Comparing Online and Traditional University Programs

My name is Mohammad Junaid, and my freelancing journey began back in 2009. Like many aspiring freelancers, I spent countless hours searching for online earning opportunities. At that time, Paid-to-Click (PTC) websites were extremely popular, and I decided to try my luck with them.

 

My first day’s earnings were only $0.04, and by the end of my first month, I had earned just $1.20. While the income was insignificant, it gave me something much more valuable—a vision for the future. I believed that one day I could build a successful online career, and that belief kept me motivated

For several years, I continued working on various online platforms and experimenting with different opportunities. Then, in 2014, my freelancing journey took a major turn when my roommate introduced me to Fiverr.

I was immediately impressed by the platform. After creating my first gig, I received my first $5 order within a few hours. My initial niche was content writing because I had strong English language skills. Although content writing helped me establish my presence on Fiverr, the workload was high and the earnings were relatively limited.

During my first month on Fiverr in December 2014, I earned approximately $70. Over time, I began offering presentation design services, which significantly increased my income. My monthly earnings soon crossed the $300 mark, and I started realizing the true potential of freelancing.

As I continued learning and growing, I joined the Fiverr Pakistan community, where I met my mentor, Umar Farooq. Through him, I learned about Freelancing Skill and the training opportunities available for freelancers who wanted to build sustainable online careers.

Although I did not attend the online sessions, I had the opportunity to meet Umar Farooq personally. During our discussion, he shared several valuable insights and practical strategies that completely changed my perspective on freelancing. By applying those lessons, I crossed the $500 monthly income mark within a short period, and my average earnings soon reached approximately $600 per month.

Motivated by this progress, I decided to take my skills to the next level. I enrolled in a graphic design training program conducted by Umar Farooq. During the one-month training, I learned the fundamentals of Adobe Illustrator, logo design, and business card design. The knowledge and confidence I gained from that training opened new opportunities for me in the freelancing marketplace.

Unfortunately, my first Fiverr profile was later suspended for reasons that were never fully explained. For many people, this would have been the end of the journey. However, instead of giving up, I started again from scratch.

In December 2015, I created a new Fiverr profile and began rebuilding my freelancing career. By February 2016, I started publishing gigs again and received my first order shortly afterward.

The results exceeded my expectations. Between February 2016 and April 2016, I generated more than $2,500 in sales, and my monthly income reached approximately $1,000. What seemed impossible a few years earlier had become a reality.

Looking back, I credit much of this success to the guidance, encouragement, and mentorship I received from Umar Farooq. He consistently motivated me to pursue graphic design and logo design because he recognized creative potential in me long before I recognized it myself.

Today, I am an Electrical Engineer by qualification and a full-time freelancer by profession. Freelancing has given me the freedom to build a career on my own terms while continuously developing my skills and expanding my opportunities.

My message to every aspiring freelancer is simple: never lose hope. Every successful freelancer starts somewhere, and progress often comes much slower than expected. Stay patient, keep learning, and continue improving your skills.

Allah Almighty gives opportunities to everyone. The difference lies in whether we are prepared to recognize those opportunities and take advantage of them when they arrive.

I am Mohammad Junaid, a proud member of the Freelancing Skill community, and this is my success story.