Aisha Chapra is a bright young Pakistani woman, newly settled in Washington DC, and pursuing a career in political lobbying and community relations. As the Executive Director of the Pakistani American Liaison Center, Aisha is perhaps in one of the most exciting jobs for a recent graduate. We met with Aisha to find out more about her background, job, and aspirations; and walked away impressed with her determination and sense of purpose in doing something meaningful for Pakistan and its people right from the beginning of her career..

Tell us a bit about your background...

I was born in the US, but my parents moved back to Pakistan when I was two weeks old. They did not quite enjoy the experience of living here as much as they thought they would. So I grew up in Karachi. I graduated from the American High School in Karachi and then went to McGill University in Montreal, Canada. I got my first bachelors degree in English Literature and Political Science, and a second bachelors in Social Work. A few months ago, I moved to DC in search of a good career opportunity in line with my interests and education.

How did your career progress in DC and where are you working now?

When I first moved to DC, I hadn't planned on any particular employer or job as such. I had a fairly good idea that I wanted to do something that builds upon my social work education and where I can have an impact on society. I started my career in DC working with the Pakistan Embassy. I worked as the Executive Director of the Rising Leaders (a youth organization focused on building a stronger and more influential Pakistani American community). I recently moved to the Pakistani American Liaison Center, which focuses on first generation Pakistani Americans and is working towards building a stronger presence for our community on Capitol Hill.

What was your focus at the Rising Leaders and how is that different at PALC?

For Rising Leaders, my work entailed organizing conferences and events, strategizing on how to build and retain members, and do more outreach with the Pakistani American youth. My main focus was on the community aspect. Even if you are offering conferences and events, you need to know what the youth are looking for and meet those needs. With PALC, my focus will be on the Congress: increasing membership in the Caucus, educating people about how to contact their Congressmen, and basically creating the awareness that we need a stronger presence on the Hill. Initially, since it's a very new organization, I'm focusing on some of the administrative aspects, but then my main focus will be on meeting people and getting them involved in decision making. There has to be the awareness that the things that happen in Pakistan will effect us here too, and without a strong political lobby, we cannot impact the way those

What are the issues facing the Pakistani American community?

It's different for me because I've grown up in Pakistan but here, pre-9/11, people didn't think Pakistani issues mattered in their day to day lives as much as they do in the post-9/11 world. So for one, foreign policy is a very relevant issue for Pakistani Americans. Secondly, as I get to meet more people and build a better understanding, I'm realizing that there are a lot of domestic issues that confront our community and we need to organize ourselves and resolve these issues by leveraging the political system here. In my opinion, these issues include healthcare, immigration, education (English as a Second Language), and economic issues as well. That is where caucuses and organizations like the PALC come in.

What is the difference in Pakistanis in the US versus those who are living in Pakistan?

The definition of identity! America was never a competitor for my identity in Pakistan but here the issues around identity are compounded for Pakistani Americans. It's the difference between life as a majority versus a minority. Also, the concept of Pakistan is very static in the minds of Pakistani Americans - that it's still where it was several years ago. I've found myself dispelling that notion a lot for people I meet, by telling them about the social and cultural progress. I can't speak for every Pakistani, but people in the urban society are very contemporary, open minded, and perhaps even more Westernized than Pakistanis who live here. There seem to be some barriers around what you can and cannot do here, which don't really exist in Pakistan any more.

What do you think is the state and outlook of the younger generation in Pakistan - are they as keenly aware of the social issues confronting Pakistanis as a whole?

It's funny because here you are always concentrating on what's in the media about our country. Over there in Pakistan, you've got a more cynical view of the world, government, and civic responsibility. By the time I was fifteen, we'd already seen like five government changes, which can desensitize you somewhat. Also, we are quite segregated as a society. Urban youth don't really know the issues of rural youth and vice versa. All these ethnic and political issues creep down into our youth and because they can't connect and share those ideas, there isn't any dialog or understanding, which breeds further confusion and misunderstanding.

Why couldn't you do the same things you are doing here, in Pakistan?

I'd love to do grassroots work and live in Pakistan, when the time is right. But at this age, I think I can make a bigger difference from here than I could over there. People can make a much bigger difference in America for Pakistan if they stand up for the issues that are important for Pakistan and do some meaningful work. I like that there are things here that can have a positive impact on Pakistan. Also, at a certain age, you need to have the independence and responsibility of living on your own. Going to McGill really changed my life. I got to live alone for 5 years and you've got to trust your kid a lot to let them do it. I respected that trust and enjoyed the independence and I think my relationship with my parents actually strengthened because of this experience. But unfortunately, a lot of people who get these opportunities don't really appreciate them. They don't fully understand how fortunate one is to get these chances and how important it is to do something in return for getting these chances. To be successful you have to be able to take care of yourself.

What are some insights you'd like to share with your peers reading this interview?

Read books and make yourself more knowledgeable about whatever it is that interests you, so you can be more interesting. Also, be aware of the current issues and develop a position because even if you don't want to represent Pakistan, you do. Attend conferences. Taking a course in public speaking also gives one a lot of confidence in social settings.

In the end, do what you really want to do. The pressure of doing something practical over something impractical may push you towards a choice that doesn't leave you very happy. If you are really good at something and really want to do it, pursue it, for you never know what kind of opportunities you might get.