Hello, my name is Jabeen Mirza and I come from a remote region of Pakistan called Gilgit-Baltistan. Growing up, I attended primary school with AKESP and later pursued my higher education at the Aga Khan Higher Secondary School in Gahkuch, Gilgit. Life wasn't easy for me as I come from a typical household, but with perseverance, the support of my parents, and encouragement from my teachers, I was able to finish my higher education with commendable results.
Ever since I was a child, my dream was to study overseas. I applied for scholarships after completing my college studies, but mostly the options I came across had bigger financial requirements. I was struggling until one of my friends told me about the Shams Family Foundation. After exploring their website and carefully considering everything, I decided that this was an amazing opportunity and that my journey could finally begin.
With the help of my family and the entire SFF team, I completed all the requirements for SFF and the university within about six months. After receiving my ticket, I boarded a plane with other students, stopping in Dubai — where SFF covered all our travel costs for a three-day visit, including a trip to the Dubai Ismaili Center — before continuing on to Turkey and finally arriving in North Macedonia.
My initial impression of Tetovo was strange since everything was unfamiliar, but I was relieved to see many students from my own country at the institution. During this challenging adjustment period, I received emotional and monetary assistance from SFF and its entire staff. At South East European University (SEEU), computer science was an entirely new subject for me, but with extra lessons from the institution and support from SFF, I was able to overcome the challenge.
I am incredibly grateful to Sir Kamruddin Shams for giving me this amazing opportunity. Without him, I would not be where I am today. My adventure is just beginning, and with the help of SFF and its wonderful team, I am confident I can achieve my goals.