Expanding Horizons
I must admit that my trip to Phillips Andover Academy in the US was a life-changing experience, and one that I feel changed me for the better. Having attended Summer School and a Global Young Leaders conference, I came back energized and feeling more proactive than I had ever been. Having lived in Lahore my whole life, this trip exposed me to a different kind of world, and one that I had not experienced before. This got me thinking about Pakistan, and how much I am yet to know about my country. I therefore decided to embark on a trip to the Northern side of Pakistan, in the hopes of not only learning more about my country, but also myself.
The first of three cities that I visited was Skardu. Having been used to the city, and more recently being exposed to a developed country, I was heart-wrenched by the living conditions in Skardu. In this city, life was as simple as it comes, in fact so simple that many of the things I considered basic amenities in Lahore were unavailable here. One of the things that irked me the most was the very poor internet connectivity that I had to contend with. The difficulty that many residents of this city experienced in making ends meet only made me appreciate my modest life much more.
Having left Skardu, I embarked on a journey to Deosai, in pursuit of the Himalayan brown bear. I had long yearned to see the bears in their natural habitat, but one time too many, my fear had prevented me from pursuing my dream. This time, however, I was determined to fulfill my wish, and with my team of five, we learned so much about the endangered species. During the process of climbing to our desired destination, I was intensely frustrated. Admittedly, hiking is not one of my string suits. During the hike, I fell several times, and although I did not injure myself, it only piled onto my frustration.
At one time, I was getting short of breath as we moved higher, and I slowly felt fear and panic creep into me as I got outside my comfort zone. I only fainted, but at the back of my mind, I felt as though I was dying. I even remember wondering why I chose to make the climb in the first place. After coming to, the first thought that crossed my mind was to turn around and call off the climb. I had even informed the guide of this decision and was ready to head back. In the process of preparing for the descent, I remembered one of the speakers at the Global Young Leaders conference I had attended. While I could not remember her name, her repeated use of the famous Henry Ford quote that stated “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right” had stuck with me. I immediately regretted my decision to cut short the hike. Luckily, I had an understanding guide, who quickly agreed to continue the hike when I told him I wanted to complete the climb. I consider this one of the most important decisions of my life to date. When we arrived at our destination, I remember feeling proud of myself and my team, because we had successfully managed to overcome the odds and achieve our goal, while raising awareness about the bear in the process. I had not only thought of myself as being capable of making the climb, but had also successfully made the climb, quite true to Henry Ford’s words.
While the trip to Deosai was extremely successful, I still felt a strong urge to challenge myself and this led me to Hunza. Here, I applied my limited skills in teaching the students at Hunza Public School, in addition to helping the school set up a computer laboratory. To show their gratitude, as well as enable bonding, I was treated to the best picnic that I have ever had in my life by the students. After my Hunza trip, it was time for me to go back home, but the journey back is one that helped me understand myself as well as what drives me.
On the way back, I realized that the tri had been joyous because throughout, I had continued to challenge myself and this greatly motivated me. The fact that I could take on new challenges fearlessly such as climbing the Deosai plateau as well as going camping filled me with passion. This is because I was excited and also because I had realized the value of trying new challenges and expanding one’s horizons. The new experiences were extremely rewarding, and they perpetually motivated me, while still keeping me satisfied and grounded. Remembering how many individuals living in cities in Northern Pakistan suffered, I feel compelled to play my role in alleviating their suffering. It is for this reason that I would like to join your prestigious institution. By further expanding my horizons through your institution, I believe I will be best placed to one day positively impact the lives of individuals in Skardu, Hunza, and Deosai just like they impacted mine.
