A small town girl with big dreams
My own father believed that I could never be successful. PHOTO: AFP
I am a small town girl from Balochistan, Pakistan. Six years ago, I moved to Karachi in order to achieve a better education, and a year ago I got a scholarship as an exchange student to represent Pakistan in the US.
I was obviously ecstatic when I got selected. I know that everyone feels happy when they get a scholarship, but for me it was a little different. I was not just an ordinary teenager living in the big city; my life was more of a continuous battle.
Against whom, you might ask?
It was against my own family.
So, here is my story:
My arrival in the US was an eye-opening experience for me. Having come from the small town that I belong to – where people opposed education – the change was unexpected.
My own father believed that I could never be successful.
My father is well-educated, but ever since he started living around narrow-minded people from town, he began to think like them. My mother was slightly more educated than my father and she had great aspirations for me. She wanted me to become a doctor, which was not possible – not where I came from.
I, on the other hand, being totally against the mentality of the small town folk, worked very hard at school. Realising my passion for education, my mother decided to migrate to a metropolitan city; a city with good schools, colleges, malls and beaches; a city which encapsulated the luxuries of life. We, thus, moved to Karachi.
We were all deeply excited about this decision – all of us except my father.
He was never against me receiving a good education. He always did whatever he could do to pay all of my educational expenses, but he just didn’t expect anything from me. He didn’t expect anything was ever going to come out of this ‘educational excerise.’ This disappointed me thoroughly, but also gave me determination to prove him wrong. I was determined to make him proud. This became my life’s mission.
Our move to Karachi was met by strong condemnation from people back home. They turned against my mother because she was the one who made the decision.
They would pass sarcastic comments and spread vicious rumours about her. I knew she had to suffer this slander because of me. She felt she had no choice and I felt terrible that I couldn’t do anything to help her.
I decided to throw myself into concentrating on my future and the obstacles I knew were lurking ahead. I got a form for a scholarship for the Youth Exchange and Study program to the US. I had to prove to everybody how fruitful and necessary education is for us.
As if He understood my struggles, God gifted me with a life full of surprises. I got selected for the YES program – this was how I knew I could rescue my mother from all those who taunted her.
Upon my selection into the program, we saw a drastic change in the minds of those who had gone against us. The children who used to study with me or were my friends started blaming their parents for not permitting them to study further, for curtailing their opportunities for success.
Their parents slowly began to realise the advantages of education. Recognising the importance, they started sending their children to colleges, encouraging them to join English language centres and spreading awareness.
It is not like I have a PhD or anything that great, but I now have a clear path to my goal.
My family is supporting me and thankfully, there are no more accusations against my mother. I just wanted to prove the benefits of education and getting the scholarship was my gateway.
The reason I had to go through all these social challenges was primarily because of lack of education in our society. The problems that I faced made me think of all the other girls in many other small towns of Pakistan like me who cannot do anything because they do not have anybody to support them.
I know how the YES program changes lives; I know this because it changed mine.
Today, I have written this piece to spread awareness, because I highly support the program and want everyone in Pakistan to know about it. I want everyone to know and encourage it so that it can change more lives.
I am also very thankful to iEARN Pakistan for organising the YES program in Pakistan.
I have developed leadership qualities, became more patriotic and now have a clear perspective of what I want to pursue as a career in my life. I intend to work for the welfare of education for women in the small towns of Pakistan. I hope that one day; everybody will have access to quality education and that everyone will have a success story of their own.
Follow Sonam on Twitter @SonamChawla1
The views expressed by the writer and the reader comments do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of The Express Tribune.
You are too honest and too young, which I am not saying is a bad thing entirely. But you will learn in time not to make enemies of people but to co-opt them in solving problems. There will not be the need for bogeyman’s (such as the small town mindset) to motivate oneself to achieve excellence. Good Luck Sonam.Recommend
With your determination you will succeed and this is only your first step but a big one.
You have correctly understood that education is the key to success and those in society saying otherwise are wrong and do so for ulterior motives.Recommend
bachchu, a very nice and flawless write up. honestly, i couldn’t write like this when i was of your age. clear vision, determination, hard working and of course penning down your thoughts are your strong points.
best wishes.Recommend
Congratulations, young soul. I hope you work to realize the dream of other people too.Recommend
Good work Sonam :)Recommend
Really inspiring. But trust Pakistanis to be all for education if they see it as a ticket to the US. Does not matter if it makes people more humanRecommend
Keep up the good work :-)Recommend
All the best for your futureRecommend
Glad that you are doing well – kudos to your parents for taking some tough calls in your interest. Hope you take the time to understand your options before planning your return.Recommend
Be carefull of forced conversions.Recommend
Did you know there once lived a girl with the same name. Same surname actually; she hailed from a small town in Haryana, India. That girl went on to become a scientist who worked in NASA. Her name was Kalpana CHAWLA. She was the pride of India.
Both of you have the same surname; both of you are from small towns. Don’t let the similarity end there ! All the best kid ! :)Recommend
@Nandita
Please dont scare the girl she is bright and honest pakistani girl good luck sonam chawla
and there is a street name on Kalpana chawla in jackson heights queens new york…Recommend
@Nandita.:
wow Nandita. Very inspiring comment. Thank you.
You see folks, spreading happiness and optimism can be very contagious !!!
Sonam Chawla …. you go go go go girl.
There are leaders and followers in this world … stay a leader please and you’ll find more and more people who will follow your lead.Recommend
Well Done!Recommend
@Sinclair:
Thank you so much. I really appreciate your comment.Recommend
@Parvez: Very well said. I really do believe that the key to success is always education and its not about getting an A+ in Biology or Physics.It’s about awareness. It’s about dealing with problems and creating a better future.
Thank you for all your wishes.Recommend
I feel lucky to actually know you Sonam! :)
Keep up ur hard work, and we love you here at school.Recommend
@Rafe: Thank you so much. I really appreciate your comment.Recommend
@ukmuslim:
Thank you so much. I really appreciate your wishes.Recommend
@Bilal: Thank you so much. Yes, I will try my best to understand and help others.Recommend
@….:
Thank you so much. I really appreciate your comment.Recommend
@Sarah:
Sadly, it is very true. We Pakistanis always dream about just going to the U.S. But if it inspires people to get education, then I would go for it.
YES program is just not about spending a year in the U.S. It’s about gaining leadership skills and learning how to solve the problems in your society. Our YES Alumni are very active in working with NGOs for the welfare of Pakistan. I look forward to being one of them and help the other small town Pakistani girls like me.
Thank you so much for your comment. I really appreciate that.Recommend
@Umair:
Thank you so much. I really appreciate your wishes.Recommend
@AD:
Thank you so much. Yes, I will be. :)Recommend
@Nandita.:
Wow, thank you so much for sharing that. I have not heard of her. Of course, there are way too many Chawlas in this world. My name is kind of different.
Thank you again. I really appreciate all your wishes for me.Recommend
@Texan:
Thank you so much. I really look forward to continue leadership activities in Pakistan. I really appreciate your comment and all your regards for me.Recommend
I LOVE YOU SONYAM, we here in Michigan are so proud of you also and very much expect you to go on into life and do great amazing things :DRecommend
Yayyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!
This is the bets blog i have ever read on express tribune. I jumping in joy for you.
God bless you always. And make us all proud by being the best you can be and telling us about it. I will be waiting to read.Recommend
its gd wrk ,keep it up to aware others abt this programRecommend
yup its gd wrk,keep it up toaware othrz abt hts programRecommend
So proud of you.
Shahzeb Memon.Recommend
Proud of you always Sonum, you have been a great Citizens Ambassador of Pakistan, and you are full of potential, we all know you will go a long way. This is just a beginning. Look forward to see you back in Karachi next month. Love you FarahRecommend
Proud of you Sonam !! All the best for your futureRecommend
An article worth reading! Thumbs up Sonam :D Keep it up. You’ve created a viral and shareable media. Goodluck for your future ahead. Hope you remember me! Love from your brother from another mother.Recommend
You just did a amazing job, well done! Need more guys in Pakistan like you to bring change! A positive change!
Excellent! in the end your hard work pay off! We wish you good luck for your future.Recommend
Sonm!!! Awesome. So happy for you :)Recommend
Good luck sonam, hold tht head up high and dont ever let anyone stop you from fulfilling your dreams!!!Recommend
Best of luckRecommend
You go girl!!! So proud to have people like you in pakistan.i have been through all of this and made my way to Australia. However i do admit that i havent thought of doing something for other girls to help them achieve their dreams. You are doing a great job. May you always stay blessed. Pakistan needs inspirational leaders such as yourself.
Btw Australia too offers a leadership scholarship. I would be able to find information if readers are interested.Recommend
congrats sonam, a well readable and inspiring write up, hope to see more from you,,, And yes education and a clear focus vision for da goal is what required,,,,,, best of best :)Recommend
sonam i’m glad that u’ve been succeeded tin goal`!! “)Recommend
well did girl :)Recommend
Sonam,
With Hard Work and a Clear Conscience even the sky is not the limit.
God Bless Young Lady. Make your Parents and your Country proud of you.Recommend
I HAD dreams….Had.
Good for you though Sonam. I really do hope you achieve your goal.Recommend
Don’t say your father did’nt expected anything from you , maybe he did’nt wanted to put you under pressure like other parents do. And had he not expected anything from you he would’nt have paid for your primary education at first place.Recommend
Good Luck Gal..very inspirational story..!!Recommend
Really aspired by her WILL and courage which changed the mind set of hypocrates. Survival is for those who swim against the river flow.Recommend
@Shahzeb:
Thank you Shahzeb bhai :) I really appreciate your regards.Recommend
@Erika:
Thank you so much. I also feel lucky to meet all of you guys. Thanks for your wishes for me.Recommend
@BlackJack:
Thank you so much for your regards. I really appreciate your comment :)Recommend
Great feeling to see kid like you Sonam. “Fly high”. Allah bless you.Recommend
when i started reading your blog i thought this is my story bt i guess you are luckier than me you have got what you want you are studyng what you always wanted to you dont know how lucky you are. i also live in karachi my family is not very conservative but they are not in the favour of girl’s higher education they take it as a waste of money because we can not return them back by earning .my father is not allowing me to take addmision in any co-university but if my brother as for the same thing he would allow him . i dont know what to do i wasted my whole year i felt so depressed some times i have nothing to do i only waste time here and there .anyways i really appreciate your blog and good luck for your future :)Recommend
@Shahzeb: Thank you Shahzeb bhai :). I really appreciate your comments!Recommend
@camelbuddy54321: Hey Camel Buddy.. Thank you so much. I love you too. I am so glad to say that I’ve got so many Camel Buddies that I don’t remember who you are. Can you please tell me your name?Recommend
@armoghan azfar: Hey Armo, thanks. I really appreciate your comments.Recommend
@Awais: Hey. I posted my story here to inspire others to never loose hope. You should always keep trying. Never have a “Had” with dreams. Always have a “can-do” attitude. May you get what you want!Recommend
Congrats and well done!Recommend
@Farah Kamal:
Thank you so much Ma’am.I can’t wait to come back to Pakistan and starting working as an Alumna. Looking forward to see you too. :)
Love,
Sonam.Recommend
@Sunny:
Thank you so much. I really appreciate your comments. :)Recommend
@arif mehdi: Thank you so much. I really appreciate your comments. :) Yeah sure, I want to spread it more in Pakistan.Recommend
@Hassan:
Thank you so much. I really appreciate your comments. :) I will definitely post more. :)Recommend
@F.k:
Thank you so much.So nice of you.I really appreciate your comments and regards for me. :)Recommend
@Ali Charania: Ali, you are so so nice. Thank you so much for your comments and sharing this with your friends. I really appreciate it. Looking forward to see you in Karachi soon. :)Recommend
@Vigilant:
Thank you so much. I really appreciate your regards. :)Recommend
@Maddy:
Thank you so much. I really appreciate your comments. :)Recommend
@Hamid Javaid: Very well said! and it’s not an easy thing to do. I can see they are getting education but I want them to be more open-minded.
Thank you so much. I really appreciate your comments. :)Recommend
this is a good read. you remind me myself few years ago when i went to iEARN interview because i was bored at school, and now few days ago I graduated from college here in US. I was the only one who came back to states following the exchange year.
Are you coming to states this Year?
Keep it up. there is nothing that can’t be accomplished and here it’s pretty easy if you really want to do sth and i guess that’s why they call it the land of opportunity.
good luck and have funRecommend
very inspirationalRecommend