Ayma Syeda’s journey reminds us of what’s possible with the power of determination, resilience and a positive mindset. Ayma held fast to her dreams even though life sent her on a seemingly unending detour.
Despite the challenges and uncertainties she faced, Ayma’s strong desire to succeed led her to NOVA, where she will proudly walk across the graduation stage on May 12. She is a true example of triumph and perseverance. In addition, Ayma is a semifinalist for the prestigious Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Scholarship!
In 2012, Ayma came to the United States as an international student. She attended middle school and three years of high school before her journey went sideways, impacting her U.S. education and prospects for permanent residency.
Then, in 2019, a U.S. immigration ban forced Ayma to return to Pakistan, a country she barely remembered since her family had moved away when she was 6. Although she was born and lived her early childhood in Pakistan, Ayma really grew up in Saudi Arabia. Now, she was staring at an uncertain future, with no idea how her story would unfold. Then COVID-19 hit.
Ayma held onto her dreams during this time and did more than adapt — she thrived despite being separated from loved ones back in Virginia.
Read about Ayma’s journey to NOVA in her own words:
Tell us a little about yourself and your background.
Both my older sisters also attended NOVA. We arrived in the U.S. as students in 2012. But our immigration process to transition from international students to permanent residents, which began in 2016, was halted due to an immigration ban.
Despite spending most of my school years in the U.S., my immediate family and I had to return to Pakistan in the summer of 2019, just before my senior year at C.D. Hylton High School in Woodbridge.
What was supposed to be a two-month process kept getting extended, and I was missing my senior year. Then COVID-19 happened, shutting down the embassies and stranding us in Pakistan without our larger family, who were all home in Virginia.
For me, the most important thing was perseverance. Since I couldn’t attend school in Pakistan because the curriculum wouldn’t transfer, I enrolled online to earn my high school diploma. This way, whenever I returned to Virginia, I would be on track to start college.
That two-month trip turned into two years, and in July 2021, we came home. The experience proved to be an invaluable one for me; I connected with my cultural roots and met numerous people who assisted me along the way. Volunteering with organizations like the Pakistan chapter of Girl Up and a mental health advocacy group allowed me to make meaningful contributions to my community and develop leadership skills.
The most fulfilling experience was volunteering as a teacher’s assistant, helping teach English to children who often lack such opportunities. Despite being in what felt like a terrible situation that just kept getting worse, my perspective changed. I realized that having access to education is a true privilege.
My biggest lesson was that in every situation, no matter how bad it may seem, I need to make the best of it — and that’s what I did. I finished high school virtually and enrolled in NOVA Online. Now I’m graduating in May with plans to transfer to a four-year institution. So it all turned out for the best.
Tell us how you feel about being a semifinalist for the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Scholarship.
I’m very excited and honored to be a semifinalist for the prestigious Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Scholarship. It’s a significant accomplishment. Mr. Smith, my advisor at NOVA’s Woodbridge Campus, encouraged me to apply. NOVA’s professors and advisors work hard to help students find and take advantage of opportunities.
As a South Asian immigrant, I was humbled to be selected as a semifinalist. This experience has opened doors to spaces that traditionally might not have embraced diversity. I am truly grateful for the recognition.
Where do you plan on going?
I have applied to the University of Virginia, University of North Carolina and Virginia Tech.
What are you studying at NOVA?
I’m completing an Associate of Arts degree in liberal arts at NOVA.
Tell us about your experience at NOVA (i.e., professors you’ve liked and friends you’ve met).
I’ve had a great experience at NOVA for the past two years. Professor Erin Delmage, my trigonometry and calculus professor, played a pivotal role in my success. She went beyond the curriculum by taking time during her office hours to help guide me through academic and real-life situations. She is a gem of a professor!
What would you tell a student coming to NOVA?
Get involved, be proactive and take advantage of the exceptional professors and resources to the fullest. NOVA offers a solid foundation for pursuing a bachelor’s degree in the future.
Where do you see yourself after NOVA, or what career pursuits are you exploring?
I will pursue a bachelor’s degree in biology while minoring in history. I plan to pursue a medical career to give back. I hope to provide healthcare to immigrants with no insurance and underprivileged families in Pakistan. Because of them, I am determined to pursue a medical career.