Sumaiya Iqbal tells the compelling story of Yasir Arafat, who has tenaciously overcome hardships to establish himself as a promising engineer at a leading US nuclear power company
It is true that while the brave dream, the strongest are those who make those dreams come true with sheer hard work, perseverance and determination. As we go through this journey called life, there will be times when hardship gets the better of us; it is at those very moments that you will resolve to either make it or break it. Yasir Arafat’s story is that of a man who most definitely made it; someone who has never given up, even through the harshest of days; a man who was able to materialize his dreams and make the most of what he had, as little as it was.
A successful Chemical and Systems engineer who also focuses on Nuclear Engineering, Yasir is one of those few individuals who have dared to enter the field of chemical and nuclear engineering and thrive. Yasir currently works with Westinghouse Electric, one of the foremost nuclear power companies in the US, and is a member of the Research and Development group at the company.
Yasir has contributed in one innovation after the other for the company. From designing advanced nuclear plants, systems and components to generating electricity for utilities to the most confidential inventions, Yasir does it all with his versatility and flexible approach.
At the age of 29, Yasir has already proved himself to be one to watch in the field with 11 projects of his own and four patents already filed. Most of his work has to be kept confidential for its sensitive nature, but he does mention that the current project he is working on is worth multi-million dollars and will prove to be the next best big thing for the entire nuclear industry; in his words, ‘A paradigm change!’
Yasir’s climb to success had a number of obstacles but none he ever considered the end. He was born to a humble household and was part of a family that never indulged in a luxurious lifestyle. As children, he and his brother were rather taught to work hard and achieve whatever they wanted for it would not be handed to them. As a three-month-old baby, he was brought to the country on a boat with his family all the way from Myanmar to escape the ordeal Muslims had to face there.
If it were not for his parents’ decision to board that boat, Yasir might not have been where he is today. With time, arduous legal procedures and relentless effort, the family struggled its way to settle in Chittagong and Yasir’s parents made sure to provide the one thing their children needed the most: an education.
After his A levels from European Standard School in Dhaka, Yasir dreamed of studying engineering abroad but knew it would be impossible for his parents to take on the financial burden for both his brother and him. However, instead of accepting defeat, he resolved to take matters into his own hands.
‘I told my parents that all they had to pay for was the fees for the first semester. The rest, I would manage,’ he mentions. Thus he made his way to La Roche College in Pittsburgh and with his parents being the source of his motivation, he topped his class the first semester.
In the next two years, Yasir was introduced to a life with no sleep for he juggled two full time jobs, the pressure of his education and small temporary jobs here and there to survive. ‘I did not say no to any job, and did whatever came my way to survive. I mowed lawns, painted walls, waited tables in restaurants. There were nights I had to ration my food for if I didn’t, I would end up going to bed hungry. All of it was worth it though for I knew in return I would be able to stay and complete my studies,’ says Yasir as he remembers his humble beginnings.
‘It’s very simple to understand that if you don’t work hard enough, you will be in trouble. You need to find your way out and that is only possible if you wish to find your way out,’ he adds.
In the meantime, he also made sure to keep looking for student loans to help him get through. Fortunately enough, he managed one in his third year at university.
‘Towards the end of my third year, I transferred to the University of Pittsburgh and there I started the co-operative education programme (commonly known as co-op) which allowed students to combine class room based education with practical experience in the form of internships at various institutes,’ Yasir explains. The co-op programme enabled Yasir to have the upper hand he needed to compete in the job market. The internship he pursued (amazingly at the same company he works for now) exposed him to the real world and he quickly learnt how to adapt in the work place.
He stresses that only good grades will never get anyone anywhere; for there are many factors such as experience, work ethics, ability to adapt and be flexible which are necessary to survive. ‘I’m not what you would call smart but I am definitely hard working and that is the reason I am here today. I am confident with who I am and that resonates into positivity when I work,’ he says.
With his labour and intellect recognised, he was offered a job at the company right after he finished his education and is now one of the leading innovation engineers there. He may be young but his confidence; diversity in fields of expertise, creativity and ability to learn quickly has made him the ‘Go to guy for new and crazy stuff’ at work.
To all those who have dreams they are chasing after, Yasir has one piece of advice: ‘Between you and your destination, there are several steps, each difficult in its own way. Choose the right ones guided by passion and give it all you have.’