On October 1st, 2014, I was invited by the US Pakistan Women’s Council: Student Chapter to talk about my experiences and aspirations as a social change agent. A large number of people showed up to listen to a Pakistani Fulbrighter, which included not only females but men as well. Over tea, I tool questions regarding the economic conditions of Pakistan, gender issues and its solutions and politics.
I am very much inspired with the words of Marianne Williamson, a spiritual teacher, author and lecturer who believes that women are not inadequate in any sense. They are powerful beyond measure. They are just afraid to be fabulous, brilliant and talented, lest they out run men and then face the consequences of jealousy and insecurity.
Playing small does not help the world and there is nothing progressive about lessening yourself so that others wont feel insecure. I want women to come out of their small exterior selves and rise up to their potential, without a drop of fear in their hearts and doubt in their minds. Women, once liberated from their own apprehensions have the power to liberate others automatically. They are the biggest influencers, as they build homes and raise families.
I want to give women courage to face their fears and liberate themselves of its tight, suffocating hold on their hearts. Education is one way to do that. According to Nelson Mandela, education is the most powerful tool, which you can use to change the world. Educating women with literature and vocational skills is the best way to embolden them so that they live their lives productively and with confidence. I want to be the voice of women, who have been forced into silence for centuries on the account of their presumed inadequacy and triviality of what they have to say.
Change is slow. Its effects take into play through generations, not merely some years, but I would like to see a world where women are recognized and respected for their brilliance and not taken as a tool to decorate homes with and entertained from when pleased. I want to see a world where women are given due opportunity to learn and then utilize their skills to excel, to contribute to the society and feel an important part of the system.
Its about time that someone led our women out of the darkness they have been dwelling into for too long and showed them the potential they can reach and the ways they can make a real time difference to this world. I want to see a culture, which is thriving and benefiting from the glorious contributions by the ever-brilliant women, who sincerely put in all their efforts and abilities to bring about hope and prosperity.
Bringing my fashion and business skills to the front, I would like to introduce an integrated hybrid business model tackling social value and commercial revenue through a single unified strategy. This model would offer a bold, sustainable infusion of modern capitalism into humanitarian principles. When the traditional work of for-profits is integrated with some practices from the nonprofits, it drives a social change. I want to capitalize on this social change and give women their fair right to live a life that brings value to them and others.
It all started one fine day when, during our ride home, I meekly asked my dad if I would be allowed to travel to USA if I was able to secure the Fulbright scholarship to study in a US university. My father, being an open-minded person who believes in allowing his children equal opportunities to prosper was all open to the idea. Taking the cue, I got to work, never bringing up the topic again.
This was January 2013. I quietly registered for GRE with the little savings I had and bought some study material to prepare from. It was a tough job since I was also enrolled in a full-time MBA program. But it takes resilience and hard work, two things I possess in abundance. I gave my GRE in April 2013 and secured acceptable score to apply for Fulbright. Filling out the Fulbright application was a strenuous task, as it requires explicit information about self, objectives and mission. Having been nurtured under the supervision of some excellent mentors, and helpful Fulbright Alumni, I was able to produce an excellent application attached with impressive references. On 20th May 2013, with a heart brimmed with hope and eyes full of dreams I handed my application package to the guard outside United States Educational Foundation in Pakistan (USEFP), Islamabad office, who assured me that he will send my application inside. I got back home and returned my full attention to my MBA.
Many months passed by and I tried hard not to think about my submitted application, but all the while hoping secretly for a miracle. Finally, one fine day towards the end of August 2013, I received a call from USEFP, informing me that I am one of the 300 candidates shortlisted for an interview. Ecstatic, my heart thumped at a record-breaking speed. I was given a week to prepare for the interview and register for TOEFL. All my research material came out again and I prepared to impress the panelists with my ambitions and goals.
On 30th August 2013, I arrived back at the USEFP office; I was becoming quite familiar with. The interview finalists in my lot were escorted to a conference room where we were briefed about the proceedings. It was 12’0 and my interview was scheduled at 4’0. The wait was endless and the anticipation excruciating. Didn’t having the heart to participate in the excited chatter around me, I almost dug a canal in the conference room, pacing back and forth for hours. Staring at the bright blue wall adorned with a huge Fulbright logo in white, I reminded myself yet and yet again of what my dreams are and where I belong. Finally, my name was called. Time seemed to stop, all noises subsided. My walk upstairs was like walking in space. All thoughts in my mind stood still, and all I could hear was a faint thud of my heart somewhere far away. I automatically plastered a bright smile on my face and opened the door to the interview room. I found myself facing four men of various ethnic backgrounds, all sober, unsmiling and staring. I believe my bright smile faltered a bit, but I am not sure. Later during the interview I found out that the panelists were two Americans from The US embassy, a Pakistani professor from LUMS and I am still not sure who the fourth guy was, though he had something to do with energy. My interview went in a blur, I was nervous, the panelists abrupt and merciless. Thank you for the one friendly American, who encouraged me and spoke a few phrases of praise for my accomplishments. I came out in 15 minutes almost too sure that I have messed it up. I spent the next few days recalling what really happened at the interview, as it all came back to me gradually, like a dream. I again decided to shift my focus back to the current, forgetting all about Fulbright.
About a month passed. On October 9th, 2013, I woke up to find an email in my inbox. I managed to read two words only, Fulbright in the subject line and Congratulations in the body, and burst into tears of rushing relief. It was in those tears that I let out all my mounting tension, frustration, anticipation, fear of failure and most of all, the heavy dread in my heart of dreams unfulfilled. It was a while when I was able to read the full email. I broke the news to my family at dinner that day and was congratulated whole heartily, my dad being the most proud, my mom, sad that I would leave, but supportive nevertheless. My mentors, professors and the dean were equally happy at my accomplishment. It is indeed a nice feeling to be a start student and pride of one’s institute.
It was a new beginning, start of a yet another lengthy procedure to prepare for my travel to USA. I had to give GMAT in November 2013, as a requirement for my business studies. My admissions were sent to various universities by USEFP and IIE on my behalf. It was a long wait, known as the black hole period, when there is no news, no new emails, just a long stretch of uncertainty. After a few months, finally in March 2014, I started receiving acceptances from the universities I had applied to. It brought with it a wave of excitement once again and the keenness of where I would be placed finally. On 15th April, 2014, I received an email from my Program Officer in USEFP, informing me that my final placement decision has been taken and that I am to pursue an MA in Social Enterprise from the School of International Service in American University Washington DC. Happy with the decision, I set to explore my new university’s website and to arrange for my housing in DC.
Today, I know how dreams fulfilled smell like, sweet and victorious. The next few steps are of applying for the US visa in the coming month, attending an Orientation session by USEFP and finally flying off to US in mid-August 2014, Inshallah. After unspeakable hard work for over a year, I am ready to start a new life with a new me, looking forward to the opportunities the US land has to offer and unforgettable life experiences. I expect to emerge from it, much more refined and learned, more prepared than ever to pursue my ambitions in life.
Fulbright Time Line (Approx, Unofficial):
- Application Submission: MAY
- Interview: AUGUST
- Acceptance/Rejection: OCTOBER
- University Placement List: DECEMBER
- Acceptances: MARCH
- Final Placement Decision: APRIL
- VISA Application: MAY
- Pre-Departure Orientation: JULY
- Departure: AUGUST
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Sundas Liaqat 