WHEN the Northern Virginia Community College (NVCC) in the United States announced a one year merit scholarship for the Community College Initiative Programme (CCIP) under the US exchange programme in 2013, Sunny Sajid Masih was the lone young Christian student from Landi Kotal sub-division of Khyber Agency among 882 others from Pakistan who dropped their applications for the scholarship.

Fortunately, he won the merit scholarship and made it to the US with high expectations and resolve to return to his native land to support his own community after completing the training.

“It was by sheer good luck and because of my parents’ prayers that helped me land in the US. I wept being overjoyed when I received the letter of acceptance for the CCIP. My parents, relatives and friends all were overjoyed and they celebrated my success. For the first time I got convinced that education could do miracles. Born, bred and educated in Fata I had little hope to excel in my life, but the fate favoured me and I got to the land of opportunities. I represent not only my Christian community, but the whole Fata,” Sajid Masih, attired in a typical tribal Pakhtun dress, told Dawn.

Sajid Masih wishes to support and lead his community on return to Khyber

Mr Sajid grew up in Landi Kotal and received his education from Army Public School there till his matriculation. He did his graduation from Edwardes College, Peshawar, in 2011. Like other educated youth of the country he too was in search of job as he could not afford further education. One day he came across a newspaper ad about the scholarship and applied for it with little hope to get selected, but he was selected for the programme. Mr Sajid turned out to be the only candidate who won the one year merit scholarship.

Residing in Virginia at his Alexandria apartment, he spoke to this correspondent. Sharing his views, he said that to be very frank a poor person and that too from a minority could not think of such a big success. He said that he continued hard work throughout his young age and always kept his spirits high.

“I was not sure of my selection when I submitted my application for the merit scholarship where over 8,00 candidates had already dropped their applications. Now it is my obligation to help my community and uphold my cultural identity,” Mr Sajid said while adjusting his turban on his head.

Answering a question, the Christian student said that he felt proud over wearing his cultural dress, adding, “I always wear it when I attend a special gathering because it’s my cultural identity.” He speaks fluent Shinwari Pashto accent and wear traditional black waistcoat along with Shalwar Qameez and Charsadda black chapal as soon as he returns from his college.

“I lived in a mud house. My father Ejaz Masih has retired from Frontier Corp (FC) as housekeeper, while my mother being a brave woman – a breast cancer patient – helped me in fulfilling my desire to get education. I wanted to break the taboo that everyone in the Christian community was supposed to do class-IV jobs. I broke the family tradition in a way. I excelled in doing my national diploma in business and began surfing the net for future prospects,” Mr Sajid narrated. He has two sisters and four brothers while his ailing mother still contributes to home expenses by sewing clothes.

“I have a vision for bringing about a positive change in the lives of youth. I am the founder President of Worldwide Youth Development Organisation working for encouraging young people to explore and utilise their talent,” he said. He has studied project management and leadership courses at the college. “I have now a better understanding of how to mobilise and motivate the youth to work for the whole community” said Mr Sajid.

“I am proud of this dress and Pashto language. I don’t think here I represent only my Christian community, but I also represent the Fata and my beloved country Pakistan,” he maintained. He has almost completed his training and sees a bright future for his people. He said that education was a panacea for all the social ills. He said that Pakistani youth had great potential and could do wonders if they exploited their talent.

The secret behind the American people’s success was also the hard work. Both luck and hard work are essential for success in any field, said Mr Sajid.

Published in Dawn, August 20th, 2014