As college kids or ex-college kids, we all know that grades and CGPA can be an ANNOYING and big deal.
However, there are people who can see the light at the end of the tunnel, and point out that in Pakistan, this might not be true.
I don’t think the Pakistani CGPA shows that. It only tells how amazing you are at Rattafication and that is in no way being amazing at studies or being smart. https://t.co/qY79xbFeEo
— Sara. (@BauhatSara) June 25, 2018
Good point, waisay.
Unfortunately, this turned out to be the start of a HUGE debate on how important a person’s CGPA is and let’s just say, some ‘sage advice,’ given by the original tweet poster, turned out to be a little controversial, to hear.
Zahra Shah, a Psychology student in Turkey, gave out some advice in regards to maintaining a good CGPA and well, let’s just say it was taken the wrong way.
Go abroad. Start over again. Do something, if you dont like where you are right now.
— Zahra Shah (@zahrashah140) June 25, 2018
And I mean in a COMPLETELY wrong way.
Omg go abroad, start over again, why didn’t anyone think of this before? It’s so easy, just join another uni with money you don’t have, to a country you don’t know, for a goal you haven’t figured out, so simple https://t.co/oez8YnbHZD
— Stormblessed (@HamzaDonna) June 26, 2018
And well, Pakistani Twitter has been having a field day since, over this tweet.
While some people straight up copied her tweet,
Go abroad. Start over again. Do something, if you don't like where you are now.
— Rubabe (@MizzSheikh) June 26, 2018
Others got a little more creative.
Patient: I’m really depressed.
Psychologist: Go abroad, start over again.— Shummas 🌗 (@CorporateMarasi) June 25, 2018
And okay, maybe it was a little funny…
I wanna go abroad and start over again but Trump visa nahi de raha 😢😢
— 🤦🏼♀ 🦄🏳🌈 (@unlovablefuck) June 26, 2018
Okay fine, it was very funny!
Ami: Tang agae hoon mai tum sab se
Me: Go abroad. Start over again
— sam!a (@saneschizo_) June 25, 2018
And as the day went on, people would just not let up…
Go abroad. Start over again. Do something. Marry your cousin, if you don't like where you are now.
— Nadimir Puntin (@nadimpatel_) June 26, 2018
Some people wanted to call Zahra out on her privileged view of the world.
" Go abroad. Start over again. Do something, if you dont like where you are right now. " pic.twitter.com/8yeasFHQQo
— Hib (@bananapeppersx3) June 26, 2018
Some people took the advice to heart and considered actually giving it a shot.
i wanna go abroad and start over again. girls with red/blue/anything-but-green passport pls @ me
— tarbooza kharbooz (@nakaamrade) June 25, 2018
Of course, there are always two sides to every story, and we talked to Zahra to get her side.
She told us that everyone had ignored her subsequent tweets where she explained her initial tweet and because of that, things on Twitter were misinterpreted, as they often are.
I have a problem with people who get the opportunity to study but waste it just because they dont take life seriously. There are so many kids in Pakistan who'd die to get the same opportunities so please realize that youre lucky and work hard https://t.co/zZEdgGIDce
— Zahra Shah (@zahrashah140) June 25, 2018
Zahra told us she only meant to encourage other people who are unhappy with Pakistan’s education system to explore scholarship opportunities abroad.
However, a lot of people didn’t buy her explanation.
And things got very personal, very fast. People called her emotionally abusive and told her that she would be a terrible psychologist.
While it’s okay to disagree with people and inform them of why their view may be incorrect, getting personal is not the best approach.
So let’s all be a little calmer and level-headed when we interact with others over the internet.
And yes, I know that is a big ask, but we can do it.
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Cover photo source: @zahrashah140