Saba sat at the edge of her bed, clutching a small, worn notebook in her hands. On the cover, written in bold letters, were the words, Dreams of Germany. Inside, the pages were filled with her dreams, aspirations, and all the little things she had meticulously planned since she was a teenager growing up in Karachi, Pakistan.
Ever since she was a little girl, Saba had dreamed of studying abroad. She envisioned herself walking along cobblestone streets, exploring grand libraries, and engaging in conversations in languages she'd only heard in movies. Germany, with its academic rigor and cultural richness, had always been her destination of choice. But for a girl from a modest background, this dream felt distant, like a star shining just beyond her reach.
The path to this day had been anything but easy. There were times when even she doubted if her dream was realistic. Growing up in a family where she was encouraged to pursue traditional roles, Saba often found herself standing against the tide of expectation. Friends and family, though loving and supportive, would gently question, "Germany? Isn't that too far?" or "Why not study closer to home? There are good universities here too."
But Saba knew that this was her calling. She had always been drawn to stories of perseverance, to people who chased their dreams despite all odds. Every morning, she would look at a small postcard she'd pinned above her desk — a photo of Berlin's Brandenburg Gate — and remind herself that every step forward, no matter how small, brought her closer to that goal.
The real challenge, however, wasn't just the doubts or questions from others. It was the moments of fear and exhaustion. Saba still remembered the long nights spent studying for language exams, balancing her studies with part-time jobs to save up, and the countless application forms she had to fill out. Every rejection letter stung, making her question if the struggle was worth it. Yet, every setback only seemed to strengthen her resolve.
One evening, after yet another rejection from a scholarship program, she felt the weight of her dream pressing down on her. The doubts swirled in her mind: Maybe I'm not good enough. Maybe I should just let this go.
But then she remembered a phrase her father often told her: "If it was easy, everyone would do it." Those words echoed in her heart. Saba knew that if she wanted her dream badly enough, she had to keep pushing, to get up one more time than she fell. She had to prove, if only to herself, that she wouldn't give up.
Months later, on a quiet afternoon, the letter arrived. She held it in her hands, feeling the weight of all those sleepless nights, the sacrifices, and the tiny flames of hope that she had kept alive. Her hands trembled as she opened it.
"Congratulations," the letter began. She had been accepted, with a partial scholarship to cover her expenses. Her heart swelled with a mix of relief and joy. She had done it. She had made it.
Saba took a deep breath and glanced at the packed suitcase sitting by her door. This was it. Tomorrow, she would leave for Germany. She knew there would be challenges waiting, new obstacles and unknowns. But she felt ready, because she had learned the most important lesson on this journey: never give up on your dreams.
As she closed her notebook one last time, she whispered to herself, "This is only the beginning."