Emaan Rafi goes to Berkeley!
Hi, I'm Emaan.
The crazy ambitious child who never stops thinking about her dreams and goals. I’m a junior majoring in Communication and Design at Habib University, Pakistan with a current GPA of 3.70 and still no scholarship..
I aspire to become so many things at once! An Art director, Branding design business owner, A UGC creator and even a Digital marketer on the side but these things are not learned by books or some courses, these need to be experienced and not just alone but with people who are as crazy as you in doing what they love!
What’s the program?
My university does a Learn Abroad program every year where it's affiliated with IVY league universities and they choose to send a few passionate students for their Summer exchange programs abroad to gain the exposure they're missing here in Pakistan.
I wasn’t even going to apply for the opportunity because
a) i don't have enough funds
b) i just thought i might not be able to qualify.
But because of how impossible it seemed, I challenged myself to do it. I promised myself that 2024 is my year and no excuses can push me back
Then one day I got an email about being selected as one of the students for the Summer Exchange program at UC Berkeley!! Some where I never even IMAGINED myself at.
As much as I wanted to be happy, I couldn't because I knew raising funds might be the hardest thing ever for me. I lost all hope because I know this might not be important for anyone else around me since it's a HUGE amount (specially when converted into PKR) and no one would be willing to pay for it.
fee breakdown for the program
My objectives for Berkeley!
- I’m someone who’s so passionate about brand design and the importance of it specially in Pakistan where many high potential brands might seem like some scam due to their poor branding. And since design itself isn’t much valued here in Pakistan, I want to change that and help people understand how design alone can be life changing for them.
- I want to study within a diverse environment and expand my network internationally being the link between my community and the Berkeley community.
- I really want to learn and excel all aspects of branding, explore different designing styles, analyzing how their minds work during their design process and share its importance amongst my community helping aspiring designers around me learn and do the same through conducting workshops, making beginner guides, mentoring them by sharing my experiences and journey and of course working for small and big brands both curate the brand that represents their personality.
- I want to learn and grow through every challenge life throws at me so at least I can stand up on my own feet and make my parents proud. In Pakistan, you don't get chances to prove to your family that you are able to live on your own and independently without marriage. I want to prove them, that I am capable of whatever I dare to dream and instead of marrying a rich man, become the rich man they never saw me becoming due to me being a design student.
- Lastly, I want to set an example for people around me who have similar dreams as me and show them how anything is possible if you keep trying and put your mind into it!
- I will create a community in Berkeley connecting Habib students with the international community to not miss out on opportunities even while living in Pakistan.
- Since I am the Student Life Ambassador at Habib I will post a day in my life as a Berkeley student on our Instagram page sharing my journey and helping others understand experiences beforehand so they might feel at home when it’s their turn!
My Extra-Curriculars
Won 3rd Prize for UI Design to tackle food waste in Invent For the Planet ‘22 Hosted by Texas A&M University
Student Life Ambassador for Habib University
Digital Ambassador for Habib University
Director Design for Sports Recreational Society
Deputy Director Design for HUMUN (Habib University Model United Nation)
Ran for the Serve club president
How you can help me
Donate
Any amount be it big or small would mean the world to me <3
Spread the word
Please share this amongst your community so maybe someone would be willing to help me live this impossible dream of mine!
Share Contacts
Please email me if you know someone who might be willing to help so I may share my story with them.
“if you’re the smartest in the room, you’re in the wrong room”
- Confucius
I don’t want to be in the same room, I want to explore as many rooms as I can and learn from each one of them
I want to try, fail, try again, fail again but never stop on becoming the best version of myself and giving back to the people around me and my country in every way possible!
I want to prove to the people around me that I am worthy of becoming whatever I dare to dream.
Please wake me up and help me live my dreams in real life!
Email Address
emaanrafi46@gmail.com
Phone Number
+92 3058241056