Coming from a third world country background, I always aspired to attend college in a developed country like the United States or UK to explore how life is there. I had no doubt about the world class facilities that these countries had to offer and the education they provided. When I got into Lafayette College, I was thrilled to be heading to the United States and chase my dreams.
My perspective of the United States was based on news, media and shows. I believed that American culture was extremely fast paced as well as individualistic where everyone was on their own. This was a stark contrast to my home country, Pakistan, where everyone was centered around community-based life. The idea of an individual living alone or moving far from family for work or study was rare. People used to go to colleges near their homes and it was very rare to find someone going to a different province to study. Family decisions were based on collectives instead of personal preferences.
Before coming to the US, I often found it strange for people to leave their homes at an early age. I had a personal feeling that American society was based on personal goals without family-based systems. Moreover, I thought that there was little emotional support for others and care for others. It was just a race to become the best. This emphasis on personal ambition and self-reliance led me to believe that interpersonal relationships in the U.S. would be somewhat distant.
Once I arrived at Lafayette and started taking classes as well as engaging with peers, I realised that people did have strong connections and support for each other. Everyone wanted to see others succeed as well and were genuinely happy to see people achieving something. Moreover, there was a strong emphasis on group work which was not there in my home country. I was initially not an advocate of this concept of group work but later realised that it is an effective way to study without getting tired. I too started engaging in group work and realised the collaborative nature of American society.
Both the international orientation as well as the first-year orientation showcased how everyone was valued in American society. We engaged in group-based activities, games and events which help break boundaries and form relationships. I still have some friends from my LEO group, whom I regularly engage with.
This perspective was further changed in group meetings like ISA and Motorsports, where everyone was valued, and we all were tackling problems together. Additionally, through these clubs and activities, I got a chance to learn more about American culture and make more friendships.
The concept of office hours was new to me. It really reinforced how much the professors cared about the students. I remember that I missed an Econ class, and the professor went over the entire lecture to me one to one. It showed me that they truly wanted the students to succeed, making me further motivated to do well in the class.
I was initially hesitant about living in dorms as I have lived in my house my entire life. But I enjoyed meeting new people, playing pool in the basement, cooking together and having a great overall time in general. In fact, I made so many friends in the dorm buildings, and we even have a mini pool competition after some days, further developing our relations. I was also quite close with my Resident Advisor, who helped me on various occasions like getting locked out of my room and navigating the Watson building.
I learned a great deal about American communities stemming from inclusivity. The diversity and tolerance eased my comfort in sharing my heritage and the changes it took to adjust—for example, in Pakistan, we stay with our cultural or religious groups, but we also only stay with the societal limitations to dictate how we’re supposed to live our lives. Yet many Americans seemed to possess some educated exposure out of a vast array of backgrounds, allowing me to discuss who I was and where I came from with no worry of negative repercussions. I even became part of the International Student Association. Every student from every country wanted to learn about traditions and grow from each other.
My belief about asking for help from people outside my network or anyone outside the classroom changed because I thought people would be out for themselves. Eventually, due to greater campus engagement, I needed to broaden my horizons in terms of support and networking beyond just the four walls of my classroom. I realized the importance of seeking mentorship and building relationships beyond just academic settings. I learned that self-reliance does not mean isolation; rather, it means knowing when to take initiative and when to seek support.
Where I previously believed that individualism meant no community, individual freedom is not gained by sacrificing a group mentality; it’s the opposite. People who embrace individualism are even more grateful for the connection when they have the freedom to choose. Therefore, I feel more empowered, in a practical sense, to pursue my own desired opportunities without guilt for leaving behind what was once anticipated.
But before I had the opportunity to experience it, the cultural expectation was established.
In conclusion, my overall perspective of thinking America is a place where everyone cares for themselves changed to understand that American culture supports collective growth and innovation. I have learned a lot from multicultural meetings as well as from collaborating with my peers at Lafayette College. I look forward to my exciting college journey in America.
[Urdu]
میرا امریکہ تک ثقافتی سفر
ﺗﯾﺳری دﻧﯾﺎ ﮐﮯ ﻣﻠﮏ ﮐﮯ ﭘس ﻣﻧظر ﺳﮯ آﺗﮯ ﮨوﺋﮯ، ﻣﯾں ﮨﻣﯾﺷہ ﺗرﻗﯽ ﯾﺎﻓﺗہ ﻣﻣﺎﻟﮏ ﺟﯾﺳﮯ ﮐہ اﻣرﯾﮑہ ﯾﺎ ﺑرطﺎﻧﯾہ ﻣﯾں اﻋﻠٰﯽ ﺗﻌﻠﯾم ﺣﺎﺻل ﮐرﻧﮯ ﮐﯽ ﺧواﮨش رﮐﮭﺗﺎ ﺗﮭﺎ ﺗﺎﮐہ ﯾہ دﯾﮑﮭ ﺳﮑوں ﮐہ وﮨﺎں ﮐﯽ زﻧدﮔﯽ ﮐﯾﺳﯽ ﮨﮯ۔ ﻣﺟﮭﮯ اس ﺑﺎت ﻣﯾں ﮐوﺋﯽ ﺷﮏ ﻧﮩﯾں ﺗﮭﺎ ﮐہ ان ﻣﻣﺎﻟﮏ ﻣﯾں ﺑﮩﺗرﯾن ﺳﮩوﻟﯾﺎت اور اﻋﻠٰﯽ ﻣﻌﯾﺎر ﮐﯽ ﺗﻌﻠﯾم ﻣوﺟود ﮨﮯ۔ ﺟب ﻣﺟﮭﮯ ﻻﻓﺎﺋٹ ﮐﺎﻟﺞ ﻣﯾں داﺧﻠہ ﻣﻼ، ﺗو ﻣﯾں ﺑﮯ ﺣد ﺧوش ﺗﮭﺎ ﮐہ ﻣﯾں اﻣرﯾﮑہ ﺟﺎ رﮨﺎ ﮨوں۔
ﻣﯾرا اﻣرﯾﮑہ ﮐﮯ ﺑﺎرے ﻣﯾں ﻧظرﯾہ ﺧﺑروں، ذراﺋﻊ اﺑﻼغ اور ﭨﯾﻠﯽ وﯾژن ﭘروﮔراﻣوں ﭘر ﻣﺑﻧﯽ ﺗﮭﺎ۔ ﻣﯾں ﺳﻣﺟﮭﺗﺎ ﺗﮭﺎ ﮐہ اﻣرﯾﮑﯽ ﺛﻘﺎﻓت اﻧﺗﮩﺎﺋﯽ ﺗﯾز رﻓﺗﺎر اور اﻧﻔرادﯾت ﭘﺳﻧد ﮨﮯ، ﺟﮩﺎں ﮨر ﺷﺧص ﺻرف اﭘﻧﮯ ﻟﯾﮯ ﺟﯾﺗﺎ ﮨﮯ۔ ﯾہ ﻣﯾرے آﺑﺎﺋﯽ ﻣﻠﮏ، ﭘﺎﮐﺳﺗﺎن، ﮐﮯ ﺑﺎﻟﮑل ﺑرﻋﮑس ﺗﮭﺎ، ﺟﮩﺎں زﻧدﮔﯽ ﮐﻣﯾوﻧﭨﯽ ﭘر ﻣﺑﻧﯽ ﮨوﺗﯽ ﮨﮯ۔ وﮨﺎں ﮐوﺋﯽ ﺑﮭﯽ ﻓرد اﮐﯾﻠﮯ رﮨﻧﮯ ﯾﺎ ﮐﺎم ﯾﺎ ﺗﻌﻠﯾم ﮐﮯ ﻟﯾﮯ اﭘﻧﮯ ﺧﺎﻧدان ﺳﮯ دور ﺟﺎﻧﮯ ﮐﺎ ﺗﺻور ﺑﮭﯽ ﻧﮩﯾں ﮐر ﺳﮑﺗﺎ ﺗﮭﺎ۔ زﯾﺎده ﺗر ﻟوگ اﭘﻧﮯ ﮔﮭروں ﮐﮯ ﻗرﯾب ﮨﯽ ﺗﻌﻠﯾﻣﯽ اداروں ﻣﯾں داﺧﻠہ ﻟﯾﺗﮯ ﺗﮭﮯ، اور ﮐﺳﯽ ﮐﺎ ﮐﺳﯽ دوﺳرے ﺻوﺑﮯ ﻣﯾں ﺟﺎ ﮐر ﭘڑھﻧﺎ ﺑﮭﯽ ﺑﮩت ﮐم دﯾﮑﮭﺎ ﺟﺎﺗﺎ ﺗﮭﺎ۔ ﺧﺎﻧداﻧﯽ ﻓﯾﺻﻠﮯ اﺟﺗﻣﺎﻋﯽ طور ﭘر ﮐﯾﮯ ﺟﺎﺗﮯ ﺗﮭﮯ، ﻧہ ﮐہ ذاﺗﯽ ﺗرﺟﯾﺣﺎت ﮐﯽ ﺑﻧﯾﺎد ﭘر۔
اﻣرﯾﮑہ آﻧﮯ ﺳﮯ ﭘﮩﻠﮯ، ﻣﺟﮭﮯ ﮨﻣﯾﺷہ ﯾہ ﻋﺟﯾب ﻟﮕﺗﺎ ﺗﮭﺎ ﮐہ ﻟوگ ﮐم ﻋﻣری ﻣﯾں اﭘﻧﮯ ﮔﮭروں ﮐو ﭼﮭوڑ دﯾﺗﮯ ﮨﯾں۔ ﻣﯾرا ذاﺗﯽ ﺧﯾﺎل ﺗﮭﺎ ﮐہ اﻣرﯾﮑﯽ ﻣﻌﺎﺷره ﺻرف ذاﺗﯽ ﻣﻘﺎﺻد ﭘر ﻣﺑﻧﯽ ﮨﮯ اور ﺧﺎﻧداﻧﯽ ﻧظﺎم ﺑﮩت ﮐﻣزور ﮨﮯ۔ ﻣزﯾد ﯾہ ﮐہ، ﻣﯾں ﯾہ ﺳﻣﺟﮭﺗﺎ ﺗﮭﺎ ﮐہ ﯾﮩﺎں ﺟذﺑﺎﺗﯽ طور ﭘر دوﺳروں ﮐﯽ ﻣدد ﮐرﻧﮯ ﯾﺎ ﺧﯾﺎل رﮐﮭﻧﮯ ﮐﺎ رﺟﺣﺎن ﮐم ﮨﮯ اور ﮨر ﺷﺧص ﺻرف اﭘﻧﯽ ﮐﺎﻣﯾﺎﺑﯽ ﮐﮯ ﭘﯾﭼﮭﮯ ﺑﮭﺎﮔﺗﺎ ﮨﮯ۔ اس ذاﺗﯽ ﻋزاﺋم اور ﺧود اﻧﺣﺻﺎری ﭘر زور ﻧﮯ ﻣﺟﮭﮯ ﯾہ ﯾﻘﯾن دﻻ دﯾﺎ ﺗﮭﺎ ﮐہ اﻣرﯾﮑہ ﻣﯾں ﺗﻌﻠﻘﺎت ﮐﭼﮭ ﺣد ﺗﮏ دوری ﭘر ﻣﺑﻧﯽ ﮨوں ﮔﮯ۔
ﻟﯾﮑن ﺟب ﻣﯾں ﻻﻓﺎﺋٹ ﭘﮩﻧﭼﺎ اور اﭘﻧﯽ ﺗﻌﻠﯾﻣﯽ ﺳرﮔرﻣﯾﺎں ﺷروع ﮐﯾں اور ﺳﺎﺗﮭﯽ طﻠﺑہ ﺳﮯ ﻣﻼ، ﺗو ﻣﺟﮭﮯ اﺣﺳﺎس ﮨوا ﮐہ ﯾﮩﺎں ﻟوگ اﯾﮏ دوﺳرے ﮐﮯ ﺳﺎﺗﮭ ﻣﺿﺑوط ﺗﻌﻠﻘﺎت رﮐﮭﺗﮯ ﮨﯾں اور اﯾﮏ دوﺳرے ﮐﯽ ﮐﺎﻣﯾﺎﺑﯽ ﭘر واﻗﻌﯽ ﺧوش ﮨوﺗﮯ ﮨﯾں۔ ﻣزﯾد ﺑرآں، ﯾﮩﺎں ﮔروپ ﻣﯾں ﻣل ﮐر ﮐﺎم ﮐرﻧﮯ ﭘر ﺧﺎص زور دﯾﺎ ﺟﺎﺗﺎ ﮨﮯ، ﺟو ﻣﯾرے ﻣﻠﮏ ﻣﯾں زﯾﺎده ﻋﺎم ﻧﮩﯾں ﺗﮭﺎ۔ ﭘﮩﻠﮯ ﺗو ﻣﯾں اس ﺗﺻور ﮐﺎ ﺣﺎﻣﯽ ﻧﮩﯾں ﺗﮭﺎ، ﻟﯾﮑن ﺑﻌد ﻣﯾں ﻣﺟﮭﮯ اﺣﺳﺎس ﮨوا ﮐہ ﯾہ طرﯾﻘہ ﻧہ ﺻرف ﺳﯾﮑﮭﻧﮯ ﮐﺎ اﯾﮏ ﻣؤﺛر ذرﯾﻌہ ﮨﮯ ﺑﻠﮑہ ﺗﮭﮑن ﮐو ﺑﮭﯽ ﮐم ﮐرﺗﺎ ﮨﮯ۔ ﻣﯾں ﺑﮭﯽ اس ﻣﯾں ﺷﺎﻣل ﮨوا اور اﻣرﯾﮑﯽ ﻣﻌﺎﺷرے ﮐﯽ اﺟﺗﻣﺎﻋﯽ ﻓطرت ﮐو ﻣﺣﺳوس ﮐﯾﺎ۔
ﺑﯾن اﻻﻗواﻣﯽ طﻠﺑہ ﮐﯽ ﺗﻌﺎرﻓﯽ ﻧﺷﺳت اور ﭘﮩﻠﮯ ﺳﺎل ﮐﯽ ﺗﻌﺎرﻓﯽ ﺳرﮔرﻣﯾوں ﻧﮯ ﻣزﯾد واﺿﺢ ﮐﯾﺎ ﮐہ اﻣرﯾﮑﯽ ﻣﻌﺎﺷرے ﻣﯾں ﮨر ﺷﺧص ﮐﯽ ﻗدر ﮐﯽ ﺟﺎﺗﯽ ﮨﮯ۔ ﮨم ﻧﮯ ﮔروپ ﮐﯽ ﺑﻧﯾﺎد ﭘر ﺳرﮔرﻣﯾوں، ﮐﮭﯾﻠوں اور ﺗﻘرﯾﺑﺎت ﻣﯾں ﺣﺻہ ﻟﯾﺎ، ﺟﻧﮩوں ﻧﮯ ﮨﻣﺎرے درﻣﯾﺎن ﺗﻌﻠﻘﺎت ﻗﺎﺋم ﮐرﻧﮯ ﻣﯾں ﻣدد دی۔ آج ﺑﮭﯽ، ﻣﯾں اﭘﻧﮯ ﺗﻌﺎرﻓﯽ ﮔروه ﮐﮯ ﮐﭼﮭ دوﺳﺗوں ﮐﮯ ﺳﺎﺗﮭ راﺑطﮯ ﻣﯾں ﮨوں۔
ﻣﯾرا ﯾہ ﻧظرﯾہ ﻣزﯾد ﺑدﻻ ﺟب ﻣﯾں ﺑﯾن اﻻﻗواﻣﯽ طﻠﺑہ ﮐﯽ اﻧﺟﻣن اور ﻣوﭨر ﮐﮭﯾﻠوں ﮐﮯ ﮐﻠب ﺟﯾﺳﯽ ﻧﺷﺳﺗوں ﻣﯾں ﮔﯾﺎ، ﺟﮩﺎں ﮨر ﻓرد ﮐو اﮨﻣﯾت دی ﺟﺎﺗﯽ ﮨﮯ اور ﮨم ﺳب ﻣل ﮐر ﻣﺳﺎﺋل ﮐﺎ ﺣل ﺗﻼش ﮐرﺗﮯ ﮨﯾں۔ ان ﮐﻠﺑوں اور ﺳرﮔرﻣﯾوں ﮐﮯ ذرﯾﻌﮯ، ﻣﺟﮭﮯ اﻣرﯾﮑﯽ ﺛﻘﺎﻓت ﮐو ﻣزﯾد ﻗرﯾب ﺳﮯ دﯾﮑﮭﻧﮯ اور ﻧﺋﯽ دوﺳﺗﯽ ﮐرﻧﮯ ﮐﺎ ﻣوﻗﻊ ﻣﻼ۔
اﺳﺎﺗذه ﮐﮯ اوﻗﺎتِ ﻣﻼﻗﺎت ﮐﺎ ﺗﺻور ﻣﯾرے ﻟﯾﮯ ﺑﺎﻟﮑل ﻧﯾﺎ ﺗﮭﺎ۔ اس ﺳﮯ ﻣﺟﮭﮯ واﻗﻌﯽ اﺣﺳﺎس ﮨوا ﮐہ اﺳﺎﺗذه اﭘﻧﮯ طﻠﺑہ ﮐﺎ ﮐﺗﻧﺎ ﺧﯾﺎل رﮐﮭﺗﮯ ﮨﯾں۔ ﻣﺟﮭﮯ ﯾﺎد ﮨﮯ ﮐہ ﻣﯾں اﯾﮏ دن اﭘﻧﯽ ﻣﻌﺎﺷﯾﺎت ﮐﯽ ﺟﻣﺎﻋت ﺳﮯ ﻏﯾر ﺣﺎﺿر ﺗﮭﺎ، اور اﺳﺗﺎد ﻧﮯ ﻣﺟﮭﮯ ذاﺗﯽ طور ﭘر ﭘورا درس دوﺑﺎره ﺳﻣﺟﮭﺎﯾﺎ۔ اس ﺳﮯ ﯾہ ﺛﺎﺑت ﮨوا ﮐہ وه واﻗﻌﯽ طﻠﺑہ ﮐﯽ ﮐﺎﻣﯾﺎﺑﯽ ﭼﺎﮨﺗﮯ ﮨﯾں، ﺟس ﻧﮯ ﻣﺟﮭﮯ ﻣزﯾد ﻣﺣﻧت ﮐرﻧﮯ ﮐﯽ ﺗرﻏﯾب دی۔
ﻣﺟﮭﮯ اﺑﺗدا ﻣﯾں ﮨوﺳﭨل ﻣﯾں رﮨﻧﮯ ﮐﮯ ﺑﺎرے ﻣﯾں ﮨﭼﮑﭼﺎﮨٹ ﺗﮭﯽ، ﮐﯾوﻧﮑہ ﻣﯾں ﮨﻣﯾﺷہ اﭘﻧﮯ ﮔﮭر ﻣﯾں رﮨﺎ ﺗﮭﺎ۔ ﻟﯾﮑن ﯾﮩﺎں ﻧﺋﮯ ﻟوﮔوں ﺳﮯ ﻣل ﮐر، ﺑﯾﺳﻣﻧٹ ﻣﯾں ﮐﮭﯾﻠوں ﻣﯾں ﺣﺻہ ﻟﮯ ﮐر، اﯾﮏ ﺳﺎﺗﮭ ﮐﮭﺎﻧﺎ ﺑﻧﺎ ﮐر اور وﻗت ﮔزار ﮐر ﻣﯾں ﻧﮯ اس ﺗﺟرﺑﮯ ﮐو ﺧوب اﻧﺟواﺋﮯ ﮐﯾﺎ۔ ﻣﯾں ﻧﮯ ﮨوﺳﭨل ﻣﯾں ﮐﺋﯽ دوﺳت ﺑﻧﺎﺋﮯ، اور ﮨم ﮨر ﭼﻧد دن ﺑﻌد ﮐﮭﯾﻠوں ﮐﮯ اﯾﮏ ﭼﮭوﭨﮯ ﻣﻘﺎﺑﻠﮯ ﮐﺎ اﮨﺗﻣﺎم ﮐرﺗﮯ ﮨﯾں، ﺟس ﺳﮯ ﮨﻣﺎرے ﺗﻌﻠﻘﺎت ﻣزﯾد ﻣﺿﺑوط ﮨوﺋﮯ۔ ﻣﯾں اﭘﻧﮯ رﮨﺎﺋﺷﯽ ﻣﺷﯾر ﮐﮯ ﺑﮭﯽ ﺑﮩت ﻗرﯾب
ﺗﮭﺎ، ﺟو ﮐﺋﯽ ﻣواﻗﻊ ﭘر ﻣﯾری ﻣدد ﮐﮯ ﻟﯾﮯ ﻣوﺟود رﮨﺎ، ﺟﯾﺳﮯ ﮐہ ﺟب ﻣﯾں اﭘﻧﮯ ﮐﻣرے ﻣﯾں ﺑﻧد ﮨو ﮔﯾﺎ ﺗﮭﺎ ﯾﺎ ﻋﻣﺎرت ﻣﯾں راﺳﺗہ ﺗﻼش ﮐر رﮨﺎ ﺗﮭﺎ۔
ﻣﯾں ﻧﮯ اﻣرﯾﮑﯽ ﻣﻌﺎﺷرے ﻣﯾں ﺷﻣوﻟﯾت ﮐﮯ اﺻوﻟوں ﺳﮯ ﺑﮩت ﮐﭼﮭ ﺳﯾﮑﮭﺎ۔ ﯾﮩﺎں ﮐﯽ ﺗﻧوع اور ﺑرداﺷت ﻧﮯ ﻣﺟﮭﮯ اﭘﻧﮯ ﺛﻘﺎﻓﺗﯽ ورﺛﮯ ﮐو ﺷﯾﺋر ﮐرﻧﮯ اور ﯾﮩﺎں ﮐﮯ ﻣﺎﺣول ﻣﯾں اﯾڈﺟﺳٹ ﮨوﻧﮯ ﻣﯾں ﻣدد دی۔ ﭘﺎﮐﺳﺗﺎن ﻣﯾں، ﮨم زﯾﺎده ﺗر اﭘﻧﮯ ﻣذﮨﺑﯽ ﯾﺎ ﺛﻘﺎﻓﺗﯽ ﮔروﮨوں ﻣﯾں ﻣﺣدود رﮨﺗﮯ ﮨﯾں اور ﺳﻣﺎﺟﯽ ﭘﺎﺑﻧدﯾﺎں طﮯ ﮐرﺗﯽ ﮨﯾں ﮐہ ﮨﻣﯾں ﮐﯾﺳﮯ ﺟﯾﻧﺎ ﭼﺎﮨﯾﮯ۔ ﻟﯾﮑن اﻣرﯾﮑہ ﻣﯾں، زﯾﺎده ﺗر اﻓراد ﻣﺧﺗﻠف ﺛﻘﺎﻓﺗوں ﺳﮯ واﻗﻔﯾت رﮐﮭﺗﮯ ﮨﯾں، اور وه ﻣﺧﺗﻠف ﭘس ﻣﻧظر ﮐﮯ ﻟوﮔوں ﺳﮯ ﺳﯾﮑﮭﻧﮯ اور ان ﮐﮯ ﺧﯾﺎﻻت ﺳﻧﻧﮯ ﮐﮯ ﻟﯾﮯ ﺗﯾﺎر ﮨوﺗﮯ ﮨﯾں۔ ﻣﯾں ﺑﯾن اﻻﻗواﻣﯽ طﻠﺑہ ﮐﯽ اﻧﺟﻣن ﮐﺎ ﺣﺻہ ﺑﮭﯽ ﺑﻧﺎ، ﺟﮩﺎں ﮨر ﻣﻠﮏ ﮐﮯ طﻠﺑہ اﯾﮏ دوﺳرے ﮐﮯ رﺳم ورواج اور رواﯾﺎت ﮐﮯ ﺑﺎرے ﻣﯾں ﺟﺎﻧﻧﮯ ﮐﮯ ﺧواﮨﺷﻣﻧد ﺗﮭﮯ۔
ﻣﯾرا ﯾہ ﺧﯾﺎل ﮐہ ﮐﺳﯽ ﺳﮯ ﻣدد ﻣﺎﻧﮕﻧﺎ ﻣﺷﮑل ﮨوﮔﺎ ﯾﺎ ﻟوگ ﺻرف اﭘﻧﮯ ﻓﺎﺋدے ﮐﮯ ﻟﯾﮯ ﮐﺎم ﮐرﯾں ﮔﮯ، وﻗت ﮐﮯ ﺳﺎﺗﮭ ﺑدل ﮔﯾﺎ۔ ﺟﯾﺳﮯ ﺟﯾﺳﮯ ﻣﯾں ﺗﻌﻠﯾﻣﯽ ادارے ﻣﯾں ﻣزﯾد ﺳرﮔرم ﮨوا، ﻣﯾں ﻧﮯ ﻣﺣﺳوس ﮐﯾﺎ ﮐہ اﭘﻧﯽ ﻣﻌﺎوﻧت ﮐﮯ داﺋرے ﮐو ﮐﻼس روم ﮐﯽ ﭼﺎر دﯾواری ﺳﮯ ﺑﺎﮨر ﺑڑھﺎﻧﺎ ﺿروری ﮨﮯ۔ ﻣﯾں ﻧﮯ ﺳﯾﮑﮭﺎ ﮐہ ﺧود اﻧﺣﺻﺎری ﮐﺎ ﻣطﻠب ﺗﻧﮩﺎﺋﯽ ﻧﮩﯾں، ﺑﻠﮑہ ﯾہ ﺟﺎﻧﻧﺎ ﮨﮯ ﮐہ ﮐب ﺧود ﺳﮯ ﮐﭼﮭ ﮐرﻧﺎ ﮨﮯ اور ﮐب دوﺳروں ﺳﮯ ﻣدد ﻟﯾﻧﯽ ﮨﮯ۔
ﺟﮩﺎں ﭘﮩﻠﮯ ﻣﯾں ﯾہ ﺳﻣﺟﮭﺗﺎ ﺗﮭﺎ ﮐہ اﻧﻔرادﯾت ﮐﺎ ﻣطﻠب اﺟﺗﻣﺎﻋﯽ ﺗﻌﻠﻘﺎت ﮐﯽ ﻗرﺑﺎﻧﯽ دﯾﻧﺎ ﮨﮯ، وﮨﺎں ﻣﺟﮭﮯ ﯾہ اﺣﺳﺎس ﮨوا ﮐہ آزادی اور ﮐﻣﯾوﻧﭨﯽ ﺳﺎﺗﮭ ﺳﺎﺗﮭ ﭼل ﺳﮑﺗﮯ ﮨﯾں۔ ﺟو ﻟوگ اﻧﻔرادﯾت ﮐو اﭘﻧﺎﺗﮯ ﮨﯾں، وه ﺟب ﺗﻌﻠﻘﺎت ﻗﺎﺋم ﮐرﺗﮯ ﮨﯾں ﺗو اﻧﮩﯾں اور زﯾﺎده ﻗدر ﮐﯽ ﻧﮕﺎه ﺳﮯ دﯾﮑﮭﺗﮯ ﮨﯾں، ﮐﯾوﻧﮑہ ﯾہ ﺗﻌﻠﻘﺎت ان ﮐﯽ اﭘﻧﯽ ﭘﺳﻧد ﺳﮯ ﺑﻧﺗﮯ ﮨﯾں۔ اس ﻟﯾﮯ ﻣﯾں ﺧود ﮐو ﭘﮩﻠﮯ ﺳﮯ زﯾﺎده ﺑﺎاﺧﺗﯾﺎر ﻣﺣﺳوس ﮐرﺗﺎ ﮨوں اور اﭘﻧﯽ ﺧواﮨﺷﺎت ﮐﮯ ﻣطﺎﺑق ﻣواﻗﻊ ﮐﺎ ﺗﻌﺎﻗب ﮐرﻧﮯ ﻣﯾں ﮐوﺋﯽ ﺟﮭﺟﮏ ﻣﺣﺳوس ﻧﮩﯾں ﮐرﺗﺎ۔
آﺧر ﻣﯾں، ﻣﯾری ﯾہ ﺳوچ ﮐہ اﻣرﯾﮑہ ﻣﯾں ﮨر ﺷﺧص ﺻرف اﭘﻧﯽ ﮐﺎﻣﯾﺎﺑﯽ ﮐﮯ ﺑﺎرے ﻣﯾں ﺳوﭼﺗﺎ ﮨﮯ، اب ﺣﻘﯾﻘت ﭘﺳﻧدی ﻣﯾں ﺑدل ﭼﮑﯽ ﮨﮯ۔ ﻣﯾں ﻧﮯ ﯾہ ﺳﯾﮑﮭﺎ ﮐہ ﯾہ ﻣﻌﺎﺷره اﺟﺗﻣﺎﻋﯽ ﺗرﻗﯽ اور اﺧﺗراﻋﺎت ﮐﯽ ﺑﮭﯽ ﺣﻣﺎﯾت ﮐرﺗﺎ ﮨﮯ۔ ﻣﯾں ﻧﮯ ﻣﺧﺗﻠف ﺛﻘﺎﻓﺗﯽ ﻣﻼﻗﺎﺗوں اور اﭘﻧﮯ ﺳﺎﺗﮭﯾوں ﮐﮯ ﺳﺎﺗﮭ ﻣل ﮐر ﮐﺎم ﮐرﻧﮯ ﮐﮯ ذرﯾﻌﮯ ﺑﮩت ﮐﭼﮭ ﺳﯾﮑﮭﺎ ﮨﮯ، اور ﻣﺟﮭﮯ اﻣرﯾﮑہ ﻣﯾں اﭘﻧﮯ ﺗﻌﻠﯾﻣﯽ ﺳﻔر ﮐﮯ ﻟﯾﮯ ﻣزﯾد ﺟوش وﺧروش ﮨﮯ۔