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A Global Citizen

Growing up in both Pakistan and the United States, JB Akbar considers himself a global citizen. How is he using his cultural background and his IPS to bring educational reform to Pakistan?

JB Akbar enjoying a beautiful day on campus.About Me

Ever since I was young, I've had a passion for languages. I was that kid who fell in love with complete strangers solely for their language or accent. I even began teaching myself Persian when I was nine, so that I could understand Rumi's poetry better. Apart from studying languages, I am constantly reevaluating my life and aspirations to see if they are still in line with the person I am becoming.

I was raised in Pakistan and then moved back to the U.S. when I was ten. The intersection of these two identities have become so deeply interwoven that it is hard for me to completely introduce myself without mentioning both. Those few years in Pakistan have instilled within me such a deep appreciation for my cultural and linguistic heritage that furthering my Pakistani identity has become a passion of mine.

Being raised a global citizen, it was only natural for my Individual Program of Study (IPS) to reflect that. My strong passion for Middle Eastern culture guided me to double major in Marketing and Middle Eastern Studies. There is an increasing demand for cross-cultural cooperation and trade and that is where I picture myself. I have taken Arabic since my freshman year, and I hope that my language skills will help further my goals of delving into International business.

Impact & EngagementJB Akbar participating in Holi.

The past three years at William & Mary have completely transformed me. Part of that transformation is because of actually going to college itself, but a large part of it is also due to this very institution. Each day I am deeply inspired by the students, staff and faculty members around me. This has encouraged me to become involved on campus, so I can give back to an institution which has given me so much.

JB Akbar dancing with the W&M Bhangra Team.I am the current Secretary for Diversity in the Student Assembly and work on promoting diversity. This spring I participated in Holi, a Hindu festival, which included throwing colored powder and water on fellow students. I am also the captain of the Bhangra Team, which is a dance team hailing from the Punjab region of South Asia. This group is one of the ways in which I try to stay connected to my cultural heritage.

Through a grant from the College, I was given the opportunity to travel to Pakistan to research Islam and the rights of sexual minorities in the country. Those three months were the most worthwhile and the most challenging months of my entire life. Currently I am working on a series of short essays detailing the findings of my research. It was such a rewarding experience, and I am very grateful that the College gave me such an opportunity.

Highlights

My time thus far at the Mason School of Business has been a phenomenal experience, from the classes to the faculty to the students I am surrounded by.  Though there are countless highlights, one of the best is the marketing research course that I took last semester with Prof. Michael Luchs. When I first saw it on the Marketing curriculum, I was dreading the class. However, it turned out to be one of the best surprises of my academic career. Not only did I end up enjoying the field of study but the course as well. It was divided in two parts, in-class lectures and working for an actual client: Herman Miller. The interactive and engaging nature of the class has made it one of my favorite experiences at the College.

JB Akbar with children in Pakistan.Next Steps

After graduating from William & Mary, I plan on working for a few years before heading to graduate school for textiles and design. I am looking to work in the government for a globally minded agency or in the private sector for a corporation focused on business in the Middle East. 

In addition, I plan to continue working on my own venture: Yeh Hosla. Yeh Hosla or "This Resilience." It is a non-profit organization that combines my want for social justice in Pakistan and my ambition to become a fashion designer. I also want to start a socially conscious fashion line using strong Pakistani imagery in the designs, to inspire people world-wide to promote educational reform in Pakistan. This is one of my deepest passions, and it is exciting to finally see the plans starting to come together.