By Syeda Sakeena Naqvi
Higher education is a privilege that not many students in Pakistan can afford, especially those coming from local examination boards.
After completing my intermediate from Habib Girls’ School, I was under immense pressure for my undergraduate admissions, especially because of the financial stress my education would put my family under.
After my father’s early passing, raising 3 daughters, all on her own, was extremely challenging for my mother, and putting my family under financial pressure for my higher education was the last thing I wanted to do.
That is when I found out about the HU TOPS scholarship, and although I was doubtful about getting selected, I applied for the program anyway.
Habib University HU TOPS is a merit-based, 100% scholarship program that offers a full tuition fee waiver throughout the 4 years of undergraduate education, to 50+, highly exceptional and deserving students from local examination boards.
I still remember the day I got my acceptance letter from Habib University, the utter shock, the happy tears, and the pride my mother felt. Habib University HU TOPS Scholarship in Pakistan is and will always be one of my greatest and proudest achievements.
Habib has not only allowed me to grow intellectually and academically, but also holistically as a compassionate and informed individual. Today, I have the privilege of learning from the most exceptional, capable, and compassionate faculty in Pakistan along with the brightest minds of my generation.
Although I am majoring in Social Development and Policy, Habib’s interdisciplinary curriculum has allowed me to explore my other interests such as Philosophy, Music, and Environmental Sciences, without feeling confined to one field of study.
Because of the Habib University HU TOPS scholarship programs, the student body at Habib University is also one of the most diverse and pluralistic student bodies among other private universities.
I have also been fortunate enough to spend an exchange semester at the University of California, Berkeley, an opportunity that wouldn’t have been possible for me without my institute’s continued support.
Habib prides itself on being a community-owned institution. The university’s Mohsineen have impacted the lives of hundreds of students like myself, by allowing us access to a world-class education.
Their unmatched generosity and continued support for the HU TOPS program have not only opened up a world of opportunities for me, but their support has also helped me through the most crucial time of my life, and has greatly inspired me to serve and give back to my community.
Syeda Sakeena Naqvi is a student of Habib University, studying in the Social Development and Policy program. She is an avid reader, social work enthusiast, and aspiring policymaker.
