When I started my journey back in 2020, it felt like the stars were aligning. I had the guidance of amazing mentors who believed in me, supported me, and helped me see my potential. I was excited. I was driven. I felt like I was finally on the right path. But no matter how strong your start is, life finds a way to test you — especially when you’re a woman trying to do something different in a society where tradition often outweighs ambition.
I want to be honest here, brutally honest because this blog is not about glorifying success. It’s about acknowledging the storm that often comes before it.
In the early days, while I was trying to build something meaningful through SheDev, I was also facing unexpected resistance not from strangers, but from close relatives. In a male-dominated society like ours, that’s sadly not rare. What hurt even more was that some of the biggest obstacles weren’t just from men. Sometimes, it was the women women who had accepted certain norms as unchangeable who became barriers. And no, I’m not blaming anyone. I’m just speaking the truth as I experienced it.
You see, I wasn’t in a relationship, but I had reached the age where “marriage” becomes the only conversation people want to have about you. Proposal after proposal came, and each time, I said no. Not because I didn’t value marriage but because I had a dream. A big one. I wanted to make a name for myself, not just in my town or region, but beyond. I wanted to do work that mattered. And Alhamdulillah, I did. But at what cost?
People talked. They judged. They created rumors. And it reached a point where I was so mentally drained, I could barely process the things being said about me. I was focused on my goals during the day, but at night, I was breaking.
There were moments I wanted to give up not because I wasn’t capable, but because I was exhausted from carrying so much pain quietly. And yet, something inside me kept whispering: “Stay the course. Stay focused. Give it time.”
And it worked.
In a matter of years, I grew not just professionally, but emotionally. I received national recognition, awards for youth excellence, and represented Pakistan on global platforms. I worked with organizations like the US Embassy, GIZ, and UN Women. The very girl people once criticized is now inspiring others to dream beyond limitations.
But here’s something I need every young person especially girls to know:
Your journey will not be easy. But it will be worth it if you stay true to yourself.
When the world feels too heavy, don’t rush into decisions. Take a step back. Breathe. Give yourself space to feel, to cry, to break and then heal.
When I feel overwhelmed or mentally exhausted, I do simple things that bring me peace. I clean my room. I wash clothes, even if they’re already clean. I wash dishes. I change the setting of my room. I play with kids. I cut my hair or put on makeup. It may sound silly, but these tiny acts of care create a shift in my mood, in my space, and in my energy.
Because sometimes healing isn’t found in big solutions. Sometimes, it’s in small rituals that remind you: you are still here, you are still in control, and you are still capable of rising.
And rise we must.
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