Student Story Interview – Sawera
What is your name?
Sawera.
How old are you?
19.
Where are you from?
I’m from Pakistan, born and raised in Karachi.
What year are you in?
Year 1 (Lisbon).
What bachelor’s programme are you studying?
Psychology.
Outside of Forward College, what do you love to do in your free time?
Before I moved to Lisbon, in my free time I was mostly engaged in tutoring, movie and game nights with my friends back home, swimming when I wanted to clear my head, and long walks to manage exam stress. I also love cycling (unfortunate for Lisbon) and reading psychological thrillers or philosophical novels. Pakistan was a country rich with culture, history, and life, where every person had their own story to tell. Living there made me naturally venture into the world of philanthropy, and I spent a lot of time initiating projects promoting mental well-being and bridging the divides created by capitalism, mostly for the student community.
Why did you choose to join Forward College?
As cliché as it sounds, Forward was an instantaneous decision for me. It felt natural almost, like a calling. I grew up having two dreams in life: travelling the world and studying abroad. Like every other child experiencing globalisation for the first time behind a screen, I fantasised about studying in the UK. When I was finally old enough to go to university, I wasn’t able to apply anywhere in the UK, and I was devastated. I’d almost given up on going abroad for my bachelor’s when I came across Forward College—three years in three different capitals, a degree accredited by the University of London and designed by King’s College London. From getting accepted to actually moving, it was a rocky path full of struggle, but I never once doubted that this was what I wanted out of life at that point in time.
What were you most excited (or nervous) about before starting your first year?
I had never travelled outside of Pakistan before, and the thought of moving more than 9,000 km away all of a sudden, spending the next few years of my life with completely new people, in a place I was only used to seeing in movies and had convinced myself wasn’t real. The unfamiliarity of it all was both daunting and exhilarating at once.
What has been your favourite memory in Lisbon so far?
It was my first time actually celebrating Halloween, and we went out to Bairro Alto dressed up as different characters. Then, me and two of my friends decided to walk back to the student residence from there in the middle of the night without internet and proper navigation, just because we felt like it. It was the best two-hour walk I ever went on.
How did you feel on your first day?
I arrived a day after induction week had started, so there was a cooking competition on the day I got here. I had travelled consecutively for more than 15 hours and was insanely tired. The first sight of Lisbon from the plane above the sea was overwhelming, and all I could do was cry and smile at the same time—it was the first time moving felt that real. I think what helped me most on that first day was interacting with the people I was going to be living with for the next three years. Everyone was so welcoming, it made me feel relieved. Looking back, I think the first week was the hardest in terms of taking it all in. I still don’t know how I got through without breaking down, but now I think if I got through it then, there won’t be much I won’t be able to get through now.
Was there a specific moment when you felt at home in this new country?
I’m still learning to associate the word “home” with this new setting, but I felt most “at home” when I watched late-night movies with my friends at Forward because it was like a daily ritual for me back home.
What were your first impressions of your cohort?
I remember thinking, “Why is everyone here so nice?” In all honesty, this was the most welcoming group of people I had ever met, and it gave me a sense of comfort knowing we were all figuring out this phase of life together. I do also sometimes think it takes more effort for me to “fit in” than most other people in my cohort because I’m from a very culturally different background, but that’s also what I feel contributes most to the cross-cultural experience!
What advice would you give to future applicants?
If moving abroad and living on your own is what you want from life, Forward is your best choice. But know that this experience truly is living alone—you will make new friends and find new sources of comfort and belonging along the way, but at the end of the day, you will be the one figuring out life on your own. It’s a truly enriching experience, and one that will bring you a lot of self-discovery, but it’s also just as demanding. There will be days when you feel exhausted, homesick, devastated even, but as long as you remember what this is all for, and how far you’ve come, it’ll be okay. :)
