March 2017 – Page 2 – College Admission at Loyola

Reflection on LUC’s ‘Explore Pakistan’ Event

By Husna Afzal | March 13, 2017

The Thursday before spring break (March 2nd, 2017), Loyola University held an on-campus event called “Explore Pakistan” by the students involved in the Pakistani Student Association (PSA) here at Loyola. Being apart of the association at school, it was definitely a proud moment after all the hard work that was put in by our members and dedicated board members.

Pakistani and Pakistani-American students on that night turned the campus of Chicago’s Loyola University into a mini Pakistan with food stalls and other exhibits as part of the country’s 70th Independence Anniversary celebrations that attracted a number of people.

The purpose of the event was to expose everyone of the Pakistani culture and the many aspects of it such as its clothing, food, dances, and aesthetics. Tickets were free to Loyola Students with an ID and only $10 for non-Loyola students.

The event started with Pakistan’s Consul General Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, who was the chief guest on the occasion. Tirmizi urged Pakistani students to become a part of the American mainstream by making inroads into the US political, media and social sectors. Tirmizi said that Pakistan was a kaleidoscope of rich cultural heritage encompassing Indus valley, Gandhara, Islamic, Sikh and Mughal civilizations. Tirmizi spoke about the immense economic progress that Pakistan had made despite many security challenges, a fact acknowledged by leading western publications and how the rise of middle class could be the driver for stability not only for Pakistan but also for the entire region.

Appetizers, such as paani puri, live sugar cane juicing, falooda (ice cream), and lassi were served followed by a wide variety of Pakistani food catered by Anmol Barbecue Restaurant on Devon Ave,

Following dinner were dance performances by two groups, leading into an open dance floor.

Decorations were done by Afrin Designs and Henna application done by art.of.shades (Fareha Kamran) which made the event come together beautifully and made it very similar to the Mehndi (Henna) ceremony of the Pakistani tradition.

Overall, the event was a success and was definitely an unforgettable night. Loyola’s event was featured on many news websites as well, so be sure to check them out:

http://dailytimes.com.pk/life-and-style/05-Mar-17/pakistani-students-set-up-food-stalls-to-highlight-countrys-culture-in-chicago

http://pakobserver.net/pakistan-history-culture-showcased-at-chicagos-loyala-university/

http://www.app.com.pk/pakistans-history-and-culture-showcased-at-chicagos-loyola-university/

LUC PSA: “Our mission is to recognize the struggle and hardship facing Pakistan today and help alleviate these hardships through fundraising events, while simultaneously raising awareness about the culture and beauty of Pakistan. We hope to create a diverse group of members through our outreach and fundraising efforts.”

All money that was raised went towards building schools in Lahore, Pakistan.

Why did I CHOOSE to go to college?

By | March 9, 2017

After high school graduation, students are commonly considered as official, educated, and independent people.

You can manage your own life now. Your future is up to you. You’re on your own now.

These things are sayings I have been told by family members and my own conscience. It is not to be taken in a condescending way; it is simply a wake-up call to take responsibility and carry out a suitable future. After my high school graduation, I had planned to go straight to college that same year in the fall instead of taking a gap year. (Nowadays, gap years are more common and acceptable.) Others will find their soulmates early and marry and start a family (I have a couple of friends who went on that track). Either way, it is quite visible that people go different directions.

I CHOOSE college because I know a higher education will allow me to pursue careers that I choose to do. Higher education is one of the main gateways for opportunities and potential. Even with a bachelor’s degree, you are most likely better off hiring than someone who has had less education than you because of qualifications. College classes are designed for you to build better knowledge in areas of your interest [of your major] and give you better skills on writing, communicating, studying, and critical thinking.

In addition, I was brought up in my family to take education seriously and prioritize education above everything else. As a first American-born child from a refugee family, I realized that my family came to America and started from the bottom and worked their way up through hard (HARD) work and effort. I want to continue with the foundation my family built for me and work my way up the ladder of success. I chose college over gap years or meeting someone and starting a family because I knew that if I stopped education for a bit, it would be harder to get back into the academic mindset.

College is not scary, not unless you make it scary in your head. Don’t be intimidated on what you see about college life in movies and TV shows. I can assure you, Loyola is nothing like that. Best advice I can give (and have always given) is to take a tour of Loyola and see the campus and students for yourself. You can make your own impressions on college afterwards and see if you are ready to take the next step of your life.

Altogether, keep your head up! Here’s a good quote I try to live by: