To Batch 148, With Love:

March 16, 2020, was the unfortunate day I was forced to leave my hostel as an unprecedented turn of events occurred across the globe. A lockdown was enforced due to the pandemic. Coming back home it was extremely difficult to adjust for someone who is used to residing amongst hundreds of residents at a Hostel. The first two months of the pandemic were way too uncomforting. I lost my job, I was already done with my thesis defense, I was literally clueless of what should I do with my life. It was the evening of June 14 and the time was 11:15 pm. I was scrolling my Facebook and then this popped up:

I still remember how I rushed into that website and filled the fellowship form just in the nick of time before the deadline. I was so desperate to join this as the pandemic was really killing me. Although I still had to wait for yet another month but then again after going through all the phases of recruitment, I received this and I actually felt excited after a huge time:

Thus the journey commenced. I was introduced to people with extremely diverse backgrounds. It was exactly what I wanted in this pandemic. In this journey, I was introduced to some of the nicest people I’ve ever met in my life. Let me start with my Program Associate Madam Iqra; she’s a gem; an extremely humble lady 💕 Her presence gives you this mesmerizing aura. She’s surely a special lady with unreal charisma. And with my good luck, she gets paired to make such a powerful duo with the magisterial Madam Zeest, our Program Manager. Madam Zeest is as unique as her name, “she’s like a moon who fell in love with blue light and shared all her light…”; as poetic as it sounds, she’s one heck of a teacher and a powerful public speaker. Both had a huge impact on me particularly in terms of improving my public speaking skills.

Then comes this Batch 148. A bunch of genius weirdos ☺️ all from extremely diverse backgrounds. I’ll never forget this priceless time I’ve shared with them 💕💞 Particularly those long conversations about supernatural creations who created pyramids to Harry Potter fanfiction with arguably my best friend from fellowship Usama Khan… The following screenshot was that two hours long conversation that we had about it 😂

Also difficult to forget all those midnight football games conversations with Daniyal Talat which will probably sustain even after the Fellowship. I’ll never forget the support I had in my first Mega Circle which unfortunately had to dissolve during the Fellowship but that bonding with Saad, Noor Fatima, and the captain Gul e Rana will always stay special. Also, those delightful tiny interactions with Gulnaz, Mehwish, Arsalan, and Saman were special. Shahzeb hijacking the sessions with his Anatolian history, Ayesha forever complaining about her email not working, all those breakout rooms sessions and activities; This entire Amal journey will be unforgettable. I’m forever grateful to Amal Academy who let me experience all this, Proud to be a part of #AmalFamily ✨💞💓💟❣️