A Page from Jannat's diary

Dear Diary, It was another ordinary day at Dow University Of Health Sciences. ORDINARY! I have never used this word during my 6 years at PAF CHAPTER. Is there something wrong with me? Or is it just because I miss that place, my second home. Home? No, it was more than just home.

A place which always brought a smile to all our faces. That amazing smell of french fries which could brighten up anyone's mood! Those stupid fights every single day to get a seat on the bus on our way back home. Morning walks in that big ground. Chit chatting and bunking in the corridors. Hiding from teachers, whose classes you were planning to bunk. And how can I forget Miss Hilla and her shades. The way she kept an eye on us all!

A day at chapter without being hit by a football, basketball or a volleyball? IMPOSSIBLE! Running away from Miss Shireen? IMPOSSIBLE! Trying to convince Miss Hilla to return your cell phone? IMPOSSIBE! Miss Shazia not noticing you taking out your phone from your pocket? IMPOSSIBLE Bunking Dr Husnain's class and not getting caught? IMPOSSIBLE. And the list of impossibilities goes on.

There was something unique about every individual at chapter. The peons who tried to save you from being scolded. Dr Husnain, who will make you stand on the window and attend the lecture if you arrive late. Sir Sohail Raza teaching you more Islamiat than Chemistry and telling you that biryani has carcinogenic food colour (no sir it stiill did not stop me from eating it every day ). Oh and last but the best part about chapter, Miss Bushra and the counselor's office. Our so called 'drawing room'. Koi b masla ho, bhai Miss Bushra kahan hai? Koi b kaam karana ho, yar Miss Naureen ke pass chalo. FB use karna hai yar? Counselor's office chalo. Free ka nashyta karna hai? Counselor's office hai na!

God! There is no such place like CHAPTER and even though today, I am where I always dreamt myself to be, at DUHS, I still would give up everything to go back to that magical place where my memories live. That place which made me the person I am today

Dear diary,

Do you know any magic spell that can take me back in time?

Sigh

Jannat Vohra

Batch of 2013

Trust

By: Mehak Saleem

You could break all the mirrors you want, all the picture frames, all the crockery you’ve got just when one thing breaks. Trust – a simple word consisting of five letters. You wouldn’t actually know the emotions concerning this word, not unless you’ve actually felt it. The sort of pain that arises within your whole body crumbles your heart making you suffocate. The amount of oxygen supplied by your red blood cells seems not to be enough for you to be conscious. Yes, it does hurt. It does hurt a lot! The heart aches with sorrow and regret.
 
As devastating as it is, the more has it hit me. They’re uncountable instances when I have been the target of betrayal. Unable to realize myself how the possible outcomes to get deceived are so many, the worst part is it happened every single time whenever I tried not to be made a fool out off. After which, either those trouble makers apologize or they roam about carrying a pride of what they’ve done. You call them your best friend but soon realize that you were used. You trust them, they crush it. It's done best by the person closest to your heart. At that moment, it's intolerable.

One of such instances just happened last night. It left me ripped. Many times have I sat in one corner, crying my heart out and praying for my life to get better. However, I didn’t let it rule over my life. I picked myself up and ironed all those creases, life’s just too short for all of this. Making myself realize that life goes on, I got hold of my miserable feelings and decided to move on.

A tear is a man’s indication of weakness. I regret crying on those worst occasions. People come and go. You can’t change it, despite of millions of effort. You break a vase; it separates itself into so many pieces, each different from the other. You sit all day trying to fit in all the pieces together with glue or tape, but a few hours later, it will break again at this time it will break into even smaller pieces. Similar is our heart, it’s best to clean out the mess ourselves. Clean out the trash and feel blessed that things got sorted out before they could have gotten any worse. Believe that whatever happens is for the best. Allah is Merciful. He protects us from the worst pains and sufferings.

Today, let us promise ourselves, we will be strong. We won’t let anyone get hold of our weakness. We will work to turn our weaknesses into strengths. Also, we will not break anyone’s trust making them a victim of heartache and be a person of kindness for all.

It is all about Love.

By: Sadaf Tabani

In the end, it's all about Love!

They say, love hurts; but may be its just that they have fallen for the wrong person. Love is a power that can defeat all others. It's an ocean that can drown people into it. It's a bond that connects the souls with one spirit. It's a source of eternal bliss and joy but only when it's true! 

Yes, it is true love! 

It's completely magical.

It can bewitch you, or make you cry, it will give you pain, and in the end it'll also be the reason to cast a huge stupid yet beautiful smile on your perfect face and know it will be all okay.

So many people out there with 'small brains' always assume that love is a so-called drama associated with a guy and a girl, but I feel dismayed over their minute vision.

Love is when you were born and you caught hold of your mother's finger. Love is when your dad is spoiling you. Love is when our parents strive hard to give us luxuries of life and good education, yet there are so many children out their complaining that their parents don't give them time!

Trust me, it's ALRIGHT! And it doesn't mean that they don't love us! It's just that we can't understand them and love is there. If it might not be there in words, it’s still there in their hearts we just need to go deep and feel it.

Love is when our friends eat all our lunch at the school canteen. Love is when our teachers scold us when we don't work hard and when they give us a free unit. Love is when our Principal appreciates us and encourages us to strive for more.

Love is when our best friends tease us for all our secrets. Love is when a guy respects a girl and wants to make her a part of his future.

And the most perfect example of love is God Himself. He created us, blessed us and is always there for us. We just got to take time out of our busy schedule and thank Him for everything wonderful and everything not so in our lives.

And indeed it is said: "When things are going rough, Pray! When things are going great, Pray! 

This life is a trial and the victorious will be the ones who stay loyal to their Lord through all the thick and thin times of life. We are all imperfect and that's where the perfection is hidden. Grab opportunities, make the most of them, work with zest and zeal, and let the fire out.

Justify that you are the Best. Don't run after anyone, if it’s meant to be, it will be. With the right person,

For the best reason, at the perfect time!

Keep your faith alive, hopes high and fingers crossed, spread love and happiness because this life is too short to cry. Make others happy, but before you do, make sure you yourself are happy. No one said life will be easy, but it'll be completely worth it! 

Cherish your memories, be grateful, stay faithful, say the word of truth, don't hurt others and try to understand them. Be kind and God will be kind to you. Remember that every 60 seconds spent upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back so enjoy life. Life is Beautiful! 

It just depends on the way you see it. Don't take anyone for granted because somewhere someone is praying for all that you have.

Move on! Look forward to your goals, stay dedicated and be positive. Lastly, remember that one day you'll just be a memory to some people so make sure to be a good one.

The new year, the new me

By: Yumna Sohail

As we bid farewell to the eventful year of 2013, many of us demonstrate the ambition for a better and brighter New Year. People often commit themselves to live up to a new positive set of aims intended to make their lives more stupendous. This secular tradition aiming for self-improvement is given the name of the New Year's Resolution. However as research has been carried out on this widely followed initiative, results show that out of every 100 New Year's Resolutions committed to, 88 fail (University of Britol), despite the firm confidence they are made with. As quoted by Frank Ra in his book 'A Course in Happiness', "Resolutions are more sustainable when shared, both in terms of with whom you share the benefits of your resolution, and with whom you share the path of maintaining your resolution. Peer-support makes a difference in success rate with new year's resolutions". The picture illustrates some of the most popular resolutions, worldwide.

However, sustaining these resolutions is a more complicated task than is thought to be .Why is that so? Well, it is often believed that resolutions need not be kept specifically at the beginning of a New Year. If one has to change themselves, then why wait for the New Year? Why not now? On the other hand, others believe that the New Year is a time for a new beginning not only on their calenders , but for their not so ideal lives.So how to make sure that resolutions made are pursued as well? To begin with, there are three important characteristics that resolutions should be made according to in order to have a genuine basis for longevity.

1. Realistic: The resolution should be practical and attainable. Hence, a resolution such as flying to the moon or earning millions of dollars could never be seriously pursued. 
2. Measurable: The possibility of determining for a fact that the resolution is being fulfilled in specific measurable data. 
3. Challenging: New Year's is a time to ameliorate old habits and achieve new goals. Hence, although resolutions should be attainable, they should not be too easy to accomplish. They should be somewhat challenging so as to give the individual a sense of achievement and satisfaction. For instance, enlarging one's social circle may be a good resolution. However, maintaining that circle till the end of the year seems like a better resolution since it is quite challenging.

The New Year is a time for analysing the past and looking forward to a better future. It is a time to reflect on the changes we want in ourselves, and to work for their fulfilment. Only when we recognize the need for improvement and aim for it will we be able to achieve it. So what are you waiting for? Now is the time to reflect, to analyse and to conceive for a better self and, therefore, a better tomorrow. Take some austere measures now and try to bring about a new you this New Year!