Musharib Hammas Aslam, a 21-year-old international undergraduate student from Pakistan, always yearned for the opportunity to visit the United States. As a content creator and filmmaker, the thought of one day immersing himself in the country that is home to the world’s largest film industry was always a dream. It’s now a reality.
“So why U.S.?” Aslam asked. “I am a filmmaker, and obviously Hollywood is the biggest industry in filming, so it’s my dream to visit [the] USA at least once in my lifetime, and fortunately, I got a fully funded scholarship.”
Through the U.S. Department of State’s Global Undergraduate Exchange Program, Aslam was one of 50 undergraduate students from his home country awarded the opportunity to attend Cal State Monterey Bay (CSUMB), studying cinematic arts and technology in a new country, 7,600 miles away from home.
As part of UGRAD, he acts as Pakistan’s cultural ambassador, and in the short amount of time he’s been at CSUMB, he’s already begun volunteering for local community events and has worked alongside the university’s international program.
All of his experiences in the U.S. have been documented as he is also a content creator, dedicated to sharing everything he is doing at CSUMB on social media with his audience in Pakistan and the new friends he’s made so far.
More importantly, his drive for content creation and filmmaking came naturally.
“I wanted to become a computer scientist but after two years I thought, ‘I only like computer theory.’ But [computer science] is programming, coding, and just [sitting] on a chair and work for five to six hours or full day, it’s not my job.”
“I am very passionate about filmmaking,” said Aslam. “When I chose a bachelor’s in media studies in my home country, then I started script writing, editing on films. I realized, no, this is my job. This is what I [want] to do. I want to convert my thoughts into reality.”
Aslam was born and raised in Multan, Pakistan, and is currently attending the University of Central Punjab. He uses a combination of English and his native language of Urdu in the content he creates, aiming to best represent his country, while sharing his culture on campus.
“There is one word in Urdu, ‘mehman nawaz,’ [it’s] like hospitality. Pakistani people respect their guests, whether it’s Indian, whether it’s any American or any.”
Mehman nawaz holds cultural significance to Aslam and his people. It’s a way of life. For him, he wants to embody mehman nawaz in the art he makes to combat negative perceptions of Pakistan.
He says, “If anybody hears ‘Pakistani people,’ they only think, terrorists.”
As a Muslim, it’s a painful sight when Aslam constantly sees his people and religion portrayed in such a negative light in media across the world. Despite this, he wants to be a force for change and approach this sensitive issue in the most effective way he knows.
“Pakistani people [have a] clear image of themselves, but in Urdu. Obviously, if you [are going to make] clear your image internationally you have to make content in international language. I will make sure to make content in English language.”
Through the content he makes and the films he will continue to do in the future, the love he holds for Pakistan and his fearless willingness to engage with American culture here in Monterey Bay is palpable.
“Social media is a super power,” Aslam shared. “I know many Americans have negative images about Pakistan, I would suggest that everyone go to YouTube and watch Pakistani videos. You won’t find anything negative, also Pakistani people are very welcoming!”