Reesenews collaborated with the University of Peshawar in Pakistan to hold a writing contest for students at that school. The winner’s essay explains how journalism can serve as a bridge between the United States and Pakistan, and how relations between the two countries can improve.

In July of 1993 a girl named Hareem Hilal was born to a middle-class family in northern Pakistan, in the small town of Pabbi fifteen miles from Peshawar. That girl was me, although my childhood memories are as blurred as a hot summer afternoon in Pakistan. I was one of the only kids in my town who attended school and I remember feeling jealous of kids who just got to play in the streets. Now, I am sad for children who don’t go to school.

Where to send their children to school is a difficult choice for Pakistani parents. Different types of schools have very different curriculums and methods. I was lucky: my parents believed in choosing the best school for their child, so I attended a private school in my hometown.

I didn’t understand why I had to wake up early every morning, put on a uniform, and carry a full bag that weighed more than me. When I was older, I was enrolled in another, farther school. I had to wake up very early to catch a van to a city fifteen miles away.

When I started in the new school, I was a mediocre student. My parents’ support kept me going.  I will always thank them for this; even though the society I belong to doesn’t favor girls’ education, my parents didn’t want me to grow up dependent on anybody. Every time I experience an achievement, I remember their love and support.

As I got older, the size and volume of my course books grew with me. I studied hard, and was rewarded when, after ninth and tenth grade Board Exams, I was second in my school. I felt very proud considering the fact that I was a girl from a remote, conservative village. I received admission to one of the most reputable colleges in my province.

At college I studied Engineering for my first two years, and ended being third in the whole college. When deciding on a major, it’s common in Pakistan for children to be forced into certain kind of studies by their parents, but my parents allowed me to choose to study whatever I felt excited about. I chose law and political science as my majors.

Although the Pakistani education system has flaws, we still perform whenever and wherever we get the chance. Two Pakistani students set world records in O & A levels exam proving that hardships can be overcome with strong determination. Pakistani students are creative, responsible, obedient, and sharp; all they need is a direction.

The world is a global village, but I think we lack a global society .The reason is simple: citizens from different societies don’t learn about each other while they are growing up. I got the chance recently to visit the U.S., to learn about its people and see how they perceive things. However, I am one of few in my town who knows about the U.S., and the same may apply for U.S. citizens in the case of Pakistan.

The first step to fix this could be setting up sister universities to have video conferences and workshops. Once connections are made we could try to arrange student exchanges and events on a broader scale. The base for any relations among two nations should always be students.