Of Vision and Change

ayesha arif khan

THINK!

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• 2010 VOF Week 4

Vision for my life:

Things I would like to do before I die

Travel the world.

Be exposed to different cultures and lifestyles.
Learn, change and grow.
Learn several languages

Make a difference.

Change thought.
Leave a lasting legacy through my writing, films and teaching.
Give meaning to any work that I pursue.
Touch lives.
Write a book.

Live Better

Eat, sleep and exercise better.
Accept myself and others more generously and without judgment.
Actively seek what I enjoy the most and live it.

Love More
Let people in despite the fear of loss and hurt.
Be more giving of my time and of myself.
To be able to love my country again despite the violent chaotic mayhem it has become.

Be financially independent
Be the creator of my destiny.
Give without asking.
Pursue my hobbies.
Have more time for social work.
Help those who have less.

Vision for my community

Changes I would like to see before I die

-Women are equal citizens. They own their bodies and their minds. Their choices are their own.

- Every woman has a right to basic education. She also has a right to choose her life partner without any coercion by the state or the community.

- Domestic violence or marital rapes are treated as social crimes and not “their private matter”. And every time this crime takes place, a woman does not feel ashamed about reporting it for fear of exclusion or judgment

-Women have freedom to move around without fearing harassment that threatens their psychological and or/ bodily security.

- Sex and sexual preference are a personal choice and not the state’s. Fornication and homosexuality might be treated as sins subject to religious beliefs but are no longer treated as a crime.

- People feel secure when they leave their house. There are no more bomb blasts at public places killing innocent citizens. When someone leaves the house, he/she returns. Alive.

- There are more schools and hospitals and less sprawling mansions and million dollar cars.

- I see people moving about freely without armed guards.

- There is a stable political process and the state functions as a real functional democracy and not an inherited monarchy.

-The national education budget exceeds the national Defense budget.

Vision for the world

World Peace. Seriously!

Equality.
Justice.
Acceptance.

At the age of fifteen, I decided that I wanted to be a journalist. I was told by the family that it is dangerous, doesn’t pay well and besides I get really good grades so I should do something else.
“How about medicine?”
“Well I don’t like biology and hate the insane timings. I really like writing and then I would get to travel and meet many interesting people.”

Suffice to say this wasn't a productive conversation; so I ended up with a MBA and two years of WRITING concepts for Advertisements.
Luckily, I discovered the Fulbright scholarship during my masters and applied for a MFA in Film Production.
The reason I chose film as a medium was because in a massively illiterate society, it has wider reach and influence.
The credo that I wrote in my first screenwriting class started with women’s rights.
My thesis short film is about exploitation of women in a patriarchal society.
Hence, Pulsewire!
It combines both my first loves- writing and advocacy of women’s rights.

The last four weeks have been transformational.
This commitment has generated introspection, reflection and engagement.
It has helped cement my identity and develop my expression.
If it hadn’t been for this community, I would not have learnt so much about women from all over the world.
But more importantly, I wouldn’t have learnt so much about myself.
I believe women have stories to tell. Powerful, transformational stories
Those stories need a strong voice so a movement of change continues and progresses.
I would love an opportunity to be a part of that change with Pulse wire.
It should be an exciting and fulfilling journey.