Halfway Across the World to Pullman

March 30, 2026

By: Maliha Shah
Doctoral Candidate | Fulbright Scholar
Language, Literacy, and Technology
Department of Teaching and Learning
College of Education, Sport, and Human Sciences (CESHS)

Visualize this: A cacophony of high-pitched horns amidst the frenetic commotion of automobiles, rickshaws, buses, and motorbikes, whirling past one another. Historic monuments peering through trendy cafés and bustling malls. Majestic tree-lined avenues, running parallel to a canal, casting the shadow of foliage into its gentle ripples. The aroma of sizzling skewer kebabs, naan fresh from a clay oven, and sweet, milky chai wafting from late-night food vendors. This is Lahore, the historical, cultural, and artistic hub of Pakistan, where the past and the future coexist in a vibrant and harmonious fashion.

Now contrast that with the rolling hills and vast tracts of land: sage green in spring, fading into ochre in summer, erupting into hues of rust, crimson, and maroon in fall, before finally surrendering to a thick, shimmering blanket of white snow in winter. The sky unfurls overhead like a canvas, creating a mosaic in soft pinks, oranges, and violets. Squirrels dart across branches swaying in the wind while students rush between buildings, seemingly unfazed by the spectacle of nature around them.

That’s the shift I experienced four years ago when I came to Pullman. It made my urban soul wonder, “Is this the kind of place I can live in for five years?” This place has grown on me ever since. My desire to study student engagement in the post Covid19 technology-mediated reality brought me to WSU. The Language, Literacy, and Technology program seemed tailor-made with convergence between language development, contemporary literacies, and technology as an essential learning mediator. Within this program, I found a community that shared my passion and saw research not just as theoretical ideas, but as a force capable of reconceptualizing problems and transforming lives. WSU hasn’t just shaped my research; it has shaped me. It is a space that compelled me to confront my doubts, question long-held assumptions, break free from the shackles of ingrained ideas, and unlearn in order to relearn. It has stretched me, challenged me, and ultimately revealed parts of me that I did not know exist. 

Community throbs through every aspect at WSU, whether it is studying in the Holland and Terrell Libraries, gathering for coffee roundtable discussions in The International Center, rooting to the roar of Martin Stadium on game day, competing in intramurals at the Student Recreation Center, celebrating cultural nights in the CUB Senior Ballroom, or exploring numerous indoor and outdoor activities. 

These diverse community engagements remind students that balance is not supplementary; it is survival and sanity. Beyond academics, I recharge by socializing with friends, hiking, lifting at the gym, losing myself in a good book, exploring different cuisines, photography, and painting.          

My two cents for those just beginning at WSU: lower your guard. Embrace what feels unfamiliar. You won’t discover what truly fits you unless you give yourself permission to explore. That “What did I sign up for?” feeling at the beginning is normal. Overwhelm is often proof that you’re challenging yourself and growing into a version you didn’t know was possible. Time, perspective, and community will soften that feeling. Finally, make each day count. Grad school isn’t just about the destination. It is about who you become along the way.

As I stand at the verge of taking my dissertation defense, I carry with me the quiet realization that the most profound growth begins the moment we choose to step outside our comfort zone geographically, emotionally, and academically.