It was early morning when I checked my phone and saw the notification prompting me to review my application status. With a racing heart, I accessed the portal, revealing an admission letter from Heller. I could not contain my excitement and shared the news with my mother, overwhelmed with emotions. This moment encapsulated years of struggle, sacrifice, and determined perseverance. However, this joy was swiftly met with the harsh reality of my circumstances. Despite receiving a scholarship, the financial implications were daunting. With my father unwell, the prospect of departing felt impossible. Thus, I made the difficult decision to defer my admission until 2023.
Tragically, my father passed away that same year. The dual burdens of grief and responsibility, coupled with financial constraints, threatened to derail my aspirations. Yet, I was unwilling to abandon the vision that had sustained me for so long.
In 2023, I resolved to take the plunge. I invested our entire savings into enabling this educational journey. Leaving behind my leadership roles in two significant programs, one with the UNDP and another with the Sindh Education Foundation, was a profound personal risk. Nonetheless, I recognized that this investment in my education would ultimately amplify my ability to effect positive change. This decision was not merely career-oriented; it represented a promise to myself and my family, who supported me throughout the process.
Why Heller? The institution's mission to advance social justice resonates deeply with me: it is not merely a slogan, but a principle that informs practice. Here, data coexists with empathy, and policy is evaluated within the context of real-world inequities. As a Master of Public Policy (MPP) student, I acquired essential analytical capabilities, such as policy design, data analysis and research, and program evaluation. Transitioning into the Master of Science (MS) in Global Health Policy and Management provided me with the integrated systems perspective I sought, merging health and education, two interrelated sectors crucial for fostering meaningful change.
The journey from acceptance to arrival proved to be fraught with challenges, yet the community I discovered at Heller made it all worthwhile. From the initial warm welcome emails to engaging discussions with classmates from diverse backgrounds, I felt acknowledged, not solely as a student but as a first-generation graduate student navigating an atypical path.
At Heller, my story is one of resilience and commitment, echoing the core values of the institution.