This week, we bring you the Co-President of the Pakistani Students Association, Neha Khurram
Tell us a little bit about yourself
I was born in Karachi but I would say Lahore is my city because I graduated from there. I’m in my third year doing a double major in Psychology and French.
Why did you want to run for President of PSA and what are your duties?
Mostly I just wanted to do something productive and I’ve been involved with PSA since my first year; I was a first year representative and then VP Events in my second year, it just felt natural to step up. A lot of my duties involve planning events, either social or cultural, such as the Kings Cultural Festival.
I believe one of the biggest hurdles has been the transition of our club, so before I leave I’d like to change the existing positions; instead of VP Internal we could have VP Charity. Basically, making more specific roles and increasing motivation within the club.
As a cultural club, what are your goals? What do you want to promote in terms of your club and the Pakistani culture?
We’re trying to promote the values that we have, and access to the things you wouldn’t find here such as Pakistani food or meeting Pakistani people in general through events like formals and Sheesha night.
I would have to say dance practice, because that’s the time when there’s just a few people and you get to know each other really well. When you’re out there performing and all the members are cheering for you, it’s a proud moment.
Are there any events we should look forward to? What about your favourite PSA event of the year?
Definitely look forward to the formal, we’re going to make it bigger and better than anything else you’ve seen. This time we’re trying to get people from other clubs to perform as well so it will be interesting. One more event that should be mentioned is Pakistan awareness day; it’s one of my favourite events. We had one last year where we booked the atrium and had a lot of boards with information about Pakistani culture, food, society. We had a henna booth, an Urdu writing booth and a photo booth. Hopefully this year will be as successful as the last. This is my favourite event because it’s not just about the PSA members; it’s the entire western community. Since we don’t have such a good name in the media, it’s a good opportunity to promote the good things about Pakistan.
What is your most memorable experience at Western?
The Trois Pistoles program at Québec, that was definitely a life changing experience. I met so many people. It helped me become fluent in French; it was an eye opening experience. I think if you’re at Western, you should definitely take advantage of it.
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What are your future plans, after Western?
For next year, I was thinking of applying for Soph and also doing something for Her campus. After university, I would like to do a teaching abroad program.
Do you have any resolutions for the New Year? Have you been keeping them?
I actually really enjoy making New Year resolutions but I’m not very ambitious with them. My resolutions are very simple, like this year my resolutions were to be more organised and clean my room more often. I have been keeping my resolution, my room is pretty clean!
HC Quiz
Relationship status?
In a relationship
Dream date?
Would be something simple, go out to a movie and just coming back home and relaxing.
Celebrity Crush?
Ryan Gosling
Favourite off campus location?
Alibis; it’s not too noisy and the food is amazing
Guilty Pleasure?
Chocolate
Pet peeves?
Flawed arguments
Dream job?
Being a University professor
Super power?
Flying
Favorite Kardashian?
Of course Kim
If you could have one celebrity closet, whose would you steal?
Scarlett Johansson
If Yoyo’s made a froyo after you, what would be in it and what would it be called?
The Monkey Twist, with strawberries and bananas
If you could be one person, any person, for a day who would it be?
I would want to be Alanis Morissette, I love her
If you could invite anyone to dinner, living or dead, who would it be?
Quaid-E-Azam [the founder of Pakistan] because there’s just a lot of questions I would like to ask him.