Maria Akbar’s life journey shows perseverance, passion, and dedication
By Rida Zaineb
Growing up in the picturesque valley Gilgit-Baltistan, Maria was surrounded by nature’s beauty but full of challenges.
Her parents, her rock and inspiration, instilled in Maria the value of education and the importance of never giving up. Her father’s resilience and her mother’s unwavering dedication to their education shaped Maria into the person she is today.
As Maria stepped into the world of higher education, she discovered her passion for debating, participating in co-curricular activities.The thrill of crafting arguments, she spoke her mind, and the sense of accomplishment when she convinced others through her hardwork and as a hobby she worked as a radio broadcaster at Pakistan’s largest radio network.
But it wasn’t just about Maria. She wanted to make a difference, to leave a mark. That’s when she co-founded Make Ambition & Join Us (MAJU) with her university friends during her graduation from Quaid-e-Azam University.They organized events, workshops, and seminars on issues that mattered –, community service,climate change, women’s empowerment and arranged more then 100 career counselling sessions.
The UGRAD program was another turning point in Maria’s life. It opened doors to new experiences, new cultures. She learned, she grew, and she was transformed and started dreaming more.
Maria’s journey didn’t end there. She pursued her master’s degree at Oxford Brookes University through program funded by HEC Faculty Development Program where she met incredible people, explored new places, and discovered new passions.
Today, as Maria looks back on her journey, she is humbled and grateful. She is grateful for her family, her friends, and her mentors who have supported her every step of the way.
She got national level awards for her dedication to community service. She represented Pakistan in Russia twice through Future Team Pakistan.
Maria is currently a lecturer at the Department of Tourism & Hospitality Management at the University of Baltistan, Skardu, where she has the privilege of inspiring and educating the next generation of leaders in Gilgit Baltistan.
Baltistan Readers is her recent initiative to foster reading habit and critical thinking in the community through book review sessions.
Stories like these inspires millions.