Self-made digital Marketer: Shehryar R

Some stories don’t make headlines, they live in the hearts of those who understand struggle, sacrifice, and silent strength. This is one such story – the journey of Shehryar, a young boy from a humble background who rose against all odds to become the backbone of his family and a self-made success in the digital world. Shehryar grew up in the quiet, dusty corners of Islamabad, in a community that most people pass by without noticing. He is the eldest of eight siblings, and the only son of elderly parents whose health began to decline while their children were still very young. Being the firstborn, responsibilities found him early – far earlier than most. His parents had little to offer in terms of material wealth, but they taught him something far more valuable: humility, honesty, and the courage to face life head-on. His mother worked as a housemaid, while his father, once a strong man, could no longer work due to chronic illness. The weight of the household slowly shifted to Shehryar’s small shoulders. But even when things were tough, education always called out to him.

Shehryar’s educational journey began under a simple shed, not in a fancy building. Not with uniforms or fees, but with kindness. He became a student at Pehli Kiran School No.8 (PK-8), an open-air school built for children who had been forgotten by the system. There were no walls in that school, no blackboards that rolled up, no benches just mats, pencils, notebooks, and the burning desire to learn. For Shehryar school wasn’t just a place to study, it was an escape, a small window that showed him what the world could be, if he tried hard enough.

He studied at PKS-8 up to Grade 8 and those years laid the foundations of everything he would achieve later in life. But then Shehryar was forced to a decision no child should ever have to make. He had to drop out of school and start working as his father’s health was deteriorating and medical bills were piling up. His family had nothing: no steady income, no savings. And his sisters were too young to help.

He did small jobs at first, anything that paid. Packing goods, delivering items, working at local shops. While his friends continued school, Shehryar worked hard to barely survive. But his dreams? He kept them quietly in his heart. Every night, after a long day, he would sit in a corner with an old book from his PKS days and remind himself: “Yeh waqt guzr jayega. Parhna mujhe phir bhi hai.” (This too shall pass, but study I must). Years passed, and responsibilities grew heavier. But so did his inner strength. Shehryar did not let go of his dream to study. When he learned about Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) and its distance learning program, it sounded like the perfect opportunity: he could continue working and study at the same time. So, he enrolled. Quietly, without telling many people, he began studying again. He completed his Matriculation through AIOU with sheer determination. There were no tutors, no study groups – just him, his books, and late-night self-discipline. He studied during breaks at work, on buses, and in the quiet moments before sleep.

But life was about to open up a new path. One day, while scrolling through his basic smartphone, he came across videos and posts about digital marketing, a skill that seemed both interesting and financially rewarding. The idea of working online, from home, and earning money while studying sounded too good to be true. But learning digital marketing is no easy task. It requires understanding algorithms, content, analytics, platforms and strategies. None of it made any sense to him at first and Shehryar struggled. English was hard. Technical terms were even harder. But giving up? That wasn’t in his blood. He spent nights watching tutorials on YouTube, reading blogs, practicing how to run ads, manage pages, and create marketing content. He failed many times but slowly and surely, he learned.

Today, at just 20 years old, Shehryar earns over Rs. 45,000 each month through digital marketing. He manages social media campaigns, helps businesses grow online, and continues to study through AIOU where he is about to complete his I. Com degree this year. His education never stopped. It just paused until he could pick it up again.

Now, Shehryar is not just a student or a freelancer but a lifeline. He pays for his parents’ medicines, takes care of household bills, and supports his seven sisters. He wants each of them to study, to never have to make the same sacrifice he did. And his dream? To open a full digital agency one day and hire kids from low-income communities just like him.

Whenever Pehli Kiran Schools (PKS) call for his help, he is there. Whether it’s speaking to younger children, helping set up an online campaign, or simply showing up to support a PKS event, he stands proudly, shoulder to shoulder, with the same people who once handed him a pencil under an open sky.

Shehryar’s story is not just about financial improvement. It’s about determination and resilience. About not letting poverty write the final chapter. About lighting a candle in a storm and choosing to walk forward even when the road ahead is not clearly visible. He didn’t get here through shortcuts. He worked. He learned. And each time he fell down, he got up and kept going. And most importantly, he never stopped believing in that small seed of education planted by Pehli Kiran Schools years ago. And today, that seed has grown into something strong, something rooted and something that gives shade to many others who now look up to him.