Hi, Asalamu Alaikum! I'm Talha. I represented Pakistan at the 2024 International Physics Olympiad (IPhO), where I won a bronze medal. Today, I'm in my second semester at MIT, studying physics as an undergraduate.
Sitting here at what is arguably the best university in the world for physics, I realize I am in an incredibly privileged position. But I also realize how far behind we are as a country when it comes to nurturing STEM talent. That is why I sat down to record a deeply personal, 35-minute video.
I want to demystify Science Olympiads, encourage younger students to self-learn, and talk directly to parents about how we view education in Pakistan. You can watch the full video below.
1. It's About Problem-Solving, Not Just College Admissions
My friend Bilal recently made a great video on how International Science Olympiads, like Physics, Math, Chemistry, Biology, and Informatics, are the ultimate golden ticket for top-tier university admissions. I won't repeat that here. Currently, there are four Pakistani undergrads at MIT, and all four of us are Olympiad medalists. MIT loves Olympiads.
But the inherent value is what I really care about. Preparing for an Olympiad teaches you to tackle incredibly tricky, creative problems every single day. It forces you to read complex textbooks completely on your own, without a teacher holding your hand.
Whether you make it to the international stage or just participate nationally, the analytical skills you build will put you miles ahead of your peers in whatever career you choose.
2. Don't Wait for Your School to Teach You
I was a good student getting good grades up to the 8th grade, but I was bored. So I started reading pop science articles, which eventually gave me the courage to pick up old 2002 A-Level Physics and Math textbooks. I studied them on my own throughout 9th grade simply because it was fun.
The standard school curriculum in Pakistan is not rigorous enough to prepare you for global competition. If you are good at a subject, do not wait for the school curriculum to dictate your pace. If you can get ahead, stay ahead. Spend just 30 minutes to an hour a day exploring textbooks outside your syllabus.
3. A Direct Message to Parents: Let Them Explore
In Pakistani society, there is a massive stigma where parents suppress their children's curiosities to force them down the stable paths of engineering or pre-med. I absolutely understand where parents are coming from: you want your kids to be financially secure.
But success is not binary. There are countless productive fields that pay well. If your child is spending their free time studying a high-level math textbook or preparing for an Olympiad instead of studying for tomorrow's school quiz, please don't be mad at them for learning.
Encourage them to build their mental capacity in the things that naturally allure them. Allow them the space to find the intersection between a subject they genuinely love and a career that provides a good life.
4. Start as Early as Possible
I did not discover the Olympiad pipeline until the end of 11th grade. By international standards, that is ridiculously late. When I got to MIT and talked to my Russian and Chinese peers, I realized their governments invest millions of dollars to put kids in intensive Olympiad training camps for years.
If you are a younger student in 6th, 7th, or 8th grade, do not think you have to finish high school physics before you give the Olympiad screening tests a try. Go pay the 800-rupee fee and sit for the exam. Even if you struggle, you will get a feel for the format and put yourself in the pipeline.
The younger you start, the more years you have to practice, compound your knowledge, and actually reach the international level.
5. Join PakSolve
Because I want to actively help change our culture, I'm teaming up with other MIT students to launch PakSolve.
This is a program designed specifically for younger students in Pakistan, from middle school up through pre-A-Levels or FSc, who have a budding interest in math or physics. We will be providing direct instruction over the summer to help you discover just how fun self-learning can be, and to hopefully build a new generation of confident problem solvers and Olympiad competitors.
If we want to stop being the odd country out, while India, China, and Iran sweep gold medals every year, we have to start valuing intellectual curiosity outside the classroom.
Explore what you love, start self-learning today, and apply to PakSolve!