Courtesy of Zohaib Asad

In 2011, Pakistani student Zohaib Asad earned a record-breaking 28 ‘A’s in the University of Cambridge International O-Level Examinations, a high school examination program run by the University of Cambridge that’s  taken in over 80 countries.   

This month, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani invited Asad, who is now in his first year at McGill, to the Prime Minister House in order to congratulate him on his achievements. 

“It was a great honour for me and my parents to be personally invited by the Prime Minister,” Asad said. 

Asad is presently pursuing an undergraduate degree in economics and international development. He chose to come to McGill because of its excellent reputation in Pakistan and because he has friends who attended McGill in the past. 

“The best thing about McGill are the students,” Asad said, when describing his new school. “[They are] friendly, helping, [and] mature which is what matters the most when you are away from home.”

Before coming to McGill, Asad attended a Beaconhouse international school in Pakistan, where he balanced his academics with his duties as head boy and member of his school’s football team. Beaconhouse is a global network of private schools with a large presence in Asia. 

“Studying for O-levels is hard, scoring well is even harder since each subject demands you to think in a specific way rather than repeat learned material,” Asad explained. “Studying for so many [exams requires] time management skills.”

In addition, Asad noted that studying in a competitive and rigorous school environment helped him stay motivated and focused. 

“When I set a target, I don’t care what comes in the way: all I see is my target,” he said.  

Asad recognizes, however, that his previous academic achievements don’t mean that he won’t face new challenges at McGill. 

“I believe the future is independent of the past. Even in O-levels, each subject required different skills,” he said. “The same goes at university; the big difference [from Beaconhouse] is that we have to be more independent here.”

The McGill community has warmly welcomed Asad to Montreal and celebrated his dedication to academic excellence.  

“I’m delighted for Zohaib, congratulate him on his accomplishment, and wish him well in his academic endeavours here at McGill,” Morton Mendelson, McGill Deputy Provost of Student Life and Learning, said. 

McGill’s Pakistani Student Association (PSA) is also proud of Asad’s success on the internationally recognized O-levels.

“[Asad’s] achievements are the perfect example of the kind of talent that Pakistan has,” Mohammad Y. Alvi and Syed K. Raza, Co-Presidents of the PSA, said. 

After completing his degree, Asad wants to return to work in Pakistan in order to give back to his home country.  

“It is your contribution that counts in society, so never work selfishly in life,” Asad said.