​Alumnus Ahmed Noor, MBBS ’97, is a shining example of what perseverance looks like. Currently working as a consultant cardiologist at a leading tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Ahmed’s journey began in his hometown of Quetta, Balochistan, where he had to overcome a number of constraints to achieve his dream of becoming a doctor.

As a high school student, financial constraints led to Ahmed taking up a job at fruit seller’s shop to finance his education. Even though his teachers were often absent at school, Ahmed remained focused on achieving his goal.

“I was always fascinated by science and was keen on studying medicine,” he said during a special speaker session with participants of the third AKU Challenge Scholarship*. He recalls hearing about the undergraduate programme at AKU’s medical college from a classmate while he was studying for his intermediate examinations.

“He told me the entrance test was tough so I committed myself to preparing for it. In fact, I studied for the test for a whole year,” he recalled. 

The hard work paid off. Ahmed cleared all parts of the admission process and spent the next five years learning not just about the human anatomy but also about the vibrant, diverse student body hailing from bustling urban centres and small, quiet towns across Pakistan.

 “Before coming to AKU, I thought there would only be foreign, English-speaking students here. It’s only after I became a student here that I learnt how multicultural the university actually was. It was a unique student experience,” he added. 

Urging the participants to believe in their dreams, Ahmed said it’s important to stay committed to your goals. “The most important thing in your career is your will to learn. This time is yours and you have the power to make the best possible use of it. Stay focused, make every second count and you’ll find nothing is impossible.”