Our today’s inspiration is Salma from the Damas valley of Punial in Ghizer district of Gilgit-Baltistan.
Salma is a Software Test Engineer at 10Pearls, a prominent multinational IT company. She was offered this role shortly after completing her graduation from the Institute of Business Administration (IBA), Karachi. As a software test engineer, her primary responsibility is to ensure the quality and reliability of software products developed by the company. This involves designing and executing tests, identifying, and documenting bugs/issues, and working closely with developers to resolve them.
Let’s journey through Salma’s educational path, starting from her early schooling, progressing through SSC and HSSC, and culminating in her graduation from IBA followed by getting a prestigious position at a multinational company.
Salma began her primary education at Diamond Jubilee School Singul in another village after her father’s untimely demise when she was just 4 years old. She resided with her maternal relatives who facilitated her initial schooling. In her own village, the school was too far away for her mother to manage pick and drop. Her mother’s responsibilities extended beyond just household chores; she also had to care for a few months old son while juggling numerous other responsibilities.
Salma’s intelligence and sharpness were evident from the beginning. She excelled academically and after grade 8 secured admission at the Aga Khan Higher Secondary School (AKHSS), Sherqilla, a prestigious regional school known for quality education. Following her completion of matriculation from AKHSS Sherqilla, Salma was offered admission at the Aga Khan Higher Secondary School Gahkuch.
Throughout her schooling years, Salma consistently demonstrated academic excellence, earning top grades. However, affording school fees posed a challenge for her mother. Fortunately, Salma’s academic achievements opened doors to merit scholarships from both the school and generous donors such as the Ismailia Social Welfare Program, the Hashoo Foundation, and Milky Way.
What I wanted to do was make my mother proud to honor her sacrifices by achieving greatness in education.
Salma
Salma’s talents extended beyond academics; she actively engaged in extracurricular activities, showcasing her skills in sports and singing. Additionally, she assumed leadership roles, such as serving as the Cleanliness In-charge at AKHSS, Gahkuch, where she exhibited organizational prowess and a dedication to enhancing the school environment.
Inspired by her mother’s resilience, Salma was driven to pursue further education after completing her intermediate education. Her aim was to achieve something meaningful as a testament to her mother’s sacrifices and to make her proud. Spirited with high aims, Salma qualified for the Bachelor’s Program in Computer Science at IBA Karachi.
Her journey at IBA Karachi was not without challenges. Coming from an underdeveloped region, she faced difficulties transitioning to an advanced academic environment. Her lack of exposure to modern technology, coupled with limited access to computers and the internet in Gilgit, posed initial hurdles. She had to grapple with her studies as she only knew theory but lacked practical experience.
No dream is too big, and with dedication and hard work, anything is possible.
Salma
Furthermore, Salma found herself residing in different hostels alongside students from diverse backgrounds, which posed another challenge in adjusting to the new environment at IBA. However, with a positive mindset, she quickly adapted and immersed herself in the new environment. This all taught her resilience and the importance of determination in overcoming obstacles.
Throughout her university years, Salma actively engaged in various research projects, internships, and collaborative initiatives. Notably, she participated in two social internships and two corporate internships. During one of her social internships, she volunteered with ADP-TCF, contributing to The Citizens Foundation’s (TCF) in its mission to provide quality education to underprivileged youth in Pakistan. Additionally, she worked as a member of the management team for ‘Valeem online’ during another internship.
Since Salma could not afford to study at an educational instate like IBA, she needed sponsorship to pursue her studies. Thanks to her excellence in academics, she got a substantial scholarship of about 3 million rupees through the National Talent Hunt Program funded by the Ihsan Trust. Based on both her good grades and financial need. This scholarship was crucial for her to study Computer Science at IBA Karachi. It made it possible for her to afford a quality education at this top-notch institution.
At IBA Karachi, she achieved several milestones. She took the initiative to establish the first-ever Girls Cricket team at IBA and proudly represented the institute in prestigious tournaments such as the AKU Olympiad, Tolerance Women Cricket, and Khelo Khwateen tournaments. Serving as the captain of the IBA Girls Cricket Team was a notable honor. Additionally, she showcased her athletic prowess by representing IBA in the Born2Run running group in Karachi and participating in the Kamyaab Jawan program in Islamabad.
By embracing challenges and pushing beyond perceived limitations, I’ve been able to achieve personal and professional growth that far exceeded my expectations.
Salma
Salma owes her success to her mother’s unwavering support and sacrifice. Reflecting on her mother’s hardships, Slama says, “despite being a top student herself, my mother had to put aside her aspirations due to an early marriage and lacked support. Determined to ensure I didn’t face the same fate, she tirelessly worked to provide for our family after my father’s death. She worked in different NGO’s to meet our support our education, Her struggle for us kept me motivated and all I wanted to do was make her proud and give her reward for her struggles.”
Salma aims to pursue a Master’s degree in software engineering from a prestigious international university. However, current family obligations are her priority, and she eagerly anticipates the chance to pursue this academic endeavor in the future. While proficient in software engineering, she also holds a strong interest in exploring data science, as it offers exciting prospects for innovation and exploration at the intersection of technology and data analytics
Embrace challenges as opportunities for growth and remain resilient in the face of adversity.
Salma’s message to students
Salma advises students to view challenges as opportunities for growth and to remain resilient in adversity. She emphasizes that education involves more than just acquiring knowledge; it’s about fostering a mindset of continuous learning and innovation. Success, according to Salma, hinges on skills like problem-solving, innovation, staying updated, and a thirst for ongoing learning to effectively tackle challenges. She advocates stepping out of one’s comfort zone to achieve personal and professional growth beyond expectations.
Salma shares a lesson from Paulo Coelho’s quote, highlighting the importance of perseverance, determination, and unwavering belief in one’s dreams, affirming that with dedication and hard work, any goal is attainable.
