Today I am entering Harvard University for my master’s degree on a full scholarship, and I am entering “to grow in wisdom.”
However, I am not entering alone because as Oprah Winfrey once said, “I come as one, but I stand as ten thousand.”
I am here to continue what I started as a US-Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) Tomorrow’s Leaders scholar at the American University of Beirut; I am here at Harvard in pursuit of justice through literature.
What started as a modest Arabic final paper five years ago has blossomed into a full-fledged master’s thesis project, a transformation made possible by the incredible support of Harvard University and the VIP.fund.
This achievement is not mine alone; it’s a testament to the unwavering support of my professors who have given me a voice and a purpose. It’s also a tribute to my family, siblings, and friends, whose steadfast encouragement has been my guiding light through significant challenges.
I stand in awe, humbled and honored, at the prospect of this enriching journey ahead. Every step I take is paved with the narratives that have resonated with me and have shaped me—narratives of resilience, of breaking barriers, of liberation. These narratives fuel my mission and shape my path as I strive to create a life of purpose and impact.
Here’s to embracing the opportunities and the blessings that lie ahead, to vocalizing new prison narratives, and to standing as a testament to the transformative power of education and compassion.