How a Nepali Girl Quit Vet School Because of a Mouse and Became a Biotech Scientist in the U.S.

Some journeys begin with ambition.
Others? With a mouse.

Meet Asmi Pokharel, a Nepali biotech professional whose journey from Kathmandu to the U.S. started with a dream of becoming a vet — and took a dramatic, unexpected turn.

The Original Plan: Vet School in Nepal

Right after finishing Grade 12, Asmi had her path mapped out.

“I went to Chitwan to prepare for the agriculture and veterinary entrance exams,” she shared.

She joined a crash course program, stayed in a hostel, and studied hard — scoring an impressive 80% on her exams.

Everything was going according to plan.
Until it wasn’t.

The Mouse That Changed Everything

“There was a mouse in the hostel,” she said.
“And I have a huge mouse phobia. I mean… I literally cried.”

In that moment, all her preparation — the scholarship opportunities, the entrance exams, the hostel life — took a backseat.

She called her mom, packed her bags, and left.

“I told her, ‘I can’t do this. I’m coming back to Kathmandu.’”

The Identity Crisis

Back in the capital, the uncertainty began to set in.

“My mom looked at me and said, ‘So what now? You’re not going to be a doctor. You ran from vet school because of a mouse. What are you going to do?’”

Asmi didn’t know the answer then.
But a single idea sparked everything that followed.

“Maybe… USA?”

The Full-Circle Twist

Years later, Asmi moved to the U.S. and became a biotech scientist.

And the biggest irony?

“I actually work with mice now,” she laughed.
“I literally handle lab mice as part of my research. Life is wild.”

A Story So Many Nepali Students Can Relate To

For many students in Nepal, the pressure to follow a "safe" path is huge — doctor, engineer, vet. But Asmi's story shows that life isn’t linear, and sometimes it takes an emotional breakdown (or a mouse!) to unlock a more authentic path.

She could’ve forced herself to stay in Chitwan.
She didn’t.

She chose to pivot, explore, and eventually find a career that not only challenges her — but also rewrote her original fear into her everyday reality.

Final Takeaway

Sometimes the thing that scares you most… becomes the thing that shapes your future.

Asmi didn’t fail. She rerouted.
And now, she’s thriving in a field she loves — one she never would’ve discovered if she hadn’t trusted her gut.