E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSS
This portrait of Arfa Karim Randhawa, by Dan DeLong, accompanied a Seattle P-I story about her 2005 Microsoft visit.
Computer programming prodigy Arfa Karim Randhawa, a 16-year-old girl from Pakistan who seven years ago became the youngest Microsoft Certified Professional in the world, is on life support after suffering an epileptic attack, according to a newspaper report out of the country.
Her father, Amjad Karim Randhawa, tells The Express Tribune, “only a miracle will allow my brilliant, genius daughter to live now."
In 2005, when I was working for the Seattle P-I newspaper, I got a chance to meet and write a story about Arfa. She was 10 years old at the time, visiting the Microsoft campus to meet Bill Gates and other executives from the Redmond company.
(Msnbc.com is a joint venture of Microsoft and NBC Universal.)
As I wrote in the story at the time, She made an impression through a combination of charm, flattery and boldness uncommon for someone her age. For example, during Arfa’s meeting with Gates, she presented him with a poem she wrote that celebrated his life story. But she also questioned him about what she perceived to be the relatively small proportion of women on the campus.
In short, she is a remarkable person. She is also very thoughtful, and after the article ran, she made a point of keeping in touch with me via email. It was fun to periodically get messages from her out of the blue, updating me on her progress in school and her plans for the future.
Arfa was extremely proud of her accomplishment as the youngest Microsoft Certified Professional, even including the phrase “Youngest MCP in the World” in her email signature line. So a few years ago,when a 9-year-old from India broke her record, I sent Arfa a link and asked her what she thought.
I went back this morning and found her response …
“This is the first time I’ve seen this story. But I must say that I’m really happy to have read it. This is exactly what I had been wishing for ever since I got to bring laurels for my country. I am very glad to see that people are following what I did and have succeeded in beating me. I don’t know whether you’ve heard or not but a boy, named Bilal, from Gujranwala in Pakistan also became a Microsoft Certified Professional at the age of nine. I would say that the other youngsters should follow suit, thereby convincing the people to take us kids seriously. Our generation is very talented and so should be promoted.”
She was 13 at the time, and working hard in school in hopes of attending her “dream university,” MIT, where she wanted to study computer science.
Todd Bishop is co-founder of GeekWire, a technology news site based in Seattle.
Leave a Comment:
Very sad story... but... Is it just me, or is her hand abnormally large in the picture that accompanies this story? It must be some strange trick of fore-shortened perspective or something, because that mitt is gargantuan for her! Please note that the hand she is resting her chin on seems to be of normal proportion, giving the whole image a sort of distorted, misshapen appearance...
The enlarged hand is a combination of the position of the camera, the lens used, and how she's positioned.
The news about this brilliant young lady is heartbreaking. I pray she recovers.
the hand is right in front of the camera. this is common in pics which have different depth.
It's shot with a 20-24mm wide angle lens; usually not too good for portraiture. Should have stepped back and used a 105mm for a better result.
This young lady is a national treasure for Pakistan, and I hope they rescue her. Considering where she lives, it's lucky she got out of the 2nd grade....
Does it really matter to her or the photograph, the story now, as was then, about her.
This young lady is extremely talented and at deaths door, and you are concerned about how the camera angle makes her hand look? Gimme a break. Even if her hand was the size of a catchers mitt, who cares?
Even I can see that manus elephantitis eventually weakened her heart and left her in such a state. Some countries will not allow amputation even to save a life.
Jack - if you are trying to be funny, you're not. If your comment is serious, then you are incredibly ignorant.
I don't know how your eyes perceive photos but the picture looks normal to me as her hand is on her knee and she is facing us so by normal perception, the hand would be larger. So by your logic her head and right hand are to small in relation to her left hand.
I hope she recovers to continue her quest for the future. My best wishes go out to her and her family. Afra is a treasure!
Depth of field you moron
Her hand looks larger because it is closest to the camera. I wish I could post a picture of my husband and a sunflower. The flower looks like it is over 2 foot wide, husband is very small standing behind it. Just the camera angle.
It's NOT depth of field YOU moron. That relates to focus which is not the issue with this photo. Sad story it's such a shame it's turned into a discussion about photography with people who know nothing about photography. Next time you start to write the phrase "Is it just me or..." just stop yourself and close out your browser please.
I think this would be considered forced perspective BUT I could be mistaken. See how easy that is? You make a statement and if you're not certain about the answer you state that.
I honestly can't believe people are discussing this near death's door young girl's hand size when all she needs is prayer, and if one doesn't believe in a higher power then at least positive thoughts for her getting better so she pulls through and can live her life to the fullest and prosper. A child prodigy is not something to waste and she is a treasure and seems to be like an angel. When she learned others younger than her had become Microsoft certified she was glad for them both. That shows what kind of young lady this girl is. I pray for a miracle for her and her family.
It's curvature of field, a barrel distortion caused by using a wide-angle lens on the camera. There is nothing wrong with her hand. Nor is there any reason to jump all over WMG for noticing and wondering about it. After all, the girl has a health issue, which is the point of the story.
Good luck, precious girl.
Wow! And just think, you will get to vote in the next election. You must be a Repub/TP, Libertarian or just ignorant, same thing. Seek counseling as soon as possible you moron. Good luck to that brilliant young lady (Arfa)!
""CRAZY DUMB ASS PILGRIM""WAR FIGHTER OUT""HOOAHhhhhh""
Women are a minority on the MS campus because most women regard a computer as an inconvenient appliance. They don't care how it works. It's the same reason women are a tiny minority of auto mechanics.
Careful Bob, your ignorance is showing. May want to tuck that away before you embarrass yourself.
Thanks, Bob. I'll remember that when I'm building my next computer, er, inconvenient appliance.
Bob, get real!!!! Tell me: Are you still living in a cave and bringing the mastedon home for dinner?
Oh, how cool. I work at a programming and consulting business. I get tech calls from men like you fairly often. Either you are a troll or incredibly clueless as are the ones who call and insist they speak to a man since I must be the secretary. I just politely tell them I can fix their issue (usually caused by them) now in a moment or they are free to wait until a man is available on the next shift.
Seriously, grow up and stop trolling or educate yourself. The ones who are often the most clueless about tech issues are older men who insist they know better than I do but can't figure out how to send an email.
I can't say I've reached the same conclusion as you have Bob. However, I have noticed that most people named Bob have problems reaching rational conclusions. Most people named Bob avoid college because they don't know how it works.
chill guys; bob here is right. there are more men than women in computer programming and auto mechanics. that doesnt mean men are better, it just means that some women would rather be doctors or lawyers or teachers, or they have young children. and i'm not saying that men cant do those too, a lot of them do, i'm just saying that that are certain fields in which there are more men or women.
I make a pretty good living working with those inconvenient appliances.
I am thrilled to have your opinion on this. And your PhD is from what school?
What did you step in Bob? Being a 54 year old man and into computers pretty much I have never thought there was any difference in a man or a woman when it comes to knowledge of any subject besides how to hold your pp when you use it for emptying fluid and to tell you the truth I've met a few women that can do that pretty well also. I think they got a few things on us Bob.
As a woman, I bet I could out build a PC your ass.
Also out game.
Out code.
Out program.
Also raise 3 kids, clean a house and make dinner. :)
I have called various tech support folks, and if I get a female or a male, I could care less, as long as they help me find a resolution to the problem. I thought we got past this type thinking when females were accepted as doctors, I have had a female doctor and was quite happy with my health care.
Bob, in the words of Debra Barone....Idiot.
As for this young girl, I certainly pray that she recovers. It is refreshing to see young people that have their ducks in a row.
Alright girls, you tell me why you are part of a small minority.
Bob... You are approaching this issue the wrong way. Technically, you are partially right. As an Electrical Engineer, I know what you mean when you say not many women are found in technical fields (Engineering and such). When I was doing my undergrad, my graduating class had one girl and 94 guys. Yep! That is how horrible the situation is with women in Engineering. Nobody is stopping them from taking that program. Women now a days just don't find Engineering as appealing as some other programs. And, unless they have the right engineering degree, MS or Google or Apple just can't hire them, unless the position is non-technical (like HR). Hence, you need to accuse women of not showing enough interest in pursuing technical degrees, and not falsely accuse them of not being smart enough to earn one if they really wanted.
John - I would be willing to bet that those women who don't find engineering as appealing as other programs know that "now a days" is spelled as one word (nowadays) and that there is no grammatical reason to capitalize "engineering" as used in your sentence.
He does have a point, in that women are disproportionately under-represented in the engineering fields. However, I think it's cultural and it's changing - look at this young lady, for example. Hopefully it will not be an issue in the future.
@scales67 – Thank you for you post a wry and witty body slam of your target. Nevertheless (used to be three words) in some substantive manner he is correct I'll let the reader figure that one out. I hope your meaning did not miss the mark for I do not think many will "get it" very well done lol.
We all wish this young girl a recovery and she is the subject matter first then we can address the dismal performance of our national education system. The connection I can glean from these posts is that many
recognize there is a problem with our current priorities in preparing our youth to meet the challenges of this "New World Order". BTW this is a quick post site not normally subject to the arrows of grammarians though we all appreciate a properly written sentence: a pure delight.
Good Luck - Arfa Karim Randhawa
Until businesses (IBM, Microsoft, Intel, etc) stop outsourcing their engineering and IT jobs to India / China / VietNam, etc - why would any intelligent person enter into an engineering or IT profession? I spent my career in IT (with an MS in Eng) and my job has been outsourced twice (after I trained multiple people to replace me). I strongly encouraged my children to do anything in college except engineering. They now are in the medical field (cannot offshore outsource a direct contact job)
Until this country stops encouraging business to ship jobs overseas - this will not change. It will only change when businesses are penalized for outsourcing jobs offshore.
And - FYI - I am now retired after starting and running my own IT company - to service businesses that did not want IBM India quality of service.
I think the women here need to step back a second and look at the statistics. I'm sure many of you offended are quite technically competent, but in the big picture, you are in a massive minority. The Snookis of the world outnumber you an easy 10 to 1.
I'm afraid Bob is 100% correctly. As a rule, women just aren't interested in tech jobs. There are exceptions to every rule, of course. As a network engineer, I have had the opportunity to work for a very talented female network engineer, so I know they are out there. But they are the minority. If I rounded up 10 of my female friends now and asked them if they had any interest in learning how a computer works, 9 of them would say "nope, don't care how the computer, car, or anything else works as long as it does what I need it to when I need it to". That doesn't mean women are any less intelligent, capable, etc, just that the "how tech works" thing is a very logic-heavy field that just doesn't appeal to the personality of most women.
Toaster: Married to an IT specialist. Even with 20+ years of medical/IT experience spanning private, government, and military service, I still defer to her superior talent and skill. Geek Squad bunchkind tremble in her midst, while they quietly mumble Psalm 23 for reassurance, for she's forgotten more than they will ever learn.
And Interested: I'm presently parlaying my medical/IT skills to complete my BSN as a teaching assistant. Just, maybe, one of these days I'll figure out what I want to be when I grow up.
Toaster: Married to an IT specialist. Even with 20+ years of medical/IT experience spanning private, government, and military service, I still defer to her superior talent and skill. Geek Squad bunchkind tremble in her midst, while they quietly mumble Psalm 23 for reassurance, for she's forgotten more than they will ever learn.
And Interested: I'm presently parlaying my medical/IT skills to complete my BSN as a teaching assistant. Just, maybe, one of these days I'll figure out what I want to be when I grow up.
The MCP isnt really all that hard to get. All it really says is that you know the Windows client operating system. It's really not all that involved. You get it after passing the first MCSE or MCITP exam and there are several of them.
Yea, it's just a test. Coupled with no professional work experience, it is near worthless. But, for a 9 year old, it's a hell of an accomplishment. I know some of the exams are pretty difficult (I'm struggling with "the beast" right now). It may be worthless to her, but as a personal goal, it has to be amazing to obtain it!
If the MCP is so dang easy to get, David, then presumably most 9-year-olds could get one, including you! (Did you?) Or your children. (Have they?) Also, I wonder if it's a worthless accomplishment in YOUR eyes because of Arfa's gender. Would it have been a more meaningful acheivement if the first 'youngest MCP' had been a young boy? Remember that old saw about how Ginger Rodgers did everything Fred Astaire did, only in high heels and backwards? Methinks it applies here, too.
@URWhatUEAt-3906146 lighten up for crying out loud, geez, you shouldn't slam someone if you don't know anything about the MCP certification.
It really isn't that hard, and I wouldn't be surprised if someone half her age could pass the tests. It took me about 6 months to pass the exams for Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE), I think there were 6 exams at the time. With all of the braindumps out there I had already seen 75% of the questions on the tests. And the tests definitely weren't as valuable as you would think. Real world experience is far more important than a paper certification.
David Pick your bottom lip up off the floor, it's unbecoming at any age to pout.
Oh seriously, how about you just wish her the best? What the heck is wrong with people? She is a smart young lady and this is a very sad situation. Grow up...it isn't a contest and you don't have to prove how much smarter you are than she is.
ug1 why did it take you 6 long months to complete if it's so easy? Or is it that your a slow learner?
Allison, he said he's a certified Systems Engineer, that's much different.
ug1, I'd be impressed by a 4.5 year old (half her age, as you said) who could read well enough to even study for the exam.
But certainly enlighten us, what was your big accomplishment in life at 9 years of age?
"The MCP isnt really all that hard to get. All it really says is that you know the Windows client operating system. It's really not all that involved. You get it after passing the first MCSE or MCITP exam and there are several of them."
This is true but the first line in the story is that she is a "computer programming prodigy" and a MCP does not make you a computer programmer, which means that she has picked up computer programing and has become more than proficient since she was first awarded a MCP at the age of nine. So if anyone has a problem with the story it should be with the writer that left out her achievements since she first made news at the age of nine.
"If the MCP is so dang easy to get, David, then presumably most 9-year-olds could get one, including you!"
Yes, personally I could have if the certification existed when I was 9 years old and I think there is a good percentage of the population that could, maybe 10-15%. But I am sure this young Girl has done more than earn a MCP that justifies her being labeled a prodigy.
east coast - ug1's biggest accomplishment in life at 9 years of age was that he finally stopped wetting the bed.
What is it with all of you supposedly grown men being so intimidated by this nine-year-old girl's accomplishment? Does it make you all feel so superior to think that you can do as well as she did when you are two or more times her age? Jeez!
Speaking as a grown man who also happens to be a software engineer, I find this story charming and the health risks to her very worrisome. I hope she does well, and goes on to become a significant contributor to our field.
" ... only in high heels and backwards? ... "
Are you REALLY sure she WASN'T leading? I mean REALLY sure? I'm not.
For such a group of educated people this certainly is an idiotic conversation considering the subject.
Cindy, you are assuming facts not in evidence, that these people are, in fact, educated. For shame!
Okay..... What's the problem here, is new year, and you all already starting, you are all adults (hopefully i'm right), still need to grow up and get a life. quit yerbitching and read the story all over again and go in peace this New year
Bob didn't say all women. Just most. Tons of men think the same way, but a smaller percentage. You can't deny that most women (most, not all) don't care how something works, but that it just works. Men are usually the opposite. We want to know how things work: engines, computers, electricity, etc.. There are a lot of guys out there that don't know much about mechanical things, though. They are the politicians or accountants. :D
Sad about this little girl. Sounds like she had the book smarts and the social skills to go a long way.
Here's a FYI for you.... There are a great many women that know how computers work and some of us can even fix them. The difference between men and women when it comes their ability to understand how something works and/or fix it... is that women have a realistic view on their abilities, men on the other hand tend to think that because they read an article on how to fix something that they are now an expert. I can fix your boat, airplane, car, computer, any household appliance and any electrical apppliance that I can get a schematic for but I also have enough of a realistic view of my knowledge to know when I need help. So do not wrongly assume that women are less adept at mechanical things compared to men. We just know that we do not know everything!
Excuse me, I thought we got beyond the Neanderthols. Obviously not! Oh, by the way, I am a retired mechanical engineer.
PC, you go right ahead and tell yourself that. You are most likely one of the guys who call and insist they need to speak to a man. They are usually the ones who think they know it all and caused the problem in the first place...lol. You are just wrong. Paddle makes a point. Usually if a woman calls she says up front, "I have no clue how to fix this and this is what is happening. Can you help me, please?" The men in the "I need a man since you can't fix this because you are female" category usually have condescending voices or are rude, call me "sweetie", or "missy", and don't have a clue that they broke it in the first place...lol. They not only don't know as much as they think they do, but they don't understand that being rude to tech support isn't going to get your site/program fixed.
PC, just wondering how old are you? You sound extremely young, what else could it be? You must not have been in the work force for very long. Try getting out more.
Just a suggestion, Silicon Valley, HP, Google, Fb and all chemical plants. You'l be truly amazed at the large number of women you'll come across...
And best of luck to the young lady.
Wait a minute... I'm an accountant. I build and rebuild computers. Learned from my wife. Used to tear down engines and carburetors to rebuild them just for fun. Not a politician though. I still have my integrity.
Jesus Christ, you people get all bent out of shape over nothing. I bet if he said most nurses are women because they're generally more caring and nurturing, you wouldn't be crying sexism.
I've known a lot of men who only cared that the beer tab came off, not how it was put on.
@PC... yet another guy who does not know how to make a point the right way.
@dragonmaster... I have known women who can't even use a bottle opener. That says nothing about a whole species.
@Ryan... +1
@Everyone else... Facts are facts. Numbers don't lie. Just look up the statistics for the % of men and women in Engineering and other technical fields today in America. It is heavily one-sided (favoring men). Women are not dumb, but for some reason they just don't get into programs that would get them the needed degrees to work in technical fields.
@PC Tech Women... I have seen several of you whining about helping men out with fixing their PCs. Seriously! Get over yourselves. Fixing PCs or building one from retail products is nothing to be proud of. My cousin built her first PC in 4th grade with liquid nitrogen cooling. She came up with the schematics and specs. Her dad gave the money and I helped source the parts. Now SHE is a genius. You are just a high school or community college pass out making a living. So, just shut it!
John, breathe. Just breathe. Get a hobby, maybe go out on a date with someone and get a nice dinner, have a glass of wine, and breathe. Atta boy.
John - what's with all the @ symbols? Totally unnecessary in this discussion and forum. You must be about 19.
As a woman who earned my undergraduate degree in chemistry as a traditional college student and then returned to grad school 25 years later to earn my Ph.D., I can tell you from experience that one reason women do not choose to enter careers in science and engineering is that there is still a tremendous amount of discrimination against them based solely on the fact that they have two X chromosomes. The only difference between now and 25-30 years ago is that universities, colleges, employers, etc., are less overt about their discrimination. It's done under the table instead of straight into one's face. Would you choose to enter a field in which you know you will never be as successful as others as a result of your gender?
I know many successful female engineers. Engineers have a particular mindset - we are interested in proof. If a woman (or man) can prove they know their subject, then they are an engineer. I don't care if they are male, female, or green and have tentacles. You might find discrimination amongst technicians, but real engineers tend to not care. Now, of course, I am sure you will find engineers who are jerks, but as a general rule, engineers are interested in what works.
" ... the fact that they have two X chromosomes ... "
You have two X chromosomes? That implies that I only have one. I ONLY HAVE ONE!!!! I've been cheated! That's right, I forgot I'm male and we only get on. Damn. Well we men demand equal rights. We want our second X chromosome! Give us our second one so we can be the equals of females!
Not let's see how long it takes.
3 .....
2 .....
1 .....
And?
Oh, Lord. You either must not know many women or the women you surround yourself with are not that interesting. At 60, I have extensive computer knowledge, both hardware, software and application and MCSE certified. I am a QA Analyst and (be prepared for a shock) a woman! There are many men and women who care how things work (after all, women have manipulated you men for eons now - what is it you want? Oh yeah, sex, food, with sex being the number one priority) and can repair and fix a multitude of electronic and mechanical items. My husband of over 35 years respects that ability, but we actually work together to resolve all manners of problems - tech related or not, which is how it should be...men and women working together without prejudice. The number of women entering the engineering field is growing and will continue to increase. However, intelligence has nothing to do with what a person wants to do in their life. This applies to men and women.
I applaud this little girl and am very sad about her situation, both medical and living in Pakistan. She displays more maturity than many of the posters on this board. I wish the best for her and for all the young children in all countries.
Seriously, PC? You need to go sit at the little kids table with Bob. Damn.
Here is a suggestion on why PC says what he says. When I was going to High School and College back in the late 50's to the early 70's,about 80% of the students in the Math and Science classes were male. Now that could have been because of social pressures on women to stay at home. I don't know,but back in my day very few women majored in Math or the Sciences.
George: Happy new year, but be careful what you wish for. XXY, if viable, would entail serious medical complications, not the least of which would include sterility.
Arfa: Continued success in your endevours, and prayers that this year will find you well.
Medic
I am XXY but am not sterile, it does come out that way sometimes.
Best Wishes for a speedy and full recovery, Arfa. We are praying for you. PS - you might consider using your wonderful inconvient appliance to research diet selections that include foods with high levels of B vitamins and magnesium.
Damn that really suxors seeing as how she is actually "hot". I think a different "job" is best suited for her.
Dude, the beginning of the article states she is 16. I hope you are as well or the implications of such a comment would be troubling.
You are disgusting.
They need to to dump Morlack. He's absolutely vile.
Morlack, you do realize that you just kicked the cra p out of a couple of the earlier comments suggesting that men are somehow intellectually superior to women. No chance of anyone believing that now.
big deal its just microsoft for christ sake, no big accomplishment too, its not like she just picked up a book and read it, force teaching is a common thing in pakistan. oh well.
with all the problem they have there she wouldnt have lasted that long anyways.
some of those exam can be taught as long as you have the answer readily available, all they have to do is remember the answers, pretty easy though, get her to program something from scratch.
she surely didnt make windows any better, anyhow.
well hope she gets better, and shows her real talent, if not, who is next
You are such a kind person. Guess you had that younger than she was, right? How about just saying you hope she recovers? Geez...guess nasty people can't help themselves.
Ram, isn't sad the amount of jealously that's on display here? None of them more than likely haven't achieved half of what she has. Envy and jealously are NOT virtues that a grown up should have it's ugly.
You guys, just wish her well, that's all.
Good luck young lady.
Thanks for posting something classy, simple, and kind.
PRAY, PRAY, PRAY, PRAY, PRAY, PRAY, PRAY, PRAY, PRAY, PRAY, PRAY, PRAY, FOR HER HEALING ! ! !
My daughter went through something similar. We found out she was lacking vitamin D, which led to a calcium deficiency. If we had not taken her into the hospital, her heart could have shut down. Calcium is vital for muscle function. We had 15 doctors trying to figure out why her calcium was so low. It was easily remedied with a vitamin D prescription. She sounds like an amazing woman and she is in my prayers. I cannot imagine what the parents are feeling right now.
You might have given your daughter Fat-Free or Soya milk as a child. A lot of parents do this now a days. Kids need Whole milk with Vitamin D for a healthy growth.
The world needs more kids like this. I wish her the best
Godspeed my little friend. You are so important to the future of our world, beauty, incredible intelligence, and full of love. What a perfect combination!
I hope she recovers soon, we need more people like her.
Keep things in their proper perspective. It is, after all, Microsoft.
Keep things in their proper perspective. It is, after all, the life of a young girl hanging in the balance.
Is it me or is this like a half story. What is wrong with this young lady?
As a mom of a teen with epilepsy, I'm not surprised at this comment. What people do NOT know about seizure spectrum disorders (no two persons will ever have the same experiences) is stunning. She may have been known to have epilepsy, or this might have been her first seizure. Many persons with epilepsy are not "out" with their condition. There are 3 million Americans with epilepsy, it is estimated that 1% of the world's population has seizures.
essie222 - You're correct. I'm sorry to hear your teen has epilepsy. I have it too. I seize, when I seize in my sleep. They're called nocturnal tonic clonic seizures. People don't like really talking about epilepsy, unlike something like diabetes because for some reason there is still a stigma attached to it. It's not something people are for some reason comfortable talking about. I hope the child can recover and I hope your teen is on the right cocktail for his/her seizures.
Obviously, I wish this young lady the best. I wish they had included more information about epilepsy. I didn't know it could be fatal. Is it possible to have a seizure in the brain stem?
Maybe spending less time in front of a PC monitor will improve her epilepsy- some video games and movies can cause seizures. People weren't meant to be couch potatoes & sit on their butts their whole lives as it is. Gosh, look at me: I'm sitting here typing... gotta go!
Thanks for mindlessly promoting inaccurate stereotypes about epilepsy. Oh yeah...right, you don't have epilepsy and obviously don't know anyone who does or you wouldn't spew your ignorant thoughts on a subject you know nothing about. We who actually live in the epilepsy community must endure your type of negative mindset that surely went along with ideas that epileptics were possessed by satan or should be relegated to insane asylums. Flickering doesn't bother a large part of our community, nor does exercise prevent seizures (in many cases it makes them worse). Thanks for implying our brain disorder is a result of some slovenly behavior you are too superior to have. Next time, shut up unless you have personal experience on a topic...like lying in a hospital dodging death due to uncontrollable seizures.
Got anger management? Sorry, but if you could actually read you would see that I never was attacking people who have epilepsy. But, no, you have so many sensitive nerves on the subject you fall off the deep end when someone has an opinion that doesn't fit yours. Stop spreading your heresay and mellow out already.
Do you even know what heresay means? It means, "unsubstantiated, unreliable information without references to a source of fact". I think you cornered that one on you own. Stop saying things about subjects you know nothing about. Are you in middle school?
Asking me if I'm in middle school speaks a lot about your own obvious lack of maturity. I don't need a dictionary to know what heresay means: You are providing a perfect example of it with your own words. It also accentuates another point that you are a troll. Good day!
Sand box/playground rules please! Play nice or we may have to speak with your parents.
Remember, we're talking about a 16 year old girl, living in a nation where women are routinely denied the education that she craves.
I can understand that disinformation about epilepsy must be extremely annoying, in_maryland, but it would be more helpful to give out information instead of getting mad. A lot of people simply don't know much about it. I'm bipolar. You wouldn't believe the amount of disinformation circulating about that. Getting mad about it hasn't helped me.
David Walker...My name is Bob. I have two degrees and have worked in the IT field for 15 years. Your comment makes no sense at all.
First and foremost, prayers to this girl and her family.
Bob -- are you serious? DW was making a completely insane remark on purpose! To show the inappropriateness of the initial sexist remark, he boomeranged the insensitivity of the first Bob right back in between his narrow set eyes by sarcastically substituting "Bob" for "females." If the initial commenter had been named "Albert" (as in Einstein), he would have used "Albert". Get it?
Or maybe you are using the ultimate in sarcasm yourself, by feining not to understand sarcasm?
@absolutelyright
So you feel that a nine year old who is an MCP is a couch potato???
I gotta get out of this country. Dirt road conservatives drive me crasy. < (sp intended)
She obviously is a potato- it's natural for a girl her age to write computer programs at the level she does? Sorry, but she isn't playing with Barbie dolls or playing kick ball. And, as evidence shows, she is having epileptic seizures. Period, there you go.
You are such a nitwit. You spew information based on nothing, and at the very least you are an insensitive jerk. Are you in middle school? Stop saying...obviously, x,y,z.....
Sorry troll- try again next time. Fail! :D
In honor and solidarity for this young, smart girl, please take time to learn more about epilepsy and the discrimination this community faces every day due to inaccurate information or plain fear. We are like anyone else, sometimes even gifted, as a result of electrical wiring differences in our brains. This girl is indeed suffering now, and deserves support and love during this physically and emotionally devastating time in her life. The best news is that she lives in a time where epilepsy treatment is the best it has ever been. New drugs and treatment offer us unparalleled opportunities to live lives unencumbered by seizures and their impacts. Epileptics should be treated as everyone else, yet often we are told no when facing daily tasks and dreams, often due to people's lack of understanding of modern epilepsy and its positive treatment outlook. Today's epileptic community is a vibrant, active and upwardly enabled group. In fact, every day you unknowingly work with us, go to school with us, rely on us without your ever suspecting we are wired a little differently. And why don't you know? Because a large number of us are too afraid to let the public know lest we lose our jobs, be downgraded in expectations, or are passed over or ostracised as we pursue our goals. Don't assume everything you've heard is true...treat us as you would anyone and leave your assumptions at the door. We have so much to offer and can't wait to show you epilepsy is not holding us back! Epilepsy today means a fulfilling life filled with great accomplishments and fewer setbacks. Take time to learn, and shun the old negative beliefs that hold us back and break our spirits. Thanks for reading!
My sister, who is a degreed engineer and lives with epilepsy (as do our dad and my son), all thank you, In Maryland. Sis doesn't disclose her illness because of the discrimination she's endured for simply having been made female. My son is permanently brain damaged from it and sadly will never be an engineer, or live alone. (My daughter has also decided to become an engineer, though. We're all about skewing odds and countering idiot assumptions in our family.)
My thoughts and hopes go out to this girl and her family. BTDT with life support, and it's horrifying. Status Epilepticus is deadly (assuming that's what's going on with her).
I'll certainly pray for that miracle. Sounds like a remarkable young lady, and a gift from God for her parents.
Microsoft tests of that era weren't horribly difficult. I managed to get my MCSE in two weeks about 5 years before this young lady earned her MCP. Of course, on the other hand I was 35 years old and had been getting paid to work on computers since I was 15. This gifted young lady managed an MCP at nine, and it doesn't sound like that's all she was doing. Without the benefit of doing it as a profession.
Keeping things in perspective, no matter who she is, she deserves our prayers for a speedy recovery. Considering that she is someone bright enough to maybe help drag us all (kicking and screaming) out of the dark ages this world find itself in, perhaps praying fervently wouldn't be too much to ask.
In following the link that Mr. Bishop included in his article (to the Express Tribune), I found a follow up that says that, as of today, Miss Randhawa is breathing on her own, and is showing brain activity. She is still in critical condition and has not woken up.
This girl deserves all the good thoughts and well-being that anyone can throw to her. She young, smart, and a fighter, and the world needs more people like her...
I am amazed that a simple article stating facts - a child who just happens to be extremely good with technology is fighting for her life - turned into a massive penis pull or should I say penis/boob pull. Holy hell! First, little kids like this are not as rare as most think...there are many but they don't all get recognition. They are boys, girls...it doesn't matter. Second, this is about a young girl fighting for her very existence...not about a war of the sexes. Send the girl and her family wishes for many blessings and call it good.
@In Maryland: Please...no need to get so defensive. Many people suffer from conditions others don't know much about. As to computers, video games, some televisions etc. instigating a seizure...proven. There are "provoked" seizures and "non-provoked". I am curious that you are actually setting yourself aside from other individuals by saying "those of us who live in the epilepsy community" while castigating others to not do so. And please...don't tell me I know nothing about living with seizures. You have no idea what others live with.
What do you expect from "in Maryland"? It's obvious they have some sensitive nerves on the subject then go on the attack claiming discrimination and other blown out of proportion crap when somebody states an opinion that doesn't fit theirs. Some people need to grow up.
Sensitive? It seems just the opposite not to seem to care about the girl, and go on with MCE rants.
Best wishes for the miracle this family needs. Get well soon, Arfa!
Having been a female mechanical and electronics engineer for 30 years now, I can tell you why there aren't very many women in these fields. Years ago I suspected this, and I posted my resume' on a popular online jobs site, changing only my name to a male name. I immediately got hundreds of responses. The same resume' under my real name? Two.
Go figure.
My sister-in-law, a civil engineer of 15 yrs and with an MS, found out that she was being paid less than any of the four men with BSs that she supervised. When I asked her if she was going to file complaints with the Feds she said she'd never work in this field again if she did.
Yeah, go figure.
Sure you did...