Deval

3 november 2017
“Coming from a different country, there was a bit of a transitional phase. It wasn’t a cultural shock, more getting used to living on yourself. I’ve been away from home for 8 years, as I left when I was 12 to go to boarding school. So, I know how to spend time on my own, and don’t get homesick per se. The difficulty is in all these adult tasks you have to undertake and balance out alongside education and work. I study Economics and Finance, and this year I also got into the CSR and I am the representative of the Faculty of Economics.
 
Keeping education as a priority can be a bit exhausting at times. It would have been a lot easier if I would’ve just said I was going to be fine with a 5.5 as long as I pass everything… But that’s not really an option for me. If I’m going to do something, might just do it well or not do it at all.
 
I come from rather humble beginnings, in a very small village in Pakistan. My parents, specifically my dad, have done a lot to get me to the point where I am today. Not a lot of people make it out of that place, let alone get this far.
 
I don’t take credit for that in any way, because whatever I am, it is because of my father. In the end of the day the reason why I’m doing all these things is of course, to have a secure future myself, but on the days you can’t do it for yourself, I do it for him. The goal for me is to be the son that he wants me to be.” – Deval Raj from Pakistan.
Tekst en beeld: Lauri Beckmans