Dreaming of Reality: Change and Metamorphosis on the Fulbright Program
The past two years were like a dream: surreal, fleeting… the kind of dream you want to hang on to and never wake up from. The only thing better than the dream itself was that it was all a reality. Yet now, it all feels like a distant memory.
For the past 2 years, I woke up in the United States thinking that I was dreaming about my whereabouts and about pursuing my master’s degree abroad. You see, growing up, a master’s degree was not something I knew much about, and I certainly was not thinking that far ahead. That said, I knew that studying abroad might be a far-fetched undertaking, particularly due to the substantial costs associated with it from tuition fees to room and board and more. Truth be told, travel, in general, was not something I thought I would be able to experience but I guess life had other positive plans for me.
In 2018, I got a glimpse into studying abroad when I was selected by the US Embassy in Beirut to partake in the Study of the US Institutes for Student Leaders on Religious Pluralism (SUSI). Through hard work, perseverance, and other opportunities, I also got to travel to Portugal and to New York during my undergraduate years.
The first time I heard about Fulbright was from a friend during the SUSI program. During the same experience, a visit to the US Department of State in D.C. allowed me to acquire more information about it. Throughout my undergraduate studies, it became clearer to me that I wanted to pursue a master’s degree particularly due to the benefits that I felt it would have on my personal and professional development as well as on my ability to contribute to my country. When the time came, I decided to apply to Fulbright. Throughout each step of the process, I remember telling my mom: “If I don’t get it, I’ll re-apply next year.” Her answer would always be: “You’ll get it; why are you doubting yourself?” I have reflected on her question on several occasions, and I believe that it was not all self-doubt, but rather the knowledge that there are limited grants and an impressive pool of applicants each year. My mom was right after all, though: I did get accepted into the Fulbright Program to pursue a master’s degree in Peace and Conflict Studies with a concentration on International Peace Development at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. This program provided a good combination of my passions, my academic and professional experiences, and my desire to bring more peace and stability to Lebanon and the Middle East.
Throughout the past two years, I have met incredible people who became mentors and friends; I remain in touch with them to this day. I got to volunteer on campus and in my community, I led several student clubs, and traveled to New York, South Carolina, other parts of North Carolina, and D.C. I also interned, virtually and in-person, with Peace Boat US, the Carter (Presidential) Center, the Center for New North Carolinians, and Every Campus A Refuge. I held a graduate assistantship with the International Programs Center where I supported intercultural programming for the entire campus. I also got to collaborate and be involved with the offices of leadership and civic engagement, intercultural engagement, the Weatherspoon Art Museum on campus, and more!
However, like all dreams, it had to come to an end. I returned to Lebanon at the end of May and accepted a researcher position with the Lebanese Center for Policy Studies where I started working mid-June on research and advocacy to strengthen multisectoral policies. The job can get challenging sometimes because Lebanon is in a bad shape right now, but the work is rewarding because I get to implement the skills I’ve learned, particularly conflict analysis and resolution, and to further grow while aiding my country.
In the coming years, I hope to pursue a PhD program to combine my passion for research and my love for teaching and advocacy. My sense of global citizenship has been strengthened during the past years and my love for the US and its people has deepened. I have also learned more about myself throughout this journey. My favorite part of it all was all of it; it was taking a chance, not knowing where it might lead, but having faith and hope that things will work out in the end. If you are fortunate to get this opportunity, my biggest piece of advice to you is to make each moment count!
