Affaq Ahmed — Full Stack Developer

After completing my Intermediate from Fauji Foundation College, I entered another waiting phase — this time for my 2nd year results.
But I didn’t want to sit idle, so I joined KIPS Academy to prepare for university entry tests.

I appeared for NUST, GIKI, UET, ITU, and FAST — all reputed universities in Pakistan.
I got admission offers from all except NUST (where I was offered other disciplines but not Computer Science).
The first result that came was from GIKI, and I still remember that moment — I was over the moon. Then came ITU, FAST, and UET.

The entry test at FAST was surprisingly easy for me — I scored 93/100, and as far as I asked around, those were among the highest marks that year. That confidence boost set the tone for my university journey.

Choosing My Path

Choosing where to go was tough.
GIKI had its charm, but at the last moment, I made the call to join FAST-NUCES, Lahore — a decision that, looking back, shaped my life in more ways than I could have imagined.

FAST is known for its “Ragra” — the intense load of quizzes, assignments, projects, and exams that define its academic culture.
It’s not just about intelligence there; it’s about consistency, pressure-handling, and time management.
Those four years tested me in every way, and I’m grateful they did.

Early Setback — The Wake-Up Call

In my second semester, I faced my first real setback.
An OOP assignment I submitted was marked plagiarized because my friends and I had collaborated too closely — even though it was supposed to be a solo task.
I had to redo the entire OOP course during summer.

At that time, it felt harsh. But in hindsight, that moment changed me.
It made me take university seriously — and taught me ownership, integrity, and accountability.

The Courses That Shaped Me

From that point forward, I gave my best to every course.
Some of the subjects where I truly excelled were:

Programming Fundamentals (PF)
Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)
Databases (DB)
Computer Networks
Principles of Leadership
Creative Writing
Entrepreneurship
Software Design and Analysis
Theory of Automata
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Cloud Computing
Web Programming

These weren’t just subjects — they were puzzle pieces of what I’d eventually become.
I especially loved courses that blended logic with creativity — OOP, Web Programming, and AI stood out the most.

Falling in Love with Code

University was where I truly fell in love with programming.
I learned C++, SQL, a bit of Python, and yes — Java, which I hated with all my guts 😅.
But when I discovered JavaScript in our Web Programming course, it clicked instantly.

It felt fast, dynamic, and alive — just like me.
That’s when I decided: this is what I want to master.
It became the core stack of my Final Year Project, which I built using Node.js, React.js, and React Native — something I’ll share in detail in another post.

The FAST Experience

Life at FAST wasn’t easy.
There were nights before finals where I went completely blank, and others where I felt fully prepared — but somehow, I always managed to push through.
FAST taught me how to sustain pressure, stay disciplined, and remain resilient.

From long project submissions to 2 midterms, weekly quizzes, and labs — every bit of that “Ragra” built me into a stronger, more capable version of myself.
It taught me that excellence isn’t a one-time effort — it’s a habit.

A Reputation That Follows

Whenever I mention FAST-NUCES Lahore, people nod with respect — because they know what it stands for.
That’s what the university gave me — reputation, resilience, and respect.

Looking Back

From choosing Computer Science to spending sleepless nights debugging, every experience shaped me.
FAST gave me direction, confidence, and endurance — and most importantly, it helped me realize that I’m not just a student of technology…
I’m a student for life.