Bags packed: US classrooms celebrate diversity, says official

USEFP holds pre-departure seminar for Pakistani students

ISLAMABAD: The United States Educational Foundation in Pakistan (USEFP) Executive Director Rita Akhtar said that the classrooms in the US reflected the country’s ability to accept diversity.

The USEFP official, while speaking at a pre-departure orientation seminar held here on Friday congratulated the around 80 students who will begin their graduate and undergraduate studies in the US in fall this year.

The USEFP Communications Officer, Shirin Pasha noted that at the moment around 11,000 Pakistani students were enrolled in various programmes in the US colleges.

Pasha said that the number of students had increased by 3.4 per cent since 2013.

Students who had already graduated from various US institutes were also invited to provide share their views on how to make the best out of their stay abroad.

Participants were encouraged to discuss their concerns regarding cultural and academic issues one may face in the US.

Yousaf Saeed, a returning graduate spoke about the ‘cultural shock’ he experienced when he first landed in the US and how one should always be mentally prepared for that.

He said that it did not matter how many American movies you have watched, you would find the first few months hard to adjust.

“Say hi, be nice to people and attend parties to get yourself accustomed to the new environment,” Saeed said.

Saad Janjua a graduate told the audience that it did not matter if you were not able to speak fluent English. “As long as you are confident, locals are accustomed to hearing people speak in all sorts of accents, they usually do understand and respond you well,” he said.

A parent, Baig, whose three children are currently studying in the US, told the audience that professors there were less formal then Pakistani teachers. “Since I completed my masters from US as well, I know teachers will go out of the way to help their students,” he said. “There is no bias, and especially among academic circles you will never feel that you are being targeted or singled out,” Baig said.

Malik Abdul Majid, vice president of Pakistani Students Association in the US and a graduate of University of Pennsylvania shared ways to have a socially enriching experience. “The most important thing is to not be shy, join clubs and meet Pakistani community to remain well informed of the current happenings,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 26^th, 2015.