Momin Salar

Academic

Career

Verbatim text

Momin Salar (18I-0574) 
 
At the time of writing this, I am thinking to myself; is this really it? Is this really the last month of my 
time here, in this beautifully gathered shoulder to shoulder buildings, or rather ‘departments’ that 
we call FAST? Is this really an end to all the torturous bombardment of quizzes, assignments, 
projects, warnings, TA work that would amass to a size of the Everest itself, if stacked upon? Is this 
really an end to a mix of emotional engagements, damages, build ups, butterflies and the treadmill 
of new connections not just confined within this university – or for a lack of better words, the 
joyous social life? Is this really the last time I will be anxiously holding my fingers back from opening 
FLEX for a new entry in my ‘judgement book’ after a freshly announced “XYZ finals are up”? Is this 
really the last time I will load up my car, with the goons I call friends, the goons I hold so dear, 
without any prior planning just because we felt like filling our void with freshly cooked Chow Mein 
at the top of a mountain or by the side of a long, beautiful street? Is this really it? 
For a moment, my heart stops to express the need of freezing time, right here, right now – and take 
a good, long, look back, owing to the fact that none of this is replaceable, extendable, expendable 
or better yet, forgettable. It is the epitome of what life without political, binding responsibility feels 
like with the added relentless intensity by none other than our dearest: FAST. I might sound 
condescending taking into account the tone of words I have used when it comes to FAST, however, 
little does any outsider know the love attached to them. If I were to explain this relationship, it 
would be of those two siblings that would describe each other the worst but love each other the best.  
On that note, I’ll end this by just stating one of the best memories FAST has provided me with; the 
time when I walked on the stage in the auditorium with my head held high, itching to turn around 
and see the reaction of my parents on how proud they would be with that 4.0 medal hanging 
around my neck. I would be lying if I said I expected the level of pride they had or the level of 
satisfaction I would have achieved… This is only something you get to fully immerse yourself in, 
when you’ve finally experienced it, Alhamdulillah. Please aim for this moment, you will not regret it 
InshaAllah