In this terrifying world, all we have are the connections we make.
BoJack Horseman.
Courtesy Hashir Maqsood Daudpota 
Courtesy Sumair Janoo
The warm feeling you get when you see a familiar face at your internship. The sense of nostalgia that hits you when you drive by the Maskan traffic. The smile you have when you reminisce about the time you spent at that concert, working for that one event. How tired you were that day, but in the end, it was worth it because you were able to spend that time with your friends.
Why these connections mean so much
Courtesy Hamza Snow 
Courtesy Arsalan Zaidi
The connections you make at IBA are very important. From that one senior that helped you get familiar with IBA to the recent graduate that connected you with the HR Manager for your first internship. The people you meet and interact with here on a daily basis are, in all essence of the word, important.
Courtesy Umair Ansari.
Make connections you can have BBQs and water fights (?) with.
The friends you make through that one Intro to Economics class, that one mega-event, or in passing, play a huge role in your life.
It’s easy to find stories where people have credited alumni for being the main reason why they got their jobs. How people passed a course only because a friend taught them one night before the exam. Why the only reason that someone comes to campus is to meet that one person.
The examples are endless. You just need to listen.
How it helps you in the future
Courtesy Ramish Hussain 
Courtesy Shah Taimur Hasan
For many of us, IBA will be the most diverse place we will ever be a part of. There are people coming over from all over Pakistan. Therefore, there is a high chance that you will never witness this diversity of people again.
Courtesy Daniyal Alvi
Learning happens outside the classroom, it happens by listening to other people’s stories over a warm cup of chai. Learning happens through the experiences you share with other people. It happens when you meet and socialize with dozens. When you broaden your social groups, when you take an active interest in meeting new people every day.
Luckily, IBA provides you with the opportunities to connect with people on an almost daily basis. With group projects in most courses, and of course, the highly coveted mega-events, the opportunities are endless.
Courtesy Hurmat Ayub 
Courtesy Danial Hemani
The people you meet, the friends you hang out with will have an important part in your life now onwards. So be vary of the people you sit with, and how many you sit with. Usually, the concept is the more the merrier, so follow that. And try not to piss anyone supremely off in the 4 years you spend here. Especially the HR Majors. It might become a little awkward in the case you run into them in an interview in the future.
How to Make the Best Connections
Courtesy Ghufran Ahmed 
Courtesy Jhon Raza
If this was a regular semester, I would’ve told you to join a few societies and take part in some events. But with the campus closed and half the population studying from home, socializing has become more difficult than it was previously.
Courtesy Osama Zaidi 
Courtesy Safa Akhtar
The next best option would be to socialize with the people that you see randomly on campus. I know it seems daunting at first but you’d be surprised to know as to how many people I’ve become good friends with because I knew someone who knew them.
The Student Centre is always packed and filled with people, so try sitting there and striking up a conversation with the girl who posts really good memes on Facebook.
Side note: I, am the girl who posts really good memes on Facebook.
Connections with whom the author had EGC with.
Another really great opportunity is to notice the people you have courses with. For freshmen, at least in the first semester, you’re all divided into groups, and each group of around 25 people has the same five courses together. This is a wonderful opportunity to make some really good friends. I still hang out with the people I had the same courses with in my first semester. And even though they’re really annoying, I’m glad I have them.
The Bottom Line
Courtesy Taha Ansari 
Courtesy Dabeer Hussain
The bottom line is, these four years are a very important part of you. You can make them the best four years of your life or the worst. A major factor of this is the people you choose to associate yourself with.
There are all kinds of people here. From people who are art history fans, to people who have intense anime discussions. People who love to have debates on national politics and even people who debate on comic books.
Courtesy Omer Usmani 
Courtesy Amr Ahmed
You will find your crowd, and whether one semester has gone by or seven. You still have time, branch out, become a part of multiple friend groups, the sky isn’t your limit.
Thank you to everyone who sent it their pictures for this article and giving the world some insight into your incredible lives.
Cover picture courtesy; The IBA Arts and Photography Society.
17 thoughts on “The Connections We Make at IBA”
So heartwarming ❤
Thank you <3
She nailed it ,Worth read
Thank you so much!
Well Crafted. Love it 💕
Thank you!
LOVE IT BISMAH ❤❤
Thank you so much ❤❤
Awesome!!
Thank you, Taha!
I loved it . Being a freshman , i was thinking of IBA four years really gonna be worth it or not ? Khair , i dont have friends untill now as i am from a very far place but i witness that people of IBA are very Kind. ❤
Hi Abdullah, it definitely takes time to fit in and really find your place, I still struggle sometimes but there is still time, good luck!
Wholesome❤
Thank you !