From Beirut to the United States: A Fulbright Journey of Hope and Resilience
Being a Fulbrighter is not just about academic success; it’s about being part of a global community dedicated to making a difference. It’s about recognizing that, no matter where we come from, we all have something valuable to share. And sometimes, in the most unexpected places, we find pieces of home that inspire us to continue our work with renewed passion and purpose.
I first learned about the Fulbright Foreign Student Program at 16 years old. I remember sitting nervously in the Amideast office in Beirut, Lebanon, waiting for my interview for the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program, a high school level exchange opportunity that offers students scholarships to spend a year in the United States. As I tried to calm my nerves, my eyes wandered to the brochures on the wall. One caught my eye: the Fulbright Foreign Student Program brochure. It outlined an award for Lebanese students to pursue graduate-level study in the United States. As I read through it, I decided I will do whatever it takes for the Fulbright Program to accept me.
Getting accepted into the YES Program could set me on the path to a Fulbright experience. That day, I did everything I could to convince the YES Program scholarship committee why I needed to travel to the United States and serve as a young student ambassador for Lebanon. Thankfully, I was accepted into the program. Spending a year in Arizona through the YES Program was a transformative experience that sparked my interest in politics and social change.
After returning to Lebanon, I set another goal: to get my bachelor’s degree in political science and international affairs from a reputable university in my home country. I applied to the Lebanese American University (LAU). While the tuition was beyond our financial means, especially during the economic crisis of 2020, I was determined not to let financial constraints stop me. I worked hard and secured three full scholarships throughout my three years at LAU. I also received the Erasmus+ scholarship to study a semester abroad at the University of Helsinki in Finland.
Over the years, I focused on developing my leadership skills and creating a resume that would stand out. Every opportunity I took was with my primary goal in mind: to get accepted into the Fulbright Program.
When the time came to apply, I found myself in the LAU library, trying to balance writing my senior thesis, studying for finals, and planning for graduation. In my Fulbright application, I wrote about the Beirut explosion and its impact on the Lebanese community. I also wrote about Ryan, my best friend from the YES program who is no longer with us. I wrote about how losing Ryan taught me how to fall in love with life and live every second for those who cannot.
A month later, on June 16, 2023, while my mom was driving me to get my hair and makeup done for my graduation, I received an email from the U.S. Embassy that I was accepted into the Fulbright Program. In that moment, it felt like my journey had come full circle. The excitement was overwhelming, but it was also mixed with a deep sense of responsibility.
The Fulbright Program is more than just an opportunity to get a master’s in the United States; it is a chance to represent your country, and to learn as much as possible to give back to your home community.
For me , this achievement was not just a personal milestone but a sign of hope for my family and community. Through the Fulbright Program, I plan to advance public policy research of the impact of the Beirut explosion on Lebanon.
My Fulbright Program is not about getting a full scholarship for graduate studies or living in the United States. It is about the determination to achieve a goal, the commitment to nurture a passion, and the dedication to try, no matter the limitations or challenges.
So, if you’re reading this and feeling lost or terrified, know that if you set your mind on effort, the opportunity will come to you. You just need to decide to take the first step.
My hope is that I inspire anyone who feels like they are incapable of achieving their goals, or experience limitations, because when you are determined, nothing will ever stop you from getting there.
Sarah is a Fulbright Student from Lebanon. She is studying public policy at the University of Central Florida.
