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I'm Nabila Abbas, alumna at UMT. I passed out with my bachelor degree in 2019 from the institute of aviation studies at UMT. I'm 22 years old now. I've born in a very dismal area where there is no education, no health systems, no technology as far as I’m concerned, this NO is still endowing to my area. Living among an illiterate society (which I believe isn't their fault as they are depriving of their basic rights and facilities) and raising up being unwanted girl child by the society, I always had a dream to attain higher education. Since my early teenage, I couldn't have even understood the true meaning of education or its role in our lives. The girls in my town are only expected to get early marriage and that's it. I never wanted this future. I never wanted either to spoil mine or my future kids and their career. I said NO to these norms. Up in the sky, I always used to look in the airplanes flying high. It hit my head with curiosity and later I came to know how humans can even fly if they have knowledge and education. Since my childhood, I always used to write a tagline; she was born to fly. That was my determination since childhood to attain education.
Therefore, I broke all the way through darkness and embrace a light of hope inside me. I started studying at my father's non profit school which is the only school in my town. I pursued my primary and then secondary education there. Connecting myself to education has started changing my life and opinions. It has enabled me to think out of the box. But at the same time, I kept pushing my friends and fellows to go for education or to go to schools. Parents don't send girls to school here. I remember how once I visited few friends at their home and told them about my experiences while connecting to attain education. I always had a passion to see girls studying instead of marrying at early age.
Later, I shifted with my parents to a small town for my college. I could remember I have always been a brilliant student who is always committed to both studies and extra curricular activities. Even though my primary education was from a very small village school but I didn't give up in competing with the urban students at city level. I started getting A grades in my college. I started improving both my English and curriculum. I never hesitated or underestimated myself. Even in this small city, girls were only supposed to go for studies and then come back to homes. They were not permitted to take part in sports activities. I broke this norm and initiated to go for sports. I with my friends arranged a group for girls to play sports. We managed to go playing at national level in different games like race, high jumping etc. I believe I always wanted to see girls empowered and this is how I always been a change for my fellows.
After my college life, it was time to take bachelor degrees, I opted something different that's aviation management degree. For this I'd to go to a big city and again I'd to fought all barriers of culture, language and societal norms. I couldn't even have bus fare to pay for the city. My parents again supported me and became able to get bachelor degree from one of the well-known Universities in Pakistan that's the University of management and technology, Lahore. In university, I initiated a trend for extra curricular activities in the field of aviation. I started with initially 5- 10 students and then end up with 500 new leaders through this forum called " Aviation Literary forum" where our focus was to build a connection among both rural and urban students so that we can break social cohesion.
This is how I started with my personal story of acquiring educational dream and now I’m working with various international organisations (including the International Congress of Youth Voices USA, The global human projects, The conversationalist, the global network of young politicians, the international youth development society, the youth for Pakistan, National Youth assembly, Dream Equal, Zero Hour, the international association of women developments and rights, UN, the royal commonwealth society UK, Our Agenda by Argentina, YUC- Youth Under Construction by Guatemala) to implement educational reforms at rural areas. My only agenda is to work for people living under privilege or children in rural areas who are not able to get even their early/basic education. I'm committed with various national and international organisation where we are working for more innovative and creative solutions to implement educational reforms.
Also, I’m continually working with organizations to implement gender equality, women empowerment and health improvements initiatives at both national and international level. I’ve the privileged being youngest speaker at UN assembly to bring the very first initiative of rural developments on the dice. Acknowledging all these social and humanitarian work, the royal commonwealth society UK awarded me with “The Diana Award 2020” which is a highly honorary award for young people around the globe bringing positive change in this world.
Also, I’m awarded with “Top 40 Young Aviation professional under 40” award in 2020 for my efforts in the field of aviation. I take all these achievements as a result of prayers and immense support of my parents, teachers, University and above all the Almighty Allah is obviously merciful on me.
I leave behind a very beautiful message to all my youth; you people have an extra energy and passion to change this world. Take your that positive energies out for the right things at right time. “
Favorite Quote: “She was born to fly” (Nabila Abbas) childhood diary quotation
