Welcome to the Living Library, a partnership between the YWCA Gettysburg & Adams County and the Adams County Library System!  We have gathered human "books" to be checked out by readers for 30-minute conversations during the week.  Please use the form below to register to listen to Athar's story.

As a Cyber Security educator at Mount St. Mary's University, Athar relishes his vocation, which enables him to contribute meaningfully to the lives of aspiring scholars, emulating the profound impact his own mentors had on him.

Hailing from the frontier town of Quetta, Pakistan, Athar's academic odyssey commenced in Germany, where he attended kindergarten. His subsequent educational sojourns included an elementary school in Lagos, Nigeria, and ultimately, the culmination of his middle school through college education in New York City. Athar holds a Mechanical Engineering degree from City College of New York and an MBA in IT Management from University of Baltimore.

With two decades of experience as a computer consultant, Athar deems himself fortunate to have undertaken professional engagements in diverse locales such as across the United States, Canada, Geneva, and Scotland. Nevertheless, he proudly claims Gettysburg as his cherished abode. As a devoted father, Athar has coached AYSO and traveling soccer teams for his three, now adult, children.

Furthermore, Athar's altruistic nature is evident in his mentorship and tutelage of college students and adults. He imparts invaluable insights on job acquisition, computer proficiency, resume composition, and interview techniques, boasting a remarkable success rate. Through his multifaceted endeavors, Athar continues to enrich the lives of those he encounters on his remarkable journey.
 

Book Title: From Diplomacy to Refugee - it has been a journey 

Book Synopsis:

In 1967, Athar's father was transferred to New York City as the personal assistant to the Pakistani ambassador to the United Nations with his wife and three sons. They settled in Queens, New York, with many other diplomatic families and the sons enjoyed visiting the hallowed halls of the UN building.

Four years later his father was transferred to Ankara, Turkey. Life in Turkey was cut short due to a change in the Pakistani government, and Athar's father was left with a difficult decision. He chose to abandon his career in diplomatic service, leave behind all of their belongings, and depart Ankara by bus to travel to the US, now as refugees for the second time in his life. The first time he was a refugee was when he migrated to Pakistan in 1947.

At the age of 16, Athar returned to the United States with his younger brother, and despite their familiarity with the city, their journey was arduous. They found solace in the generosity of their high school teacher and other Pakistani immigrants they had befriended, who helped them navigate their newfound challenges such as finding a place to live, acquiring food, part-time jobs, and education.

Athar's life journey in the United States is a testament to his unwavering resilience in the face of continuous trials, tribulations, and eventual triumph. His story has the power to inspire and captivate audiences, offering a perspective on the experiences of those who have had to navigate the tumultuous terrain of immigration and resettlement.