Getting a PhD is no easy feat. Doing so as an international student is even more challenging, but also 10 times more rewarding.
I was 23 when I left for the US to pursue my PhD in economics. I was a graduate, eager to escape my small, stifling community in Pakistan and explore uncharted territories. All I knew was that I wanted to learn more about the world, ask more questions, craft compelling stories from what I learned, and share them with others. I had no particular research field in mind and no work experience.