My journey, as part of Schola Nova has been one that I share with a few – I was part of the school from Playgroup to A-levels, and luckily one of the very few who have been part of the school since the day it laid its foundations and developed into a commune, nurturing and educating so many along the way.

Out of the many things that this school gave me, what has stayed with me from my school life to my professional life is determination. On days when I did not score well on my assessments, my teachers came up to me, reassuring me that there are days when things don’t work out and that I will do better – that I am human and what is more important than perfect scores, is the consistent effort, and heart and soul that I put into my work. While in this competitive world, one wants to pull down others to make space for oneself, I was taught to take my peers hand-in-hand, to make sure that I don’t leave them behind in trying to make a place for myself. I found life-long friends in my classmates, teachers, juniors and seniors. I was taught to strike a balance in life – to dream, to work towards those dreams, but also to be content with, and grateful for the little things in life. Schola Nova has been home for me and for many others. Not just limited to studying, we were taught life skills, there was effort put into personality development, and teaching continued beyond the classroom as well

Post Schola Nova, I joined LUMS for my Undergrad in Anthropology and Sociology. From a close-knit setup to a much more diverse one, not once did I feel alienated owing to all the confidence my teachers gave me. Holding on to this confidence, and persistence in the face of a multitude of challenges, I pursued my Masters in South Asian Studies from my dream school, Columbia University New York.

After my graduation, I briefly worked at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. I am currently working as a Consultant for the World Bank in Pakistan.

Location: Islamabad

Batch: 2013

Degree/Institute: Masters in South Asian Studies – Columbia University

Job Placement: Consultant – World Bank Pakistan