It was that time of the year when students in the high school were excited, sad, emotional and energetically ready to attend the farewell of their last year in school. The students were busy preparing their scripts, speeches and performances for the farewell party.

Miss Roma was the coolest teacher in the whole school in Atlanta. She was busy telling students how to act better in the skits while doing so she needed an extra student for the role of a teacher.

Almost every participant exclaimed, “Maya! She’s good at acting and she would do justice to any character assigned.”

Miss Roma called Maya and asked her to mimic a teacher, Maya performed very well and so Miss Roma loved it and selected her. During the rehearsals, the students started setting up a theme for their attire for the farewell party. They all went from black to red to blue to finally a brown, formal, western theme.

Maya was not happy with the theme and she told her batch mates to change the theme for her sake, but the majority did not want to, so it remained the same. Growing up, Maya had always been engrossed by the rich culture and heritage of Pakistan. Despite living in the USA, she revered the customs and traditions that had been passed down from generation to generation, and, above all, she loved the beauty and elegance of the traditional attire of Pakistan.

Despite some initial hesitation from her parents who worried that Maya’s choice might make her stand out too much, the young girl was determined to follow her heart. She spent countless hours scouring online stores for the perfect shalwar kameez to wear at the farewell, eventually settling on a stunning deep red ensemble adorned with intricate embroidery and delicate beading.

As the day of the farewell approached, Maya could hardly contain her excitement. She spent hours getting ready, carefully applying light makeup, and straightening her hair to perfection. When she slipped into her shalwar kameez, she felt a rush of pride and excitement fill up her heart.

As she made her way to the farewell party, Maya was met with a mix of reactions from her classmates, some were in awe to see her in traditional dress, while others complimented her on how beautiful she looked. A few even asked her about the significance of the shalwar kameez, eager to learn more about Pakistani culture.

Maya felt a wave of admiration and approbation from her peers. Her shalwar kameez, with its intricate embroidery and bright colours was a striking contrast to the plain and simple brown western outfits of her classmates. Throughout the evening, Maya felt a sense of confidence and empowerment. She knew that she was not only representing herself, but also her culture and heritage, and that realisation filled her with a deep sense of pride. She realised that wearing a cultural dress was not only her fashion choice, but a statement of identity and belonging. As the night drew to a close, Maya said goodbye to her batch mates and teachers, feeling a bittersweet mix of sadness and excitement for the future. She knew that no matter where life took her, she would always carry a piece of Pakistan with her in her heart.

Looking back on that special evening years later, Maya perceived that her decision to wear a shalwar kameez on her high school farewell had been about much more than just her fashion taste. It had been a powerful statement of her identity and a celebration of the vibrant culture that had shaped her into the person she was.

She was grateful for the opportunity to represent her heritage and hoped that by doing so, she had helped to break down some of the barriers that too often separate people of different cultures and backgrounds. She felt like she had connected to her roots deeply, and it had also opened doors to new friendships and experiences that she would treasure for a lifetime.

Published in Dawn, Young World, January 27th, 2024