising cost of global education and whether networking benefits can really justify large student loans.
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(Disclaimer: This report is based on user-generated content from social media. HT.com has not independently verified the claims and does not endorse them.)