Ahsan Bashir

Academic

Career

Verbatim text

Ahsan Bashir (i16-0071) 
 
 
The day I was offered a conditional admission at FAST, I wasn’t sure if I really wanted to be a 
computer scientist. Having abandoned computer science, as a subject since eighth grade, little did I 
know at that time about how these machines work; never imagined how complex they could be. As 
the deadline for the fall intake approached, my mind demurred to accept the reality of not being a 
‘Chemical Engineer’, for which I really longed-for. Since the admissions at FAST closed before the 
majority of schools for which I applied even announced their results. To be on the safe side and 
avoid the bigger fear of losing a year, I joined FAST with a little thought about spending four long 
years of my life here.  
The first two semesters passed in the blink of an eye with an average CGPA and a transcript that I 
would avoid talking about. Never at that point I gave a second thought towards improving it; the 
phase of my life where I just wanted things to go with the flow. It continued until the March of 
Spring’18⁠—my fourth semester—where my entire perspective about life changed. A stronger faith 
emerged within me as I demolished the barriers that resided within myself. With a completely changed 
mindset, the first thing that I did was to be grateful for what I had in my life. An 
opportunity to⁠ learn⁠—which is a dream of millions of people⁠—was something I never took 
seriously. I realized the need to change the way I approached studies and avoid the situation where 
things could go beyond my control. 
I sank my teeth into every assignment, project and exam I attempted. As a result, my CGPA 
increased with each passing semester making me capable of believing more into my abilities.  This 
belief was the force that always drove me to motivation of never giving up, where no matter how 
difficult the tasks seemed, I always gave my blood, sweat and tears to accomplish it. This belief 
enhanced my vision towards my religion which soon became my purpose for existence.  
These four years of my life have transformed me in many different ways, which would help me to 
polish myself with each passing day. In spite of the fact that I had to burn the midnight oil during 
these four years, the experience, the people, the teachers and the self I’ve gotten in the process is 
way more worthy than the investment I made for this degree. Moreover, the thirst for God’s love 
which came as a by-product, is something I would always be very grateful for. God's love is an 
endless ocean, from which I strive to get as much water as I can and I believe that cup in which I fill 
it, expands with the transition that initiated within me at FAST. 
"Sufficient for me is Allah; there is no deity except Him. On Him I have relied, and He is the Lord of 
the Great Throne." (9:129)