ANZIL AMINA

Born and raised in an untouched district of Punjab where education is considered taboo, Anzil has embraced the spirit of determination and resilience. This environment sparked a flame within her, fostering a deep-rooted commitment to overcoming challenges and breaking societal norms. Despite the prevailing norms, she emerged as an enthusiastic, energetic, and creative student. Now, standing at the threshold of pursuing a postgraduate degree in Business and Information Technology in the UK, Anzil sees this as the opportunity to turn her dreams into reality.

“Embracing Change and Being Open to New Experiences Is essential for Personal Growth”

Q: Tell us a few things about you! Your background, your childhood and early beginnings!

I spent my early childhood in a village, where I was a very chirpy and confident kid. My mother, being a school teacher, would take me to school with her from very early classes until third grade. Being the daughter of a teacher gave me a lot of confidence and a unique perspective on education. 

Childhood was a mix of happy and challenging memories. After third grade, we moved to a small city. I found it difficult to make friends easily, but eventually formed strong bonds with a few good friends in school and in our neighbourhood. Academically, I was always a top student in my school, often holding positions of distinction and becoming a favourite among my teachers. 

In high school, I was honoured to be selected as the head girl of the school, which was a significant responsibility and a proud achievement. I also have a good singing voice and enjoy participating in singing competitions. 

Both of my parents worked, which sometimes made me feel deprived of their time and attention. This led to a sense of not being able to fully express my feelings and discuss my problems with them. Despite this, my parents influenced my love for reading and staying informed. My mother would bring books home for us, fostering a reading habit, while my father’s practice of reading the newspaper and discussing current events with us instilled in me a keen interest in understanding the world around me. 

These experiences shaped my character, instilling in me a strong sense of independence, a love for knowledge and a drive to excel in whatever I pursue.

Q: What are some of the key challenges in your society currently?

Living in a small city presents several key challenges for our community. One of the main issues is the lack of universities and higher education institutions. Young students with aspirations for higher studies have to move to bigger cities to pursue their dreams. This not only involves a significant financial burden but also means being away from family and familiar surroundings. 

Additionally, our city does not offer enough job opportunities and internships. This scarcity forces many of us to relocate to larger cities in search of employment and career growth. The need to move away for both education and jobs creates a cycle where our local talent often leaves, which can hinder the development and progress of our own city. 

Healthcare access is another major challenge. There are limited medical facilities and specialists available locally, which often means travelling long distances for proper healthcare. This can be particularly difficult in emergencies or for those with chronic health conditions. 

Infrastructure development is also lacking in our city. Poor road conditions, limited public transportation and inadequate public services make daily life more challenging and can deter potential investments and development projects.

Moreover, our city has limited cultural and recreational activities. There are few venues for arts, entertainment and sports, which can affect the quality of life and limit opportunities for community engagement and personal growth.

Q: Share with us some of the hurdles that you had to overcome in your life so far? How did you handle them?

Every other day many people asked me what I want to be in the future; I had a lot of thoughts in my mind. It is always difficult for me to tell them what I want to be because one day I want to be a teacher and the other day I want to be a pilot, army officer, scientist, and CEO. This is the ten-years-old me.

I wanted to be a Renaissance woman since childhood. Always hungry for more. When I was going to get admission to the university for my professional degree, my father suggested me to do an MBBS, but that was not for me. I wanted to do something different, as I have always been interested in the business industry and how it works globally. So, I decided to choose BBA as my professional degree while fighting with taboos prevailing in my part of the world, where mostly doctors and engineers are considered most prestigious occupations,and it is believed that if you go for a business degree, you will end up with either low paying job or you will be unemployed. Hence, five years ago, I ended up in a business school in Lahore, one of the biggest cities in my country. Moving from a small town to a big city was considered a risk, particularly for a teenage girl who has never seen the outside world alone. I convinced my parents to let me move from my place to another city to pursue my studies at a prestigious institute. I had to stay in a hostel, where I met people from other provinces who spoke different languages and had diverse cultures. This sparked my interest to explore more places, people, and cultures. I struggled massively in the university's first semester because I had previously studied science subjects, had limited exposure to business-related disciplines, and knew the basics of mathematics. I turned from being a person who laughed in fits to someone who used to be depressed every night and wished to be rescued. However, it turned out to be the best decision of my life as it evoked my ability to cope with various challenges and strengthened my decision-making power.

Q: Why is the role of a mentor important for you?

The role of a mentor is incredibly important for me for several reasons. Coming from a small town, we lack many educated people with the necessary exposure and experience to guide us effectively. I have a strong aspiration to pursue a Master's in Business Administration from a prestigious European university, but I face significant hurdles in achieving this goal. 

One of the main challenges is financial constraints. The cost of studying abroad is substantial and securing the necessary funds is daunting. Another critical hurdle is the lack of a strong network. Having connections and access to information about opportunities is crucial for my academic and professional aspirations. 

A mentor can provide invaluable support in these areas. They can help me identify and apply for scholarships, grants and other financial aid options. Additionally, a mentor can introduce me to networks and resources that can guide me towards achieving my goals. They can also offer insights and advice based on their own experiences, which is something I can't easily find in my local environment.

Q: Do you have a lesson that life has taught you and you would like to share?  

One important lesson that life has taught me is the value of resilience and adaptability. Growing up in a small village and later moving to a small city, I faced numerous challenges, from adjusting to new environments and making friends to dealing with the lack of educational and career opportunities locally. These experiences taught me to be resilient in the face of adversity and to adapt to changing circumstances. 

Moving to a bigger city for higher education and job opportunities required me to step out of my comfort zone. I learned that while the journey might be tough, embracing change and being open to new experiences is essential for personal growth. Despite the challenges of being away from family and familiar surroundings, these experiences have made me stronger and more determined to pursue my goals. 

Additionally, the financial and networking hurdles in achieving my dream of pursuing a Master’s in Business Administration from a prestigious European university have highlighted the importance of seeking help and building connections. Starting a mentoring relationship and openly discussing my problems was a significant step for me. It taught me that it’s okay to seek guidance and support from others and that collaboration can lead to opportunities and solutions that I might not have discovered on my own. 

In essence, life has taught me that resilience, adaptability and the willingness to seek help are crucial for overcoming obstacles and achieving success. These lessons have shaped who I am today and continue to guide me as I navigate the path towards my goals.

Q: Name a project, a foundation or a person in your country that you think is doing great work in helping improve other people's lives! 

Alkhidmat Foundation in Pakistan is doing great work. I volunteered with different organisations to make good use of my time during the COVID-19 era. I joined Alkhidmat Foundation Pakistan. It has established itself as a reputable non-profit organisation that operates independently and is entirely devoted to providing humanitarian aid within Pakistan and internationally.

I work for the organisation as a content writer. My task is to raise awareness through my writing for flood victims. Floods have been severely affecting Pakistan for the past few months. I believe in the power of words, as I can influence people and encourage them to donate more through my words. I write articles about the issues of affected people, particularly the difficulties women face in such calamities. In such dire situations, women's problems worsen. Through my articles, I implore readers to donate more and more so that we can give women sanitary items, medications and birth kits.

Q: Share with us a motto you live by.

My go-to motto is: 'Roll with the punches and dance in the rain.'

It's a reminder to stay flexible and positive, even when life throws curve balls. So, when faced with challenges, I keep my chin up and my feet moving, knowing that resilience and a little bit of optimism can go a long way.

Q: If you had all the money needed to launch the project of your dreams, can you describe what you would do?

If I had all the financial resources needed to launch the project of my dreams, I would create a foundation focused on providing educational and career opportunities for underprivileged youth in small towns and rural areas. 

The foundation would establish scholarship programmes to support talented students from these communities in pursuing higher education, both locally and abroad. Additionally, it would If I had all the financial resources needed to launch the project of my dreams, I would create a foundation focused on providing educational and career opportunities for underprivileged youth especially young girls in small towns and rural areas. 

The foundation would establish scholarship programmes to support talented students from these communities in pursuing higher education, both locally and abroad. Additionally, it would provide mentorship and networking opportunities to help them navigate their academic and professional journeys successfully.

Q: Anything else that you may wish to add? 

Thank you for the opportunity to share my thoughts and aspirations. I'm excited about the potential to make a positive difference in the world and am grateful for your consideration.