Sometimes I wonder why there is a Women’s Day and not women celebrated every day. People say women should be able to choose what they want to do and should have freedom. But why does a woman still have to be told that she is free and that she has rights?
I believe freedom is in your mind. When you are unable to free yourself from your own judgments, you will always remain caught in the prison of your mind.
I came from Lahore, Pakistan. I studied at Sacred Heart School, Kinnaird College, and Government College. Growing up, I often read biographies of leaders and people who made a difference in the world. Many of them had studied abroad, and that inspired me to do the same. Eventually, I found myself at Columbia University, an Ivy League institution.
It was a struggle at first. I had to adjust to a new culture, a different learning style, and new ways of expressing ideas in the classroom. I also live with anxiety and ADHD, which can be a challenging combination, especially when it comes to executive functioning.
However, the culture of Pakistan and the confidence instilled in me by my parents always led me to believe that what I believed in mattered, as long as I respected the feelings and rights of others. I tried to live by that principle, and the rest, I believe, God helped guide.
Throughout my journey, I have always tried to make my own decisions. Along the way, I have also supported others, men and women alike, who needed help finding the courage to make their own decisions, not simply the ones others expected them to make.
This Women’s Day, I am grateful to both of my parents, my father and my mother, my brother, my husband, my sisters, my nieces and nephews, and my friends and family. The men and women in my life have helped shape the person I am today. The choices and decisions I make may feel liberating to some and not liberating to others, but they are mine.