Your life will be changed for the better, just by reading this incredible story. Nayab is a YES student from Pakistan studying in the United States through Academic Year in America (AYA). In the following, you’ll learn just how much the opportunity to live and study here means to Nayab, and you’ll really understand your enormous power to change the world for the better, when you decide to host an international exchange student with AYA.
“Failure is a word unknown to me.” —Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan
Belonging to a social setting, the most rural area of Pakistan, throughout my childhood, my family lived in a hand-to-mouth situation. Having mere farmers for grandparents and struggling parents, we were able to scrape enough only to feed us daily and pay a few bills. Given the circumstances, my young mother had to step foot outside the safety and privacy of her house, and struggle just like a man to help in reducing some of the burdens.
Despite being continuously tormented by a narrow minded society for working in a workplace full of men and hardly any women, my mother pressed on because nothing else mattered to her except a better future through better education for my siblings and me! Day and night, rain or sunshine, through their worst days, my parents struggled, pushing themselves beyond their limits, because they had three children to educate and raise.
Hearing about the KL-YES program and how the people who were able to avail this wonderful opportunity began a completely new and exhilarating chapter of their lives, a fire of passion started in me. It hit me like a lightning bolt, and my resolve was as hard as a rock. There was no fear and no hesitation. It came all too naturally, like something meant to be. And I’d made my decision; I was going to be an exchange student. That is because I had a purpose in mind, a drive far too strong to be ignored.
The dream of being an ambassador and to bring a change in the society compelled me to step out of my comfort zone to try to achieve what most would only imagine. Separation from friends and family, saying goodbye to familiar surroundings and starting a completely new chapter of my life didn’t faze me. I had my mind set on a goal and nothing could stop me from accomplishing it.
In spite of all the hardships and suffering, my mother’s dream of me receiving a good education managed to survive. But it disheartened her that there were hardly any schools in our village, and the teachers could barely string two words of English together. Realizing I’d never be able to come to my full potential in these circumstances, she mustered the courage to move to another part of the country all by herself with her three children, leaving my father behind.
For more than a year, she struggled alone and managed everything by herself. Pushing aside all of her own desires and needs, she paid my school fees through loans and borrowed money. Doing everything in her capacity and even more, she brought me to this level today, and I know I have to live up to her expectations. I have to keep achieving more, because even my minute accomplishments are proof that her efforts have not gone in vain.
However, in many ways, my life was much better than that of the thousands of other people in my village, Chitral. I’ve witnessed accounts too difficult to forget and images too vivid to push out of my mind. The sight of houses made of mud being blown apart by the harsh weather; children whose parents couldn’t afford to send to them to school or even properly feed or dress them; frail, aged people who were suffering every day because the expenses of going to a hospital are too much to bear; and people on the streets because the flood had completely demolished their houses was more heartbreaking than anything I’ve ever experienced. I don’t think I can even begin to imagine their hardships and pain.
Yet, regardless of everything, barefoot children in rags with dirt on their faces wore the brightest smiles you would ever see. “We want to go to school,” they’d said with their heads held high. They wanted to be doctors or pilots so they’d walk around clutching books in their tiny hands. That moment, I wondered, is it fair they’d never be given a chance to accomplish their goals? Is it fair their dreams will be crushed just because they had immeasurable talent but no money or opportunities? Why is it that innocent people with hearts of gold should be deprived of basic necessities of like food, water, shelter, etc.?
My heart yearns to do something for these people. I want to be able to uncover their potential and find means for them to channel it. Seventy years down the road since independence, Pakistan has witnessed mostly nothing but failures. Despite having vast potentials for renewable energy, one of the biggest coal reserves, millions of hectares of cultivated land and an enormous labor pool, my county’s survival depends on foreign aid and loans! In the face of such economic upheaval, I as a citizen of such an embattled nation decided to fight for myself to progress and help many others like me, who don’t have my brave mother and opportunities like me due to which they can’t even complete their college level education!
That is why this scholarship mattered so much to me. It gives me a chance to grow as an individual and shapes my personality. A sense of responsibility and leadership has been instilled in me. By putting the skills and traits I’ve managed to gain as a cultural ambassador, I wish to bring a positive change in my life along with the lives of those people who aren’t as privileged or lucky as me.
It is my vision to work for the development of rural areas of Pakistan like Chitral, where there is so much talent but very limited opportunities. If people in these areas were given the chance to get a good education and come to their full potential, there would definitely be an addition of highly bright minds to the world; people who actually posses the dream and ability to transform the society. I want to create awareness about education and exchange programs in these areas, so that the people can utilize their abilities in a highly positive way and transfigure their lives.
Cultural exchange programs are a wonderful platform for future leaders of the world, and I believe the people of Pakistan have the potential to represent the true essence and beauty of their culture. Hence, when my YES journey comes to a close, I wish to keep working as a cultural ambassador and make people realize the significance of exchange programs in this era of stereotypes. I aim to break the various misunderstandings that exist about different cultures in the world and portray their beauty and uniqueness instead. I feel that it is my goal to convince more teenagers to avail such opportunities, as it is surely a very memorable experience where you are constantly progressing as an individual while learning so many worthwhile things.
In conclusion, I’d say that the YES-program is definitely the best thing that has happened to me in my life. I’ve realized that there is so much more you can accomplish in life, and if you were given this chance, you should definitely be thankful. For every day you are living someone’s dream, you are becoming a source of inspiration for someone out there and making your nation proud. This program made me a leader; an ambassador. What else could I ask for?
This is merely the beginning, for I aspire to achieve much more. I continue to have a thirst for the knowledge needed to give back to my community, to help others, and most importantly to prove that what really matters is not where one comes from, but where one’s heading!
Thank You U.S. Department of State and thank you my honorable host mother and host father for opening your heart and home for me!
Learn how you can make a difference in the world and inspire future generations by hosting an incredible YES student like Nayab.
What an absolutely heartwarming and inspiring article. Pakistan, and Chitral in particular, needs more aspiring young women like yourself! I hope your future stays just as bright and you achieve all your big goals!
Bold write up Nayab. I can see an empowered woman cherishing in you. Yes we are peiviliged enough to be leaders and behind every story of success there is a brave mom just like Shahnaz kai.
Sending love,
Rakhshi
Nayab you are the most beautiful soul in our lives and we are proud of you always <3 Great job & keep it up 🙂 Our prayers are always with you and hope that you will accomplish all your goals 🙂
Nayab, incredible thougts dear. Most importantly you have a very clear vision about your life. For some people it’s very difficult to set clear goals for themselves. I wish you good luck and hope to work together for the up liftment of our country, especially our home town Chitral. Welldone little champ.
Dear Nayab,
A wonderful articulation and experience. Thanks for sharing with us. I am very happy that you are very sensitive to your area and its people. I wish everyone in Chitral has a courageous mother and opportunities like you so that everyone can get their destinations.
I know that you all have suffered a lot – living away from your family – but, you have developed yourself as a future leader. One can witness the fruits of your parents’ sacrifices in the form of your successful academic journey. As per your article, it is time to think about the rest of the remotest community and I wish you best of luck for all the sweet dreams.
We are proud of you.
With LOVE,
Your Uncle
Zain
Very well reflected the overview of Chitral. Keep going dear.
My dear Nayab,
I am extremely pleased to read your articles which depicts the realities that your family , particularly, your mother has gone through. Hardship with clear vision always gives desired results. Your selection for the excellent opportunity is a true example of this vision based efforts.
You have nicely narrated your experience in USA as a part of YES program, I am sure you will also bring so many inspiring stories from USA for us to know how the multicultural country functions and plans to prepare the new generation for the globalized world.
I wish you all the success in your endeavors to become an inspiring future leader.
I am very pleased to see you articulation of childhood though the YES programme experience.I can see a goal oriented and ,empowered women in my little Nayab Sadruddin.
Proud of you!
I am inspired by your aspirations of life. In this article you mentioned about our less previlaged and remote home town Chitral,Nayab there is talent ofcourse to be a leaders but they don’t get opportunity to develop themselves like you.
I want to see you as role model and future Embassador to mobilize some underprivileged students for youth exchange program.Because this program have changed the life of many students with life time experience and directed them towards higher achievements in life.Wish you all the best ,hope you will always highlight the kind efforts which you mother has made to give bright future to you and your siblings.It is always difficult for women to go out of their comfort zone in a narrow minded community.As Shahnaz Kai efforts are really appreciable.
Keep going Nayab.
Very inspiring story for all the young kids who are out there to realize their dreams.Life is all about struggle as there are no shortcuts to success.Keep up your good work dear Nayab and make us all proud.
Dure Nayab with overwhelming happiness and joy i am sharing another milestone of yours! Baba is truly blessed to have a daughter like you Dure Nayab! Destiny is no matter of chance. It is a matter of choice. It is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved. My little scholar !
Your very happy father
Sadrud -Din
You are outstanding, Nayab.. Wish you all the best.
Wow, I am deeply touched by reading your article, Nayab. Your thoughts and ambitions are really very impressive. I wish you all the best for the goals you have set. Your parents and community should be proud of you.
Stay blessed and keep shinning!
If there is a hope there is always a way to go up the stair to touch the sky, Hope and best wishes !
Sorry! You are being so sexist with some of your thoughts. The subordinate women was not and is not the issue at aggregate level (chitral). Anyway you’ve beautifull sense of narration, the way you illuminated the socialization is impressive. And I admire your enthusiastic approach to change the status quo of your place.
Hope to see you in the front line!
Feeling immensely proud of you. Good to see such talented people around, and hope you will accomplish many more in the long run. What you have written is truly inspiring and beautiful. It was such a good read. Way to go. God bless you and good luck for your future endeavors.
Dear Nayab, a very impressive article you’ve written and thoughts like these at such a young age is extraordinary. I am really happy to see your enthusiasm towards achieving the goals you’ve put forward with a very clear vision. I wish all our youths were as passionate as you and contribute for the betterment of their country, especially for our beloved home land Chitral whice we need the most. I Wish you all the best for your coming future.
your thoughts are inspiring 🙂 up to this level, as you have putted them all together . May be more hard work is needed ,indeed this grip is not that much easy, and remember, those who have been through hardship, are those who change the world. Prayers are with you little sister . Good luck.
Good job . Keep it up
Truly remarkable sum of words which explains the hardships, joy, courage and most of all a very high aim. The sense of belongingness and appreciation towards your parents is amazing. I wish you all the best for your Future!
Best Regards,
Javeria
inspiring article ,hope to see you in the front ! (y)
Great article, the most important skill that you need to develop for writing a good content is developing focused thought. Stray ideas are very hard to frame until they are collected point by point. Writing is more an aggregation of thoughts and less and art now. You must be clear what are you writing about. Your ideas are very clear. Thanks for writing such a beautiful article, it really defines the skill of writing in a nice way.
Dear Nayab,
I am very excited and proud to see an exceptionally mature youth leader representing Chitral. Thank you so much for sharing your story with us. I am sure this will inspire and motivate many other young people, to live their life with the motto of giving back to their society and making a difference with the knowledge gained by rare opportunities like “YES”.
Keep dreaming and making wonderful changes in your life and the lives of other around you!
Sofia Naz
it was extremely soothing to listen to you onair in a radio program ” VOA Urdu ہر دم رواں ہے زندگی” first of all I request all good wishers to listen to that. I was trying to visit your Blog since long but just because of our crazy internet I could not make it till today. Being your uncle, to me, today I feel I am the proud uncle of Nayab. The ideas you have dressed up with golden words are as precious as golds to all of us . you are very little by age but a highly valued philosopher by ideas.Now nothing is left for other writers to write on the ropic since you have started writing on this topic. please continue this activity and I am sure that a day will come when you will be known as a worldwide famous author of Books. I love you Nayab and pray for your bright future. salute to your mother and father
I really appreciate your hard work, your success is due to your hard work. passion, optimistic plan, mission, desirable goals and struggle for achieving those goals that you wished for in your early age. that is amazing keep going on, we are proud to have such talented people and youth in our Chitral. ..
well, But the image of our beautiful chitral is mention here in this article is full of sorrow and despairing,,, my question is that how you define opportunity ?? the days are gone when girls/women are restricted in houses but nowadays both have equal opportunity and chance but yeah depends on one’s potential and dreams there is no more preferences for male over female. there are many schools and colleges working for the betterment of the society, abundant of natural resources we have so many expectations from you people, you people are our representative over there so u should represent our country in a positive way that will be better rather mentioning the negative aspects.
enjoy your time and best wishes for your health, education, and success,
Dear Nayab,
It’s a well-done job on the essay and more on the courage it took to write it. It’s so unique the way you have expressed the importance of education, and the strive to achieve something in life from a personal point of view. So proud of you and I know you will make the most of this opportunity. Again a very well done job.
Dearest Nayab
Reading this article make me feel proud to call you my student and myself your teacher. This article is definitely an insight to the true culture of Chitral, a place full of most dedicated and gard working people. I have always heard of these attributes of Chitrali clan from my brother who worked there as a Civil Engineer but after teaching you and seeing you striving for the YES programme, witnessing your mom struggling to get you in this programme, I can confidently say that all what I heard from my brother was so true. I have been following you through your facebook posts and saw you growing strong and mature every passing month and have certainly inspired many of my current students whom I told your tale.
It is not going to be an exaggeration that students like you are true ambassadors of Pakistan, full of potential and determinted to touch the skies.
I am sure that for you, no boundary is a boundary and no hurdle is a hurdle. Just remain conscientious and self motivated. Keep struggling to achieve what seems impossible, as you have all the ability to make it possible. My heartiest wishes and prayers are always with you. Stay blessed!