From the Valleys of Peshawar to the Land of the Rising Sun

My Story:

My name is Atif, and I was born on May 15, 2002, in Peshawar, Pakistan, into a poor but hardworking family. Our origins trace back to the Mohmand Agency (FATA), but we’ve been living in Peshawar for over 38 years—fighting poverty, chasing dreams, and building our lives one brick at a time.

Early Years of Promise

I began school at the age of 5 and quickly became known as a talented student. Throughout my early years, I often secured the 2nd position in class. In 6th grade, I joined a local academy to improve my English language, and that decision changed everything. I struggled in the beginning, but I never gave up. My hard work paid off, and I consistently ranked 1st in every level up to Advanced Three.

My performance caught the attention of the academy’s principal, who was so impressed that he opened a second branch and offered me a teaching job—even though I was still just a student in 8th grade. I accepted, not for the money (which was very little), but for the love of learning and teaching. That experience shaped my communication skills, responsibility, and leadership.

But the workload was heavy, and I eventually lost focus on my own studies. My 9th-grade board exam scores dropped, and I knew I had to make a change. I left the academy and focused on school again. I performed well in 10th grade and secured admission in a private pre-medical college.

Losing Direction, Finding the Way

College life brought freedom—and distractions. I fell into a circle of fun-loving but unmotivated friends. We spent hours in parks, museums, and cricket grounds. It was enjoyable, but my grades suffered. Still, I managed to pass 12th grade and gained admission into a government college for a 2-year BSc program.

After completing my BSc with decent grades, I was accepted into the University of Peshawar for an MSc in Chemistry. But I couldn’t afford the tuition fee of 60,000 PKR (~210 USD). Thankfully, a cousin stepped in and paid for me. That act of kindness changed my life.

At university, I was elected the Class Representative (CR). It was my first experience in a coeducational setting, and I was surrounded by toppers from all over Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. I struggled with self-doubt and failed one of the hardest subjects—Organic Chemistry—in the first year. But I didn’t give up. I studied hard, passed the retake, and eventually completed my MSc with a strong 70% score.

The Turning Point: Research and Beyond

In the final year, we were required to conduct research. Together with a close friend, I worked on the topic:

“Photocatalytic degradation of organic hazardous dyes using metal sulfide–chitosan microspheres under visible light irradiation.”

That period of research was the happiest time of my life. I loved the lab work, the teamwork, and the sense of discovery. I also began writing my first research paper and submitted it to a journal for publication.

Meanwhile, I was sending hundreds of emails to professors across the world—China, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Japan—asking for a chance to join their labs for my Master’s (MPhil) degree. In total, I sent over 400 emails to professors in China alone, not including the others.

Then, finally, a breakthrough came.

The Big Leap: Japan

A professor from Japan responded positively to my email. He was interested in my CV and scheduled a 40-minute interview. After that, he agreed to accept me as a Master’s student in his lab.

I applied for admission and passed both the first screening and the final interview, which was conducted by three professors. I was officially accepted.

With my student visa approved, I finally landed in Japan—a place I once only dreamed about.

Today, I live in Japan, studying under a kind and brilliant supervisor, and receiving a monthly scholarship of 40,000 yen. I’m also learning Japanese from my friends, and I work part-time at 7-Eleven for two days a week to support myself. Life is still challenging, but it’s a life I once thought was impossible.

A Lesson for Others

Most of my classmates back in Pakistan—many of whom were top students from major cities—are still trying to go abroad. Except for one, who is now in China, none of them succeeded yet. The difference wasn’t intelligence.

It was consistency, hard work, and discipline.

My journey proves one thing:

Poverty is not a prison—it’s a challenge. And with enough dedication, you can rise above it.

From a dusty classroom in Peshawar to a high-tech lab in Japan, my story is living proof that dreams come true for those who don’t quit.