Many second and third generation families of Pakistanis in Britain and elsewhere devote much of their time and energy to the encouragement of their children’s education believing wholeheartedly in its benefits and its applications and feel that to be educated is to gain a whole world greater than more material gains. Such is the strength of their belief that they consider education as a vital and important part of life.
People often express surprise when they discover that the last couple of decades have seen a marked shift within the British Pakistani community with the girls of the earliest migrants are now more educated than the boys of their age thus playing important roles within the society.
One such individual is Syema Raja who was born in Glasgow and was initially educated at the Glasgow Academy for her secondary education. From there she went on to study at The University of Strathclyde and gained a BSc Pass degree in 2002, LLB in 2004 and subsequently the Post Graduate Legal Diploma in 2005 from the same university.
She served her apprenticeship and now works in the Commercial Property team of Wright Johnston & Mackenzie, a renowned Law Firm in Scotland. Assisting clients with all property related matters of acquisition and disposals of commercial property, commercial leasing for both, landlord and tenant, commercial securities, telecoms and licensed trade work. In addition to her formal qualifications she also has a good knowledge of Urdu and Punjabi.
Syema is an example of third generation of British Pakistanis who was born here but who retains a strong family links with Pakistan. She has, however, most definitely made a great success of herself by gaining a Law Degree and will continue to live and work in the UK.
The credit to her success goes to her parents Mr and Mrs Maqbool Hussain Rasul, who both have always encouraged and supported her to be educated to this level.
