Growing up in a third world country and moving to America at age 17 could easily be the biggest struggle of one’s life, but senior Maryam Zahid does not seem to be phased. She came to join her brother in an unfamiliar country. This would be intimidating to almost anyone, but she was sure she was making the right decision.

Zahid left her family and life back home in Pakistan to pursue a life that she would not be able to achieve there. She came to the United States with the dreams of having a fair chance at success as a female. Zahid came for the seemingly endless opportunities, including a better education.

“In Pakistan there is no such thing as a female lawyer. You can become one, but no one will take you seriously. All of the men would just pick on you,” said Zahid.

Men are superior in the workforce and often have rotten ways of treating their female colleagues.

Samina Nauman told telegraph.co.uk that during a rally to advocate for females in the workforce, “[Men] trussed me like a chicken, threw me in a police van and dumped me along with few of my colleagues at a police lock up.”

Zahid came from Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, where the elite live. The surrounding area is the heart of the urban slum. Families with no money to their name are all around and there are always kids on the street looking for work. They do not care what they have to do, they are just looking to earn money.  Hardly any children go to school during the day.

Maha Mussadaq from tribune.co.pk said, “The economic cost of not educating Pakistan is the equivalent of one flood every year. Other facts state there are 26 countries poorer than Pakistan but send more of their children to schools, showing that the issue is not about finances, but will and articulating demand effectively.”

The resources available to them are extremely limited. The government is spending only 2.5 percent of their budget on education. Zahid’s mother decided that some changes needed to be made.

“In 2009 my mom started a charity. She wanted to create a school for underprivileged children. It started off with five kids and has about 550 now. She gets support from programs like UNICEF to keep it running,” said Zahid.

Zahid was exposed to the hardship that many went through, but her life was much different. There is a huge gap between the rich and the poor, there is almost no such thing as the middle class in Pakistan. She grew up as an elite and was exposed to many luxuries.  Yet, in Pakistan, she was constantly worried if she was safe. It was safe ti=o to go to the market alone and and there were always underlying fears. Despite all of that, she still felt more protected when she was there.

“In Pakistan you have drivers, you are more protected and more comfortable. People work for you, you don’t have to do anything for yourself,” explained Zahid. “Even though I miss so many things about home, people are really nice in Minnesota. It’s better than what I thought it’d be,” she added.

With her high hopes, outstanding bravery and readiness for change, Zahid is sure to conquer her goals. Moving around in high school is enough to overwhelm anybody. Moving from Pakistan to the United States senior year is something only the strongest and most determined of people would chose to do.