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Blogpost 3!

Often times before you even realize it, you’re in your twenties and forget that once you were just excited to be a teenager, and now you wish you were a kid again. We travel to places and end up in situations where the entirety of our lives is put in the spotlight. A spotlight that shines on the path we have taken in life and what we carry on our shoulders. We carry ourselves on this path, walking towards the next thing along with some self exploration. It is only when we make stops along the way that we are asked “where do we come from?” and “who are we?” Our heart belongs in the walls of the house where our bones grew older by seasons, summers came and left, adding sunshine to our lives, and winters made us cozy up next to our dear ones. It is once we leave the corridors of our elementary, middle school, and high school that we travel down memory lane to see if we left a mark and vice versa to see if our schools left a mark on our hearts. We leave comfort for experience and realize that the songs of childhood still make us feel safe at night. It is during the long nights and early mornings, in between the hustle and bustle of life, that we come to know ourselves in the places we land. 

This blog is dedicated to PSA’s Vice President Manahil H. Kazmi who chronicles her life in a few questions about her transition from Pakistan to U.S. Here is what I asked her:

Where does the heart belong, where does the mind belong? This question honestly just describes who I am as a person. I am never completely present (mentally) in either the States or Pakistan anymore. I think of myself as a hybrid; a fusion of the both American and Pakistani cultures. But I am definitely more Pakistani than I am American.I spent 18 years of my life in my country, so of course Pakistan is home. And the heart belongs at home.

What surprised you most about American culture in comparison to Pakistani culture? How aware I became of something that came so naturally to me- my identity, and not in a bad sense. But it was something I had never really felt at this magnitude before. Also, the American blend of various races, cultures and religions can make you feel SO welcomed yet SO foreign at the same time. Like they’ll embrace you with open arms yet make sure you feel that you’re different, and ‘exotic’.

I know you have many, but one reason you are really glad to have grown up in Pakistan? Pakistan has given me an identity. I have somewhere I wholeheartedly belong- and that’s such a blessing.

Next, what makes you glad about being in America, and also being part of PSA? Being in America has taught me some valuable lessons that I’ll carry with me for life. I have learned to be confident and independent. I have learned to be open minded while sticking to my own beliefs. Also, I’ve met some amazing people here from different walks of life who teach me so much every day. Everyone’s stories add color to my own story. As for PSA, I’m super proud to call myself a Pakistani and this organization has proved to be the perfect platform for me to represent my country. The PSA members are family- it’s a group of young people who get each other in ways that other people don’t.

Favorite place in Pakistan? My home. That place has seen me through everything: childhood innocence, adolescent shenanigans, weddings, new life, death, laughter, ronaq (energy) and just so much love. I also feel like my father still visits that house. It’s my safe haven.

Is there anything about here that reminds you of Pakistan? I’ll add a twist to this: everything here reminds me of Pakistan. Concepts that are too alien to me remind me of Pakistan because sometimes I feel very disconnected with the American ways that make me miss home a lot. But don’t get me wrong, in general, I absolutely love this opportunity to explore and learn all these new ideas and perspectives,  which in turn makes me discover new things about myself every single day.

I’ll end this with this a quote that resonates so much with my life:

“You will never be completely at home again, because part of your heart always will be elsewhere. That is the price you pay for the richness of loving and knowing people in more than one place.”

In my conversation with Manahil, the idea of identity is prominent in the landscape of the life we lead. Our identity is a progressive measure of our ability to scope out the life we are willing to lead versus the one we want to lead. Our values, places our hearts belong, and the people who have been a part of the process of growing up are elements of our personality that we carry wherever we go.

-Written by Nawal Wajed

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In our 20s we are constantly trying to figure ourselves out. We want to create our own identity, apart from what our parents and society tell us who to be. Sometimes the struggle is including traits of our culture into our westernized lifestyles, constantly battling with the thought of who am I and who should I be. Growing up biracial, PSA’s Co-President Grace Rahman tells her story about being white and a proud Pakistani. Here is what I asked her:

How did it feel growing up as biracial?

“It was honestly very difficult growing up biracial. I never really felt like I fit in anywhere. I was too white for my brown friends and too brown for my white friends. I couldn't sleepover at friends house. I couldn't wear shorts, but because I was influenced by the westernized culture, I would wear shorts against my father's authority. Especially during Eid, I felt so connected to the Muslim/Pakistani culture. I questioned on whether I should wear a hijab or go to Sunday school more to fit in with the brown community, but when the aunties looked at me with judgment, I was reminded that I didn't fit in and i wasn't brown enough. As I grew up though, I finally accepted who I was. It's been easier going to college and meeting other biracial people who are half south Asian.” Have you ever visited Pakistan?

“I have not been to Pakistan yet, but I would really like to visit in the future though. I feel a little disconnected when everyone talks about the motherland haha I know I'll eventually go though :)” Favorite part about Pakistani culture?

“I love the traditions and food. Staying up until 5am just drinking chai and eating samosas is the best. The food in general though is the bomb. I love going home and my dad cooking meals- eventually I'd like to learn too!!” What is your inspiration for being a part of PSA?

“Honestly, I didn't want to join PSA because I was nervous that I would be put down for being only half Pakistani, but my co-president assured me that everyone was super nice, so I decided to join my sophomore year. I haven't looked back on the decision to join. It's been amazing these past 3 years and I'm so sad that I only have 1 semester left with PSA.”

Since, it is your senior year what message would you like to leave behind for the next generations of PSA to come?

“My message for next generations of PSA would be to have fun. Although there can be stressful times with preparing events, you have to remember that you are a student org that was created to celebrate the Pakistani culture. Also, hangout with Pakistani people in general. You can connect on how strict your parents or arranged marriages are through chai and samosas haha it's so much fun!” I have come to realize, growing up is an innovative process and there is no right or wrong way. Anyone that is mixed race, first generation or second generation Pakistani growing up away from Pakistan, or if they have moved to a different country recently leaving Pakistan behind—own it all.  Own it all because you take culture with you wherever you go, own it all because your traditional values should not be a limitation to your life, but a ravishing part of your personality.

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Thank you Embassy of Pakistan for having us today! 🇵🇰 (at Embassy of Pakistan, Washington DC)

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Thank you to everyone who came out today and supported our qawwali event. PSA hopes to make this event an annual tradition. (at The George Washington University)

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Thank you to everyone who came out today and supported our qawwali event. PSA hopes to make this event an annual tradition. (at The George Washington University)

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First Blog Post!

I remember the first dinner I attended hosted by the Pakistani Students’ Association back in my freshmen year. A little surprised and curious about the people involved, I always wondered what made them care about this organization. Soon enough I joined PSA myself, and since then I knew we need to talk more about the people involved and their relationship to their Pakistani heritage and identity.

Recently, I sat down with Minah Malik a senior at GW, wondering about her life as a Pakistani growing up in America and what made her passionate being about Pakistani. Before delving deep into what I asked Minah, here’s what I want you to know: Minah is always working on the next event or idea to keep PSA pushing forward at GW. Her drive is unmatched for and she’s our President.

This is what was on my mind:

What makes you Pakistani? “The obvious answer is that both my parents were born and raised in Pakistan.  But, even though I was born and raised in the United States I've always had a strong connection to the country.  I've spent my whole life going to Pakistan, making trips up to three times in one calendar year. I was also very fortunate to grow up in a community of Pakistanis, which helped foster my identity as a Pakistani while still growing up as an American.”

Favorite part about Pakistani culture “My favorite part about Pakistani culture are the family values.  I'm so lucky to have a large and loving family and I think a large part of our connection is the family-centered nature of Pakistani culture.  Even though many of my cousins and family members lived in Pakistan while I was growing up, we still came together at least once a year.  Now I have this amazing support network all over the world that I wouldn't trade for anything.”

Favorite place in Pakistan “My Nana-Nani's (grandparents from maternal side) house in Model Town, Lahore”

What you hope to get across to Pakistani Americans through the PSA board and in general? “I want other Pakistani's to see that there are many different ways to appreciate the Pakistani culture.  When I was growing up I frequently ran into people telling me how I should be acting and what I should be doing and ultimately they would call me a "bad" Pakistani - all because I didn't think like them.  I want to shatter that idea through PSA - show the Pakistani community at large the diversity in thought and values that exist within our people, and emphasize that they are all worthy perspectives to celebrate.”

After the conversation I kept thinking to myself about the different connections everyone has to Pakistan being so many miles away. The miles we travel back and forth across borders to hold onto ourselves divided up in two countries, while enjoying the best of both worlds.

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Introducing PSA blog posts

GW Pakistani Students’ Association consists of members coming from different backgrounds, lives, and stories. We took the initiative to start sharing our stories blog post by blog post to connect to our audience and show them the side of us that makes us all uniquely Pakistani. This is our blog, this is our story.

p.s Stay tuned for weekly blogs highlighting team members, Pakistani talent, and an inspired generation of Pakistani people working towards a more creative tomorrow.

Badshahi Mosque 2014. Photo Credit: Nawal Wajed 

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meet the board 2017-2018