How USP changed my life by Lebanese American University

This book is made possible with the support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents are the responsibility of LAU and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.

Table of contents

Message from the President

Message from the Vice President

USP Management

USP Administration

USP 1

USP2

USP3

161

Class of 2014

257

Message From the President

Joseph G. Jabbra, Ph.D. President

The University Scholarship Program generously financed by USAID and graciously given by the American people epitomizes the educational credo of the Lebanese American University (LAU) that strives to form leaders in a diverse world and uses student centered pedagogical tools in order to graduate academically brilliant and civically engaged students. LAU takes an immense pride in partnering with USAID and in managing this valuable educational grant that gives opportunities for meritoriously recruited public school students from all over Lebanon to receive a second to none education and gain leadership skills that will enable the ambassador merit scholars to embark on promising professional careers and benefit their families and their country. I commend the program for its nobility of purpose and for its transformational character as it endows the scholars with life skills and bestow on them citizenship values. Gebran Khalil Gebran considers that â&#x20AC;&#x153;Life is knowledge with wingsâ&#x20AC;?. The USP program gives wings of cognition and leadership to our young scholars. This is both sublime and uplifting.

Message From the Vice President

Elise Salem, Ph.D. Vice President For Student Development And Enrollment Managment USP changed my life! Ok, I’m an LAU administrator and not a USP scholar, but allow me to say it again: “USP changed my life.” From the moment we sent in the first grant application, back in 2010, we hoped against hope that we would be successful. The grants were competitive and extremely rigorous, but we kept our eye on the prize, on the possibility of fully educating young men and women from across Lebanon with complete support services, including leadership building, civic engagement and education of the whole person. We got the grant and enthusiastically visited all the public schools across the country to recruit for the program, but we were often met with disbelief: this scholarship is too good to be true. But it proved to be real. Our first cohort of USP-I scholars joined in the fall of 2011, some of whom will be graduating this July, and LAU hasn’t stopped applying for and earning grant after grant. With over 200 students in the program and close to $30 million in scholarships, USP has far exceeded our expectations. It has brought out the very best in our university, from recruitment to selection to advising to academics to the support services offered by the Deans of Students offices and for the mentoring and workshops of our Outreach and Civic Engagement unit. LAU has improved as a result of USP and that’s because of each and every one of the USP scholars who has come to the program with a deep thirst for knowledge, for self-improvement and for a commitment to improve their communities. You bring with you your creativity, your intelligence and your passion for learning. We are racing to keep up with you, so we thank you for selecting LAU, for compelling us to improve our standards and for challenging us to stay hopeful. Because of you, I know exactly why I am an administrator at LAU. Thank you for changing my life.

USP Management

Sonia Hajjar AVP for FinanceBudget and Grants

Abdo GhiĂŠ AVP for Enrollment Management

Elie Samia Executive Director of OCE

In partnership with USAID, it is with equanimity that the LAU USP managing team was successful in achieving the following objectives of the USP program: 1. Exposing students coming from public schools all over Lebanon to LAUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s campus environment that promotes tolerance, gender equality, social equality and critical thinking. 2.Assisting high school students to access high quality undergraduate education at LAU in various fields and consequently contributing to breaking the cycle of poverty, developing a more functional democracy, and sustaining a more competitive, open economy in Lebanon. 3.Supporting USP scholars to gain leadership skills and thus fostering a new generation of young Lebanese who will be able to contribute to democratic and economic development in their chosen fields. 4.Graduating student leaders with a combination of academic, leadership, and networking skills to allow them to better prepare and plan for the future. 5.Increasing the Merit Ambassador Scholarsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; potential for employment for a more advanced country economy and thus, contributing to the overall economic and social development of Lebanon.

USP Administration

Rana Salloum Senior Leadership and Civic Engagement Coordinator

Ghina Hareb Leadership and Civic Engagement Coordinator

Hassan Baalbaki OCE Project Management Coordinator

As we head to our offices each morning, we are rejuvenated by the smiles, the ambition, the daring, and not so daring, and the definitely effervescent spirit of the student body that gives life to our campus. We have boisterous leaders, we have quiet achievers, and we have the ones who like to hide behind the shadows of those who love to be seen. All in all, we see humans trying to make a difference both in their own lives and in the lives of others. In the perplexity and complexity of our lives, we plan, we execute, we achieve, we fight, we struggle, we fly, we fall, we win, and we lose. It is in doing all things that we sometimes drown out the twittering of the birds, the shuffling of the fallen leaves and the breaking of waves at seashoreâ&#x20AC;&#x201C; it is in that noisy space where we drown out all that reminds us that we are still alive. And by the same token, it is in our waking hours that we regretfully forget to dream. Sometimes, it takes gazing at the stars or a long car ride along the seacoast to be stolen by a moment and it is only in this moment that we remember our significance in the big scheme of things. In 2011, we took an opportunity to work with you all as USP scholars. It is by working with your generous souls and your critical minds that we are constantly reminded of our significant existence and that we are ALIVE. It is you, USP scholars that remind us to stop, gaze into the stars, and dream a little. We hope that despite what life throws at you, whether it is peaches on a silver platter, or a match in a muddy arena, that you always remember to steal a moment and dream. For a face, soiled with dirt and blood, can still dream and only a face that dreams can continue to strive intrepidly and never give in.

USP 1

ABDELRAZZAK EL BABA Nursing USP 1

I would like to start by thanking USP for enlightening the way to change my life and not actually interfering in the process. The USP scholarship was an amazing experience and opportunity in my life. It did not change my life radically but it gave me the opportunity to continue my undergraduate education and seek a higher knowledge level. It also gave me the chance to meet and mingle with other people, a variety of people that I never expected to meet, love and care about in a very short period of time. Moreover, through the scholarship and through the people I met I was able to make new connections with local and international colleagues, academics, and professors. On the other hand, I am still the same person with the same principles, traditions, and goals, and I am not going to change them under any circumstance unless I decide to. In brief, USP gave me the opportunity to improve my personality and to widen my connections. This advance helped in shaping my life and cultivating it.

ABDULLATIF CHARARA Business USP 1

Being a USP student at LAU has always been a responsibility, yet an amazing experience to live, and a unique challenge to go through. What USP changed in me as a person cannot be summarized in one sentence, since it changed my whole life upside down. Probably the first thing that I have learned through my experience as a USP student was being an active member in the community and constantly searching for opportunities to expand my knowledge and benefit others at the same time. The Outreach and Civic Engagement unit at LAU gave university life a whole new meaning, through all the opportunities of community and professional work combined together in all its events and programs that I had the chance and the honor to be part of. The amazing spirit of being a member in the USAID USP family has always been a motivation for me to take chances and to achieve more. I have learned through this experience that a person can either be a leader or a follower, and, as a USP student at LAU, one can never be but a leader.

ALI FLEITY Business USP 1

Being a member of the USP family, is just an honor for me. This grant gave me the chance to change my life and vision to the future through entering a great, prestigious, and delightful college like the Lebanese American University. Through the past 2 years, the USP team gave me a lot of advice in order to get the best track of dedication and successes. By interacting with advisors, instructors, staff, and students, it changed a lot of thoughts and behaviors that were creating a pressure on me when communicating with different people. The University Scholarship Program that is funded by USAID has given me a great opportunity to change my life in order to be efficient in my society and beneficial to my life. This grant gave me the choice to succeed by finding myself. LAU programs gave me the opportunity to know the leader inside me, to believe in my abilities when I wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even thinking about them or knowing them. It gave me the chance to think through strategies and to find solutions while in the past I did not even think about them and I used to panic in difficult situations. And the most important thing is that by being a part of those scholars my behavior have changed totally from being aggressive with everyone around me from family, friends, or even people that I do not know to being diplomatic, friendly, and a good listener. USP has changed my lifein other terms, in terms of academia; that is because by giving us the chance to study in a great university like LAU, your ideologies and mentality would change. By studying all those courses, they gave me the chance to look deeper into the society and the work field to see what is suitable for my Lebanese society as a business student, and to work to change the weak points in this economy into strong ones. Graduating from LAU is not the same as graduating from other universities. It is because, from my perspective, you will notice that you will be far away in terms of mentality and 26

ideologies from that of your friends that are in other different universities because you have developed in a deep manner and are ready for the work field whereas they are still like high school teenagers. The dream that you hope to get when you are in the high school stage can be real by being a part of USP along with being an LAU student since it changes our lives by knowing ourselves and our abilities, by looking for our weak points and changing them into strong ones. For me, a very aggressive and angry boy as a teenager has changed to be a very warm and amicable person. You can change your life. Being a dreamer is not wrong; the wrong is to stop dreaming.

BOUSHRA BARAKAT Civil Engineering USP 1

Here is somewhere I never imagined I would be. It is amazing to find yourself going to the most prestigious university to complete your studies in the field you are most passionate about. Thanks to USP, that dream became true, and this is my third year excelling in the civil engineering major. Civil engineering needs hard work and dedication, but the best thing is when you find all this knowledge leaving you with a feeling of satisfaction yet desire for more. Our professors are amazing; I cannot but aspire to reach their levels of education. During the summer, I got the chance to see what we do in real life, and I loved it! It is very challenging and requires both logical thinking and a wide understanding of everything. This summer I aim on getting an internship in the best companies where I would be able to benefit the most. This year I participated in Holcim Awards Competition. Holcim competition requires coming up with a sustainable building while giving a major importance to its social impact. Thus, the basic idea chosen was building temporary residence buildings that will leave no footprint after removal. This was a great opportunity to hold meetings with the professors and different team members to discuss and share ideas in sustainable building and methods of applying them in Lebanon. I never knew I would love civil engineering that much; frankly, before I came to university I had no idea what it was about. This is why my main community project will be a school orientation for public schools for the purpose of explaining for the students what each major is all about. I was a very shy girl with unlimited ambition. Through USP, I got to get out of my shell and I was exposed to unlimited volunteering chances that strengthened my leadership: Open Arab Robotics Competition (OARC), NGO Fair, Reforestation in Akkar, Beirut Marathon, 28

and many more. But the most significant opportunity I was exposed to, was training in GC LAU Model United Nations, now for the second year. This opportunity not only has a great impact in making one more responsible, outgoing and creative but also turns him/her into a true leader. USP not only helped me build my ambition of getting a PhD in the profession I am most passionate about, but it also shaped me to become a leader and to give back to the community. I hope this generous offer would be available for generations to come for it has changed my life to the best it could be.

CHANTAL CHOUCAIR Business USP 1

USP is a gift that I believe I received three years ago as a result of my hard work, remarkable grades, and high achievement. It is a generous scholarship that believed in us as a generation who is able to change our country. In fact, this gift led me to life-changing experiences. For instance, as a high school student, I searched for different universities for the sake of finding a university with an affordable tuition and a good educational level; simultaneously, I was going to work in order to provide the needed fees. Thanks to USP, I got the chance to get enrolled in a high esteemed university without worrying about anything but my education. In addition, the program is very important in bringing together students from all around Lebanon; each belonging to different cultures, belief system, and communities. We lived together, accepted, and loved each other. I am thankful for getting the chance to be part of this multiculturalism. Moreover, I had the opportunity to participate and volunteer in leadership activities and reach out to communities. This program supported me by building my character, making me a more confident person who takes the initiative instead of waiting for it. I am Chantal Choucair, a business student, having good academic standing, and ready to enter the business world at the end of Fall 2014 with a high pride.

DAREEN NASR Education USP 1

It was on Tuesday Aug 8, 2011 when they called me from the Admissions Office and told me that I had been accepted to LAU. I can’t forget what she told me on the phone: Hi Dareen…You have been accepted to LAU but not in engineering. You have to choose another major. You deserve this scholarship”; since then my whole life has changed. For an entire month, I started drawing my dreams and set my goals before I came to LAU. I was so excited and could not wait to start my university experience. Actually, I did not know what was waiting for me. USP gave me the chance to study at LAU, live in the dorms on campus (that many students wanted to), and get a monthly stipend, and this facilitates every student’s life. However, my three year college life was still challenging. First, getting our monthly stipend made us independent as well as responsible. I never imagined that one day I would study and get money without even working. It gave me the chance to study and enjoy my college life like any other LAU student. Second, living in the dorms on campus was really beneficial since it is a safe placewhich put our parents’ minds at ease. Also, as an education major, LAU gave me the chance to do my internship at the best schools in Lebanon, and this would not have happened if USP did not give me the opportunity to study at LAU. Finally, it is true that the golden chance comes once in a lifetime, and USP was the invaluable gift that changed my life.

DOHA ADI Comunication Arts USP 1

The beginning: Let me start with a quote. “Everything had changed suddenly – the tone, the moral climate; you didn’t know what to think, whom to listen to. As if all your life you had been led by the hand like a small child and suddenly you were on your own, you had to learn to walk by yourself. […] You needed to surrender to some such ultimate purpose more fully, more unreservedly than you had ever done in the old familiar, peaceful days, in the old life that was now abolished and gone for good.” Boris Pasternak, Doctor Zhivago. The entirety of the emotions and thoughts I had during September and even during the whole fall semester of the year 2011 could be summarized in the above passage from Pasternak’s masterpiece. Less than two months before that, I was nowhere-bound, considering my limited options for a university education. All that passed when I learned that I had been granted a full scholarship. So, I packed my things, and as fearful and inexperienced as I was, I left a hometown to which I never felt I belonged; a hometown that seemed at that time too narrow for my dreams and ambitions. Nothing was familiar. New places, new faces, and a whole lot of adventures welcomed me. From the very first beginning I vowed to myself that in every adventure, be it good or bad, I can and will be a hero. The end: “[…] and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. I did not wish to live what was not life; living is so dear […]” Henry David Thoreau, Walden; or, Life in the Woods. 32

Today, forty months and what seems like forty lifetimes later, here I am. I hurried on for too long until I realized that it would not do me any good to dash my way through life. I had to remind myself to look around every time. As I look around now, I find myself grateful for more than a hundred reasons. I am grateful for the opportunity to leave the routine of the peaceful old days, my comfort zone, for nothing is more damaging to the adventurous spirit within a man than a life stripped of risks and new experiences. I am grateful for the education I received, the education of not only my mind but also both my heart and my soul. I am grateful for friends who know me beyond words and who have grown accustomed to odd habits other people could not absorb. I am grateful for the three instructors I scrapped and battled to take every possible class with, and who have taught me more than their syllabi included. I am grateful for the personal bubble that popped â&#x20AC;&#x201C; making the introvert in me overly uncomfortable. I am grateful for every new face I saw, every new place I visited, and every single thing that I had the chance to do. But most importantly I am grateful for a scope of vision that has been widened, rejuvenated and enlightened. This leads me to my third and closing quotation: â&#x20AC;&#x153;But still one must go everywhere; one must see everything. So through they went.â&#x20AC;? Katherine Mansfield, The Garden Party. So I did it. I went through, I saw, and that made me who I am at this moment, and to that I am grateful.

ELIAS KAYROUZ Biology USP 1

28 August 2013 was a normal day for many people, but it was my special day. On that day, I received a call from the Lebanese American University and I was told that I was accepted as a USP III student. About 7 months before, LAU staff members were going to public schools across Lebanon to represent, a scholarship program sponsored by USAID. I submitted an application for that scholarship although I did not think that I would get it. All what I was thinking about was how to earn some money and leave my country seeking a comfortable life. But, USP really changed my life because I know that I can build my future in this small country, Lebanon, without emigrating as many of college students do. Also, this scholarship gave me hope and enthusiasm for change, because of the support of the Outreach and Civic Engagement Unit. What was more important for me and actually shocked me was the equality among students regardless of their origins, religions, or beliefs/opinion which makes LAU a real family. Each member is different only by his or her level of knowledge and service for the community. This is unlike what usually happens in Lebanon. Moreover, LAU is a perfect place to socialize and get acquainted with different cultures. There is unity in diversity if the diversity itself is political and this gives it an image which is better than the image that almost all of the Lebanese citizens give it. Finally, I cannot deny that the University Scholarship Program, in certain ways, has changed my view towards my country. Before, I had always thought that nobody here valued high grades and civic engagement, but now I know that I was wrong. If we do not, as students, consider these opportunities and benefit from them, how can we build the country we want?

ELSSY GERGESS Nutrition USP 1

We can’t go back in time; we can only go back in memories, to the best days, to the best feelings one can experience throughout his life. If you ask me what were my favorite memories up until now… I can tell you hundreds, maybe thousands and millions of stories that I love and lived here, in Byblos, my second hometown that I would never have thought it would be someday. Beside the amazing memories at university classrooms, I love each and every part of being a USP scholar: leadership activities, having friends from different backgrounds, and being part of the LAU dorms’ family. Moreover, I have discovered what being rich is; it is neither having a fat bank account nor driving a shiny new big car. Being rich is when you enrich others by giving at least a little bit of your time and care. It is the true meaning of volunteering work, especially when you see the smile upon the faces of little kids in your school, or when people thank you for taking care of the environment and society… Simply, I am really proud to be a USP scholar since this has changed my life completely: it helped me look at things from a different perspective and learn the true meaning of life in general.

ESTEL SAADEH Business USP 1

“Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence” – Helen Keller. After high school, every student experiences the pressure of having to go to university. But in my case, the University Scholarship Program (USP) was a turning point in my life. The first thing that I was introduced to and had shifted completely my personality was the leadership workshops and activities. Leadership skills are the important bonus one can add to his/her personality that makes an individual confident in any possible situation. When applying to the program, not a single thought of getting accepted rushed through my mind, but being a part of a full scholarship with everything provided made it clear that nothing is impossible in life. If you work hard enough you could achieve more than you expect. Moreover, the activities I was a part of, such as visiting the elderly, reforestation and so forth, taught me to be different. The idea of giving back to society and helping others in life is a wonderful gift to give. As an overview, the program changed my life in such a way that I won’t accept the easy challenges that I face nor the easy way to accomplish goals anymore. I will always aim higher since anything can be done if there is the will for it.

FATIMA AWALA Nursing USP 1

When I was asked to write 200-250 words about a success story as a USP student at LAU, I felt that I could not write! I do not have any story in particular that changed my life. But in fact, my whole has changed since I entered LAU! For that, I have chosen to talk about a personality characteristic I had before that changed and contributed to my success in life. Before university, I was a very negative person. I used to see the glass half empty. Whenever I thought about anything that might happen in my life, I used to think negatively and expect the worst. In my first year at the university, I was still the same person. I started having anxiety attacks the day before the exam because I thought I would not pass the test. After doing any exam, I used to tell my parents that I did not do well. This was fine for the first semester, but it did not go well for the second. In my second semester, I felt tired of my anxiety, and my grades decreased a lot. I started taking so much time to finish my studies. My GPA dropped from 4.0 to 3.67. This made me feel that I had to change the way I think, and thankfully I did. Now, I see the glass half full. I see that whatever happens is good for the moment. I consider my life to be a success since I can manage to have an active social life and still get good grades. My favorite quotation is: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thinking positively is not about expecting the best to happen every time, but accepting that whatever happens is the best for this moment.â&#x20AC;? TIf yiu think the way this quote tells you to think, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m sure you will succeed in life.

FIDAA AL FAKIH Business USP 1

Viscount Samuel once said: Equality of opportunity is an equal opportunity to prove unequal talents. Back in 2011, I was given the valuable USP scholarship, the transforming, life-changing scholarship, this noble and magnificent scholarship to pursue my university studies in the Lebanese American University. This majestic university, through its distinguished leadership programs on one hand and its outstanding academic life on the other hand, helped me discover who I am and most importantly where my passions are. In fact, the three years I have spent as a USP scholar at LAU taught me how to achieve greatness by finding the right balance among the four human attributes: talent, need, conscience and passion. During my studies at LAU, I maintained a good academic standing. I was also heavily involved in the leadership programs and activities of the Outreach and Civic Engagement unit. For instance, I had served as the Director of Public Relations in the LAU Model Arab League program and as an Assistant Undersecretary-General for School Relations in the Global Classrooms LAU Model United Nations program after a year of experience in the program - double tasking as a School Relations and Logistics coordinator. I also attended the “Leadership, Community Development and Project Management” training camp in Brummana that was organized by OCE, and I had an effective participation in organizing the LAU NGO Fair, the Outreach and Cultural Exchange Across Nations (OCEAN) day, and the Beirut Marathon. Moreover, I was selected to work on a project with the LAU Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Management as a “Student Ambassador”, and I was also selected twice to be a representative of LAU student leaders at LAU’s Board of International Advisers meeting. 38

Furthermore, I founded back in 2012 the LAU Safety Awareness Club. I was elected for two years in a row as the club’s president; as such, I worked hand-in-hand with my fellow USP scholars to establish partnership between the club and local NGOs and build joint collaboration with the Lebanese Internal Security Forces. Because I, as a USP scholar at LAU, was taught how to be passionate about dedicating most of my time to giving back to my community and to help find solutions to some of the most important challenges in society, I remained part of the Lebanese Red Cross (which I had joined back in 2009). I have served as the Logistics Manager and the Vice President of the Youth Department in Aley, and I am currently the Treasurer and the certified driver of the Aley center. In 2012, I became a member in the Youth Association for Social Awareness (YASA) and part of the USAID Youth Advisory Committee. Thereafter, I was honored by the U.S. Ambassador in Lebanon Maura Connelly as a “Lebanese Youth Leader”. On the other hand, in order to sharpen my professional skills and gain real business experience, I successfully accomplished three internships in 2012 and 2013: I was the Mentorship Program Officer at The Nawaya Network, a marketing intern at AMIDEAST Lebanon, and a counter operations and customer service intern at Bank Audi. In short, the USP Scholarship at LAU has indeed changed my life. It taught me how to be a youngster who is always willing to dream more, to do more, and to be more. It taught me how to be eager and passionate about maintaining my academic excellence and developing my leadership potentials with the hope that I use these skills and knowledge later on to contribute to my country. Even though USP scholars will graduate from the Lebanese American University, their life changing scholarship will never end. That moment is going to be the beginning of a journey, a lifelong mission to make sure that Lebanon is a better place for all of us as well as for successive generations.

GHENWA BOU GHANEM Education USP 1

9 August, 2011, around 11 a.m. was the start of my journey. It started with a phone call saying “Congratulations; you are accepted as a USP student.” This journey will not end even after graduating because I will stay in touch with all the USP staff and students and try to help them as much as I can. This great scholarship gives me the chance to study my major in a university that introduced me to different people, skills, activities, and events. There, I spent my best days with friends doing projects, activities, and having fun. The USP staff always encourage us to participate in more and more activities and workshops in order for us to gain as many skills as possible to excel not only in our own career but also in our community service and personal lives. Even though I have courses, projects, and exams, I was able to participate and volunteer in many events that took place on campus and off campus. On campus, I volunteered in several events, such as the GC LAU MUN High School Conference, Ocean day, the 3rd annual NGO Fair, and others. Also, I participated as an active member in the events and activities and attended lectures done by the UNESCO, Safety Awareness, and AIE Clubs. In addition, during these three years I got more and more leadership skills through events and workshops, such as time management, the Red Cross (Youth as Agents of Behavioral Change), and decision making workshops. All these great opportunities that I got from LAU and the USP family molded me into a more skillful leader. All these made me a more active person in many NGOs, clubs, activities, events, and workshops that took place off-campus. Therefore, in addition to my activities on campus, I had many amazing activities off-campus too. Since October 15,2012 till now, I have been the president of the “Ramlieh Voluntary 40

Unit â&#x20AC;&#x201C; AFDC(Association for Forest, Development & Conservation) where we excel as a team in cooperating with the members of that voluntary unit to spread awareness about our environment and how to protect it by organizing activity days for children of different ages. Moreover, as a USP student at LAU, I was given the chance and started my journey to achieve my dream of majoring in education and to teach students not only abstract knowledge and theories, but also how to be creative, practice, experiment, discover, and spread awareness about different issues such as the environment, health, and human rights. Besides that, I had the chance to have my internship at the International College in Ras Beirut which enriched me with many experiences which were very important and will support me in my future career.

HAJAR AL RIFAI Nutrition USP 1

My mother once said to me: “You are going to face ups and downs all along the way, it is never the easy track that you think of, be patient and be sure of what you want”. At first, I did not take her words seriously though later on I knew what she was trying to make me understand. My story started in my first official semester in the university; I was doing what I was supposed to do: studying. I even had to stay in my dorms, alone all weekend away from my family - a thing I was not at all used to - preparing for my exams, and still I was fine with it as long as I got good results. Then the grades of my first exams showed up. I was shocked at what I had scored. Simply, that was not me; I had done all the work not to get such grades. At that stage, I did not think of my status in my scholarship, or failing my courses; what came to my mind was my family, my friends, my instructors… I quit my home, my village, my friends, and my college for what? To fail at my first encounter with real life, to disappoint my family who put in effort and time to see me at this stage or my friends and instructors whose only fault was that they believed in me? With all this stress and frustration, I felt that I don’t belong to all this and was close to giving up, but then I thought of those very same people who I will always try to make them proud of me and of the opportunity that I had, among others, to be educated in a good university and have a better job later in life. So, I decided to continue. It took me some time to know that the whole matter was about adaptation, by then everything seemed to be clearer. Now, I can definitely say I can’t find myself anywhere other than this place; I’m in my third year and everything is going great so far. By now, I can understand what my mother meant and I’m glad that I did not give up. My message for everyone is to keep in mind that these chance come once in a lifetime. We take it or we give up and lose it, I decided to take it. It is your turn now. Choose wisely.

HANEEN CHABCHOUL Comunication Arts USP 1

If I had to choose a title for these past three years, I would definitely say: three years of transformation. At this very moment, I was trying to think of the things that were added to my life in these three years. I figured out that I have all what a person needs to be happy: a wonderful family, remarkable friends, a decent education, and thriving experiences. What does it take for a person to be happy more than this? For me this is enough! September 2011, I packed all my stuff and came here, without believing that dreams can come true! Three years ago, I had to leave all I had, to come here. I left my hometown, my family, my school, my neighborhood, my friends, and my entire life to come to a totally strange place, with no one to talk to and no place to go to. But I knew it was time for my ambitions to become ablaze, and here, I found myself, I found my people, and I found my place. I believe this place will be harder to leave than the place I was born in. It is true that I was born there, but I became alive here. I am so glad because I found where I belong. These three years taught me a lot. I have learnt to evaluate my life not in terms of achievements, but instead I have learnt to appreciate all what I encounter along the path, and that is actually what really matters. I have been through a lot. My experience in LAU was not just about classes and GPA, but way more, it was an amazing adventure! I learnt a lot and passed through the weirdest experiences, and only now I know how to accept the pain and the tough situations, cherish every single moment of joy and success, and instead of giving up I can now resolve the regrets.

I passed through some horrible situations and had to take the hardest decisions throughout these three years, but I can’t deny that they were the best three years of my life. At some points I had doubts if I had to take this scholarship or not, but I do not think there is anything that I have done in these years that I will not do again. Even the wrong choices were such a blast. “If I had my life to do over, I’d do it all the same.” – Joan McIntosh. The first time I came to LAU, I heard president Jabbra saying: LAU is your home away from home. At first, I thought it was just a commercial phrase, but LAU has really become my home, I feel that this is where I belong and now I discovered how hard it is for me to leave a few months from now! Here, I had the chance to know myself more, I discovered what I have inside of me, and I still have much more to do. Here I was able to make mistakes and learn from them, I got the chance to work in different areas, and do anything I can think of. Today, I look back to that girl who came from far away, a place where she never belonged, a girl who has crossed all this distance because of a dream. But now each step I take I keep on looking around just to remember how grateful I am! For me, this is not just a three year experience that will end soon; it is a life time experience. I am leaving LAU in a few months, and maybe Lebanon later on, but I will be taking with me friends who have stood by me and supported me, I will be taking adventures that taught me a lot and made me a better person, I will be remembering a teacher, a godfather, and another mother, and I will be taking every single moment I spent at LAU, with all the mixed feelings of joy and sorrow, to keep them and remember them each night before I shut my eyes! “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do, so throw off the bowlines, sail away from safe harbor, and catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain

HASSAN ESKANDAR Computer Science USP 1

Never before had I believed in miracles until I was offered a scholarship by USAID. It was a dream come true. Indeed it was the turning point in my life. Imagine a child raised in an area that is completely far from technological sophistication, a boring primitive environment which resembles the primal ages. This child had acquired his tuition in a public school. Such a school was not as decent as private schools. Despite the poor trivial teaching methods in these schools, I really did work hard and made it into the 12th grade Life Science track. It was a real blessing when I won the scholarship granted by the USP. The AMIDEAST program I was enrolled in was very beneficial in shaping my personality. This program focused on developing leadership skills and team spirit. We were engaged in several activities like painting each other’s faces on Halloween in addition to jigsaw activities. The goal of such educational events was to broaden our horizon and mentality and even plant in us a sense of independence and individuality. Not to mention the enjoyable English lessons we had. It was indeed a “Learning with Fun” atmosphere. The promised day arrived and I became an LAU student. Never had I dreamed of registering in such a highly reputable university. I was even accepted into a major that I totally lacked knowledge in.

Events organized by the OCE such as MUN made us more confident about our abilities. Gradually, our self-confidence boosted and we excelled in everything we did. Such a program had a purpose and plan. It even taught us basic IT skills like Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint presentations. Each of us learned how to submit assignments online. Every one of us had an advisor to guide us to the right track. Here I am a responsible, independent, confident, and determined student who is more than willing to pursue his Masters degree in computer science hoping for a chance to get to do i. As a closing thought, the USAID program was the key to the secret garden which would definitely blossom into a colorful one with the knowledge gained as an undergraduate student.

HIBA BAZZAL Business USP 1

Almost three years ago, I packed my bags and left home after I had been accepted in the USP program, and I must admit that I wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t expecting a lot. Looking back, that proves to me how much I have changed and how this program changed my life to the better. Within hours after leaving my parents, I was plunged into orientation madness. The atmosphere on my first night was just electric. I remember how nervous I was. Then I met hundreds of new students, all my age, all looking to meet new people and have fun. I got to integrate more, day after day and especially with my USP family. I loved every minute of every event we worked on. I enjoyed being independent. I enjoyed being myself for the first time in my whole life far away from my small complicated culture. I started to be sure that I am totally able to follow my dreams and that I have a great opportunity to do so. I volunteered in many activities outside and inside campus which were all such a brilliant opportunity to take responsibility and contribute to the community. I was never stuck with nothing to do. There is always something going on â&#x20AC;&#x201C; overnights for the exams, late night cinema, dorm parties, TV shows, etc. It has most certainly been the sense of belonging to a family that differentiates us, the USP scholars, from the others. I am confident that both the professional and personal relationships formed over the past few years will reach far into the future and the shared collective experience is one that will not be easily forgotten.

HIBA HOJEIJ Education USP 1

When I first stepped into the LAU campus, I felt as if I was dreaming. I knew a new life was waiting for me since I got the opportunity to seek my college education in one of the first and best colleges in Lebanon. Since then, I made a decision to volunteer in any activity or event that would develop my leadership skills. One of the most interesting events was Operation Big Blue in which we cleaned the beach in Byblos. In this simple action, I noticed that we can help protect our environment if we put our hands together and cooperate. I also volunteered in the reforestation campaign in Ramleyye in my second year and in Bsharreh during my third. By planting some trees, we helped return life to the forests in Lebanon that had been neglected for a period of time. In order to help my community by taking advantage of my major, education, I volunteered to give reinforcement sessions for Brevet classes in public schools. My aim was to help those students be confident and seek success just like my dream that came true because of my hard work. In addition to these leadership skills, the USAID scholarship helped me develop my social skills. I got to know people from all over Lebanon, and even from nearby countries. My friendship with those people helped me understand the meaning of tolerance and accepting each otherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s perspectives, cultures, and styles of living. Besides that, and the most important thing, I learned how to be independent from my parents and a responsible woman who can fulfill all her needs by herself. And now, with the help of LAU and USAID, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m a wise woman.

HIBA MOUSSA Nutrition USP 1

The day I entered LAU everything changed, I became a totally different person. But how? During the three years I spent in LAU I met new friends, friends that were sisters and brothers to me. They were next to me in days of sadness and happiness, we did almost everything together. Moreover, my participation in different clubs and being part of the Model Arab League program in LAU made me a more self-confident and self-reliant person. The most important thing that changed me is the experience I got while living in the dorms. Some People might think that moving into a dorm is a hard thing, but I think that it is worth trying. Living in the dorms was an important reason for how I become more responsible, such as cooking my own food, doing the laundry, and cleaning my room. Doing such things led me to be a more responsible, independent, and caring about myself. I am becoming more of a woman, independent, involved, and realizing how important it is to become active in the university. Without my experience of moving into the dorms I would not know how wonderful and amazing it is to be a part of such a life changing experience and I would not be where I am today.

HODA EL HOUJAIRY Business USP 1

…The story began at that biology session. All of a sudden the teacher stopped the lesson telling us that LAU would like to give us a visit. When I first got introduced to the LAU-USAID program, I could not believe what the American government, along with LAU, was offering. I felt something special about that program and based on that I started preparing the necessary documents before the application deadline. And I used to receive calls from LAU every now and then informing me about the exams and the interview which I passed through. On a normal summer day, my phone rang unexpectedly. Oh! That’s the number that makes my heart beat faster and faster each and every time! When I heard that I was accepted as a USP student, I did not know what to say... That phone call really left me speechless! I’m one of the students that LAU was seeking. After that, days were running fast: signing papers, attending orientations and workshops. And I then packed my things and moved to the dorms. Actually I could not imagine myself leaving my family. But here I am. In less than three months I made a wonderful family along with amazing friends. And now I’m enjoying an amazing life on campus joining different clubs and participating in activities, for instance the Beirut Marathon which was really a beautiful experience! I can confidently say that this new life made me a different woman because it increased my self-confidence and now I’m capturing every single opportunity to benefit from this chance! All in all, I can proudly say that USAID along with LAU made my life such an amazing one to excel on both levels: academics and leadership. Thank You LAU and thank you USAID for such an opportunity that each one of us should benefit from!

HOUSSEIN ESKANDAR Business USP 1

I started university as a computer engineering student. I realized after one year of study that I can’t go on, so I transferred into electrical engineering. I thought that it would be easier for me, but for all engineering students it was the most difficult engineering major in the department. Also, after a year of study and after many harsh circumstances I had faced. I was asked to change my major far from the engineering department, so I chose Information Technology Management for one reason that it is three-year major which is very close to engineering. LAU opened the door; it gave me the solid foundation and work ethic that would carry into my career through lectures and workshops that are held in LAU, not to mention clubs and club activities on campus. I have been a member of the IT Club and in the IEEE since my first semester in LAU. Unlike other universities, here in LAU you know your professors well. LAU provided me with lifelong friendships. I was lucky enough to find a group of people that I still call my best friends. These are the people that I know I will grow old with. Even now, we still find the time to keep in touch, plan trips, and be present in each other’s lives. I remember people telling me that the friends I’d make in college would be my friends for life, yet I don’t think anything would have prepared me for the bonds I made at LAU.

HUSSEIN SHAMIYI Mechanical Engineering USP 1

Life does not have a specific path to follow or a plan to work according to. Everyone has their own story, their own path, and their own unique train of life to go in and survive. Before joining LAU as a USP scholar, I used to take the path of success, adventures, and competitions which I won most of them. I used to refuse failure and not surrender to it; instead, i took it as a lesson to learn from and a mistake never to repeat. Fortunately, I was a good competitor and an excellent student. After I joined the Lebanese American University, USP became my life. It did not only change my life, it turned it completely into a new domain and opened new ways and new paths to go through. The most important way in which USP changed my life is through the continuous insistence on and encouragement to participate and take part in every single leadership activity that takes place around me, even creating my own unique leadership activities through mainly the community projects and lots of other activities organized just by USP scholars. This new path that I wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t sufficiently aware of in my pre-university life has become a major part of my life and has turned from a duty I have to fulfil and just fill out on papers for the scholarship requirements into a part of my daily life and an amazing activity I enjoy doing every time I see a new one. In conclusion, the USP completed my life path from being a superior student academically to a student who excels both academically and on the leadership domain which is another extremely important path in my life as a student and as a human.

IGNACE BTEICH Psychology USP 1

The Lebanese population was facing a lack of opportunities, and this was affecting the youth specifically; so, I realized how small my chances were, and I was waiting for a miracle so that I can find a proper university to enroll in. Thus, when the representatives of LAU came to our school, I was interested in this program. And knowing that change canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t happen overnight, I knew that I had to be patient enough to wait a whole six months with hardly a hint, but each day I would get more and more nervous. I was lacking confidence, and I knew it; so the moment I knew that I was accepted, I was shocked as if I did not expect that to happen. Thus, thinking about my achievement increased my self-esteem and made me more confident and optimistic than I was six month earlier. Furthermore, realizing that I got this scholarship because of my hard work made me feel sure that this was my first of many steps as a responsible man and gave me a reason to intensify my work. In addition, apart from helping me improve my English, this scholarship has introduced me to new people, to an extended social life which I wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t used to before, and to a wide range of opportunities.

IMAN AZIZ Electrical Engineering USP 1

Walking down the streets of Niha has never been something to look forward to: loud children, flying balls; nothing special to expect, just another day at Niha. However, December 2012 marked a change in those streets, not in the streets themselves but perhaps on how I pass there. Khaldoun, a young boy at Niha Public School, runs eagerly calling “Miss Iman” with his happy eyes that reflect all the dreams of childhood being smoldered in the low budget of public schools in faraway villages like Niha. Their curriculum consists of all what they don’t want to learn. But, we brought for them change. December 20, for the kids at Niha Public School, was no ordinary day. Neither was it for me. I had planned a community project for the kids which involved many activities tailored for their age in a way to improve their communication skills and have fun. However, little did I expect that that day would change who I am at my village. Now I am Miss Iman, a woman who brought all the fun to school and who is always expected to come later. Little did I expect that I would shoulder more responsibilities than the ones I came with. That community project as a part of USP at LAU was like a twist in my interests, future goals, and responsibilities. A twist that I am so glad it happened, as glad as Khaldoun was with the toys he got on that day!

ISRAA YASSIN Computer Science USP 1

Some dreams are so powerful to the extent that they come true. Those dreams are the ones that we have with our eyes wide-open because only then nothing could wake us up. USP is indeed one of those dreams. The journey started when LAUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Admissions visited our school three years ago, informed us about the scholarship program, and left application forms for interested students. My friends and I first thought it was a joke as it was the first time we heard about a scholarship program that offers full tuition fees, book allowance, housing, and a monthly stipend. Even though I thought it was not real, with a spark of hope deep down, I took an application, filled it out, and submitted it to LAU. Among hundreds of applicants, I was accepted into the program along with 51 other students from public schools all over Lebanon. Here I am today, about to graduate from one of the most important and reputable universities in the Middle East, LAU. At LAU, not only am I given the chance and motivation to excel academically but to also participate in many extracurricular activities. I remember ushering in the Arab Collegiate Programming Contest (ACPC) that took place in LAU in Fall 2012 was the first event I participated in and luckily was not the last. I have volunteered with LAU in the Beirut Marathon for three years in a row. I have also participated in Operation Big Blue that aims at cleaning the Lebanese beach. In addition, I have volunteered in reforestation campaigns and ushered in lectures and workshops done inside and outside the university. Besides volunteer work, I have joined several clubs at LAU: I started as a member in the IT Club and became its vice president last year, I was one of the founders of the AIE Club where I am also a vice president, I am a member of the ACM chapter, and I was also a member of the

Safety Awareness Club. USP has introduced me to a world I did not know it existed, LAUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s world. It is a world where voluntarism and academic excellence are combined to make true leaders. LAU chose me last year to be one of its eleven stars that represented the university at a GALA dinner for the principals of all Lebanese high schools. Being chosen from thousands of LAU students was indeed a great honor and responsibility at the same time. As for the achievement of my life, I am proud to say it is, meeting the famous New York Times journalist, columnist and author, Thomas Friedman, getting interviewed by him, and getting quoted in his article â&#x20AC;&#x153;Tanks, Jets, or Scholarships?â&#x20AC;? in the NYTimes twice. Ever since I got accepted into the program, my life has been nothing but a series of achievements. Even though some of them were minor ones, yet each of them has contributed in making me who I am now. I have learned that giving is the ultimate gain. I have learned that true leaders are the ones who teach their followers not to follow them. I have learned that dreams do come true. I remember myself getting ready to enter LAU as a USP scholar and here I am getting ready to say goodbye to three years of achievements and success stories. As the graduation date, the date I will stop being an LAU student, is getting closer, my fears are becoming greater. However, after this extraordinary experience, I seem to know the way out of all my fears and sadness. What I will do is dream with my eyes wide open because only then nothing can wake me up. I will be setting new goals, and then hopefully the end of this chapter of my life will be the beginning of new one as spectacular as the former.

ISSA AYOUB Computer Engineering USP 1

Attending a lecture held by Dr. Charl Al Ashi left a great impact on my dreams and hopes. He talked about their adventure in NASA while they were working on launching the spacecraft to Mars, and how they failed several times. But the persistence and the hope to reach Mars did not leave the scientist and the engineerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mind; and after working for 10 years they were able to send the spacecraft to Mars. Since that moment I started building different highlights in my life. I learned to not feel scared whenever I had a difficult task to handle; as a result, my grades have been affected as well and I started to have more self-confidence. Another event that changed my mindset was the orphanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s situation after we volunteered with Makhzoumi nonprofit organization. We used to stay with the orphans, serve them, share our stories with them, and listen to their opinions and dreams. This workshop made me appreciate the grace that I am experiencing, how lucky I am having family, parents who look after me, sisters who care for me and aided me during difficult times, and the grace that I am learning and graduating soon. This scene planted within my heart a great deal of hope and happiness to my humble situation. Since that moment I start having a different view on life: never panic on silly or small things since every single problem should have a solution. I thanked God for the good health and the perfect mental ability to do so many difficult jobs and studies.

Finally, I want to thank the American Embassy and the USAID people for giving me an opportunity to come to LAU, to participate in its events which taught me a bunch of lessons equally important to those learned in classes. Moreover, living with my friends who came from different cultures and backgrounds widened my knowledge and education about different sects and how the Lebanese should cooperate to escape from our dramatic situation in the country.

JINAN ARAB Nutrition USP 1

“Seizing opportunities” are two words that summarize the essence of my whole experience as a USP scholar at the Lebanese American University. Before graduating from high school, I applied for an international scholarship program at LAU, reached the final stage, but did not get accepted into the program. This failure disappointed me and affected my self-esteem to a greater extent. Few weeks later I learned about the USP program but did not think of applying because of my previous experience. My mom always believed that I had the potential to get the scholarship and convinced me to apply. When I was called to go for the next step in the selection process, I felt like hope was back and my self-esteem was rebuilding. This feeling was growing as I was moving from one step to the other in the selection process. When I first received my acceptance, I initiated my lessons’ was “seizing opportunities”. My life at the university has opened for me a huge number of opportunities from extracurricular activities and workshops, to lectures and many others. I was always making use of them and I know now that taking advantage of the opportunities that life gives you is a road to progress and success, a success not only for yourself self but also for society. And as Harry S. Truman says: “Men make history and not the other way around. In periods where there is no leadership, society stands still. Progress occurs when courageous, skillful leaders seize the opportunity to change things for the better.”

JOE KARAM Civil Engineering USP 1

An average young boy, hoping for the best future a normally raised child could hope for, applied for a dream; a dream that no one would ever wish for. That young boy only hoped for the best. And what he got was the best. I am proud today to say that I am lucky to be that young boy. Some people ask me how I got that incredible scholarship, moving from an ordinary public school to one of the most prestigious universities in Lebanon. Unfortunately this is due to the fact that, in Lebanon, only the higher class can afford to be in private universities and build a better future while the lower class has to struggle to survive. This scholarship eliminated this pre-determined destiny of Lebanese teenagers, and it granted a great opportunity to the lower class to defy the odds. A very short story illustrates this situation. My dad is a pickup driver; he delivers construction material to working cites. One day he delivered some cement to a site right next to the LAU Beirut campus. He was talking to the engineer there and my dad told him that I was a student there. The engineer stood motionless as if he saw a ghost. He wondered how a pickup driver could afford to put his son in such a university. This, to me, is what the USP scholarship is all about â&#x20AC;&#x201C; that today I am able to say that I defied the odds and won over the Lebanese stereotypes that the lower class of people cannot thrive and win on their own. Today, I am able to say that I am that lucky young boy who won the jackpot, being a USP scholar.

JOUMANA MOODAD Computer Engineering USP 1

After a long journey, one reaches a point where making a decision can either enlighten a life or darken it. When people start asking you: “What are you going to be in the future? What are the goals you want to achieve?” There is always this confusion and this fear of answering the wrong answer especially during this phase of my life. I used to hear people say that sometimes your destiny can change overnight. I never believed it until I actually experienced it. Yes, a phone call changed my whole life: “Congratulations Joumana, you have been accepted to be part of the University Scholarship Program at LAU as a computer engineering student!” My heart was about to stop beating: a mixture of joy, hope and fear of what the future held. The new journey had started with the procedures of signing papers, going to meetings and workshops to discover the path that awaits me. Mentors, assistants and supervisors are always around illuminating the way and supporting each one of us to learn how to go through it. We are not just co-workers or colleagues; we are family. Perhaps, and some may beg to differ, luck always exists; without this outstanding program, I would have never found or discovered the true targets I have always been searching for. I promise one thing, that one dream at a time I will make all my dreams come true.

KINDA HANNA Comunication Arts USP 1

When life gives you lemon, make orange juice and let everyone be amazed at how you did it. I had a chance to be a journalist graduating from LAU. I took it. I was introduced to journalism step by step, but my name started to be known in the theatre field. Weird, right? Well this is my cup of orange juice that I made out of lemon. I am passionate about theatre so I took all my free electives as theatre courses and absorbed all the information that I could, and I helped, worked and acted in more than 20 student production plays in LAU. Finally, I started working in Al-Madina theatre. I started as a volunteer in the Mishkal festival, and then I started to have connections and they started to know that I love to work in theatre no matter what I’m doing. So due to an accident, the person responsible for the light operating Andre Nacouzi in Majnoun Yehke, directed by Lina Khoury, Ziad El-Rahbani, Gabriel Yamine, and Nada Bou Farhat, , had an accident. And it was me who worked in his place. Since I love movies, acting, and this field, through theatre I met new friends and they had their films so I helped them in their movie and now I’m an assistant director in a Lebanese feature film directed by my friend Bashir Abou Zeid. The movie is called MAFKOUD and it will be a hit. I’m just proud I was part of this awesome experience. I learned a lot, built connections, and made my vision for the future much clearer. So it is true I’m majoring in journalism, but I was able to draw a line in the production field. I’m getting the best of these three worlds, and I’m loving it.

LINA SOLAH Chemistry USP 1

My story with the USAID program started when the LAU group visited my school and told us about this scholarship and what opportunities it had. Ever since that day, I had dreamt about being an LAU student. I insisted on applying for this scholarship and I did. I had a great hope that I would be accepted in this scholarship although thousands of students all over Lebanon applied to it too. My belief in God made me completely sure that I was going to be accepted. After delivering the applications, we did the tests. After approximately a month, the LAU group began calling for repeating the EEE exam but they did not call me and that brought me happiness. After 2 weeks, they began calling for the interviews; not all my friends reached this level. On the day of the interview, I was so relaxed and I liked the interviewers. They were kind and helpful; I did very well. After I passed that level, they did not call us for a long time which led my parents to think that I was not going to be accepted. They made me apply for scholarships in other universities. I wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t convinced by that so I did not study a word for those exams. After doing them, LAU called me and told me to go to several orientations. After attending all the orientations and taking many tours at LAU to know how to get around the university if I got accepted, LAU called me to congratulate me because I was accepted. That day, I was shocked because the results were supposed to be announced until after 20 days. It was a normal day until they called me. I was surprised, happy, and sad at the same time.

I was surprised and happy because I really wanted this scholarship and my dream came true, but I was sad because Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m the only daughter of my parents and I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t live without them in Beirut (having to get a dorm since I live in Baalbek). Therefore, USP changed my life. Now, I live in the LAU dorms, get 500$ every month, and have a laptop. In addition to that, I am engaged in the two wings that Mr. Samia talked about in the orientations: Academic and Social. Everything is going right, so thank you USAID Program.

MARWAN EL HASBINI Communication Arts USP 1

Confused! This was my feeling during high school. I was stressed, and I thought a lot about university and what I was going to study. I heard about LAUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s USP, and I wanted to give it a try. I did not even think that I would be accepted. My way to LAU was long. First, we did an entrance exam in order to test our academic skills. Second, we got interviewed by several professors to see our competence and our leadership skills. Third, we had a small orientation about majors and how to choose the right one. In the end and after all of these procedures, the results day was finally here. I was waiting for LAUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s call even though I was sure that I would not be accepted, but there was a sound that declined this news. LAU called and I was really happy because I got accepted. During my short period at LAU I gained competence and skills that will help me face any problem.

MARY FADEL Business USP 1

At the age of eighteen, I was granted the prestigious opportunity to be a part of the University Scholarship Program (USP) at the respected Lebanese American University (LAU). Yes indeed, it did change my life; but unlike other scholars, that change did not take place the day I got the phone call nor the first day at university. The change happened the same day that Miss Grace, an LAU Admissions employee, came to my hometown high school to inform us about the scholarship and encourage us to apply. That was the turning point, the eye opener. Since I was the first in my region to ever take on such a challenge, applying to this opportunity and embarking on this journey required much courage from my side fed by Missâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Grace positive words. The USP made me realize the non-ending opportunities that await me and broadened my limits.

MOHAMMAD IBRAHIM Nursing USP 1

It is true that a moment can change your life. For me, that moment was a phone call; a two-minute phone call that brought me the news: I was accepted to the Lebanese American University under the University Scholarship Program. Two years later and I can still feel the same rush I felt that day. However, a lot had changed since that day until now. One word that can describe what happened with me here since I started is Maturation. Today, I am no longer that adolescent who left his village to move to the big city. I am no longer worried about how I am going to adapt to the new setting. I am no longer that person who wanted to come here, finish his Bachelor degree, and then go back. I changed, my way of thinking changed. I no longer hold that predetermined package of ideas that is imposed on us by birth, whether we like it or not. This scholarship has gave me the chance to reassess my basics, keep what I see worth keeping and refute what is not, all due to the interaction in the heterogeneous community on the campus and along with the dorm life. The road to maturation was also paved by the high quality education provided here at the university, in addition to the extracurricular activities that took place either outside the campus with different NGOs or on campus as events with clubs, including the Nursing Club, the Astronomy Club, and the Safety Awareness Club of which I am a member. The road is long, and the journey has just begun. USP was the key to the Sesame door.

MUSTAPHA HAMAD Computer Engineering USP 1

Putting my head on my sweet pillow, looking up for a better tomorrow, traveling far away in my sweet dreams the whole night, waking up next morning, and facing the fact: “It was just a dream”. 17 years of my life were repeating themselves in the same routine. But with a faithful heart and high ambitions, I wake up every morning waiting for my dreams to be achieved until 27/7/2011, the memorable day in my life. A call from the number “09547254” puts you into the dreamland for a while before realizing the fact that your dream has come true!! I’m not going to talk about the gift of learning in one of the most important universities in the Middle East, about the experience of living at the dorms and its unforgettable memories, about the great first moments when you enter one of the 2 fabulous campuses, or not even about the rich civic engagement activities, the valuable leadership skills that we gained, and the great experiences, events, and positions we entertained. I’m not going to talk about excelling in academics and having the golden chance to learn at LAU. I’m sure many of my colleagues talked a lot about these issues. Actually, the one thing that I did not expect to have at LAU is my second family! I met people who mean the world to me, they are my best friends, they are rare in this life, they are different, unique, and special, I’m lucky to have them. I’m lucky to have this great family where each member of USP, whether he/ she is a student, coordinator, director, manager, or whatever, belongs to the same heart, to the same soul. Thanks to God, then to my parents, to USAID, and to the American people, “USP changed my life” for the best.

NICOLAS EL JAMAL Computer Engineering USP 1

My success story started the second I stepped through the doors of LAU. Coming from a different background, I managed to make new friends that are now my family. I was able to not only succeed but also excel in my academic performance throughout the years. Furthermore, my journey in the Model United Nations program started from the first year as a photographer. Now, I am the Under Secretary General for Public Information. I think that my success was not achieved by only participating in all of this but instead managing my time. To be able to see your friends and your family, to be a leader in one of the best programs in the world, and to have an excellent academic standing at the same time is the success that I have achieved. And this is how USP changed my life, and made me a better person.

NOOR BEDRAN Economics USP 1

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Congratulations! You are one of the scholars chosen under the University Scholarship Programâ&#x20AC;?. Since I heard these words on the phone, my whole life has changed. I was chosen among hundreds of students who applied to this program and I overcame a long process to be a USP student; but this was only the beginningâ&#x20AC;Ś Once I started this long journey I had to first of all adapt to the university life. I learned how to accept others, respect them, and interact with them. I acquired new skills in many fields which made me feel more comfortable in accomplishing my tasks. I also figured out what were my goals and my expectations and decided to work on reaching them wholeheartedly. I understood the importance of being active in our society, and I always tried to improve it to make it a better place to live in it. I personally started to make some effort by contributing to the reforestation campaign, and I am willing to continue and try to be a useful and optimistic member who never loses faith and always keeps trying. Yes, my life has widely changed. Thanks to USP every day is a new experience and it brings me a new lesson to learn. Every day is a new chance to improve and to evolve and I am so proud of being an LAU-USP student!

NOUR AL ANDARY Nursing USP 1

The dilemma of majors and universities is a big issue not only for us as students but for our families as well. Nowadays it is really hard to find an appropriate university with an affordable tuition. In the summer of 2011, I received a call proclaiming my acceptance at LAU through the USAID scholarship. I was surprised and extremely delighted; I did not expect to be one of the 52 scholars. Was that a dream or was it God’s blessing? I had an expectation that USAID - LAU would be a turning point in my life, and indeed it was, and nothing was ever the same. I was enrolled in one of the top nursing schools in Lebanon which received CCNE accreditation this year, so we had the privilege to learn in highly equipped labs, visit the best hospitals, and develop our skills under the supervision of professional instructors that LAU had graciously provided in order to ensure that I become one of the best nurses to ever graduate. Besides the educational excellence that I have received, I have also had the chance to develop my hobbies and leadership skills. I like to play football, so I joined the LAU futsal team. Moreover, extracurricular activities and workshops boosted my self-confidence and widened my knowledge in several topics. This helped in making me a well-rounded person not just in nursing but also as a knowledgeable person in general. I was also given the opportunity to establish my own club, the “Safety Awareness Club”, in the Byblos campus with the help of my Friend Fidaa Al Fakih and the board members.

We worked together to spread awareness through several events, such as traffic safety events, sport safety events, and charity events we had done on Christmas. As recognition, we received the award for Best Newly Initiated Club for our great accomplishments in a short period of time. As a whole I can only say that I was blessed to have such a life changing experience that changed me as a person and made me a better nurse!

NOUR KHOUDARI Mathematics USP 1

People may know what they are but not what they could become, unless one is blessed by opportunities that allow him to progress, especially the chance of being a USP student. That chance made an immediate and immense difference in my life. Plopped down in the capital of Lebanon was by its own a life experience, especially the part of being an LAU student. To me, LAU was a different world – a shelter. Inside that shelter there were hundreds of students insisting on being young and alive; hanging out, joining the widely active LAU clubs, and participating in volunteer work that would serve this country best. LAU’s campus life is dynamic, starting with lectures, workshops, and field trips to student-interacting activities which all arouse awareness and leadership skills in each and every student there. When I think back, I realize that while Lebanon was going through some of its worst days of terror, I was somehow protected by my will to achieve success and that deep sense of belonging. You just could not sit on a secluded bench on a cool morning shadowed by evergreens overlooking the LAU campus and not feel safe. LAU gave me peace in the midst of worry, safety in the midst of chaos, and hope in the midst of despair. If I were to attribute my success to one single element, I would choose USP. The University Scholarship Program had made it possible for me to start the journey of achieving a BS in Mathematics. But what is more important is that after three years I will be graduating from LAU, which is a unique university because its professional schools try to produce a complete individual, rather than a technician. You become an expert, but also a person with culture, wide interests, and sensitivity to the ideas of others. I’m glad that one day, I would belong to LAU’s past. Until now, I have only spent one semester there, Fall 2013, but to this day I feel that the place is mine.... LAU belongs to me and so does the USP family.

OMAR BRAISS Business USP 1

When I first came to LAU a strange feeling gripped me. I felt that I did not belong here maybe because I wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t used to sleeping far from my home. I felt that the dorm was a serious problem, especially since my family and friends were not here to support me. However, I started to get used to it, leaving behind the secluded and spoiled person I was and becoming a more open person. I learned to become an independent person who can handle everything by himself. Since then I started to believe that it is a good idea for all university students to live in a dormitory on campus. Soon after entering university, many students may feel anxious about their new university lives. Living in a dormitory on campus enabled me to make new friends more easily. I met many people of different backgrounds even from outside Lebanon and it became easier for me to accept the different, the other. So, living in a dormitory gave me many chances to meet new people and make new friends. In addition, I learned to become independent. In the dorm, I used to do everything by myself, the laundry, cooking and cleaning. So Living in a dorm gave a good preliminary training to stand on my own feet in the future.

RACHEL KHOURY Computer Science USP 1

If you ask a successful person about what made him reach his goal in life; he would most probably portray the importance of selfimprovement, motivation, and self-esteem. Today, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;m working hard on improving myself in order to become a successful person. Three years ago, I was a passive shy girl, never requesting more, having the passion to learn more, or searching for new technologies or innovations. Maybe my social and economic background had imposed a barrier in front of my development in the past few years, but today I have all that is needed to improve myself and build my own view and career. The University Scholarship Program gave me the opportunity to go deeper into life, to learn, to meet an awesome crew that is following us, supporting us, and guiding us. Also, this program gave me the opportunity to study Computer Science at LAU; this major helped me discover that I am passionate about technology. Moreover, my social life has developed more and more: I am living in the LAU dorms with people that I never knew before, building a routine that suits all of us to spend time together as if we are a family. Finally, this scholarship gave me the opportunity to build my personality and to prepare for a fruitful successful future.

RAJAA TALEB Business USP 1

“I used to think as I looked out on the Hollywood night – there must be thousands of girls sitting alone like me, dreaming of becoming a movie star. But I’m not going to worry about them. I’m dreaming the hardest.’’ Marilyn Monroe. This is a simple quotation that represents every USP student’s feelings during his patient steps that led him to gain this scholarship. Fear, doubt, horror, less confidence... – feelings that invaded us during the waiting period; But we joined LAU; Rana Salloum invited us to an emotional moral workshop talking about our miserable feelings in the beginning of this year. It was incredible how she specified every single feeling we had. However, it wasn’t over; she gave us advice and solutions to escape this bad scream and to fit into this new community with those mysterious surrounding friends. Indeed, we learned how to control our stress and how to get rid of isolation and loneliness in order to prepare ourselves to welcome happiness and peace. We are really thankful to have a little second family here! At LAU, that supports and offers us motivation. Furthermore, our precious families are always ready to help us whenever we have a problem or a doubtful issue. Thank you for caring and knowing our weakness, and for your trials to transform it into power and strength. Because of you nothing will scare us; we will be building that ambitious future generation you are working on.

RALPH TAYEH Civil Engineering USP 1

I was accepted into LAU during the Fall 2011 semester. The things that changed about me since then were my sense of purpose, my sense of confidence, and my sense of self-esteem. USP has taught me how to thrive for success, be it the fulfillment of my dreams or the improvement I want to induce within my community. I am now more confident about my academic and leadership skills through the major I chose and the many volunteering activities I took part in. Finally, USP has taught me how to get power out my weakness, how to appreciate cultural diversity, and how to better estimate my abilities to be the leader of a better change in tomorrowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s community.

SAFIEH EL SOLH Education USP 1

Three years ago, my vision about who I was, what I wanted, and where I was going was vague. I had always drawn my college years and future career so differently from now. In August 2011, my acceptance into this program was a turning point. It is not that my whole life changed, but it is more of how my personality developed. Before this date, I did not imagine myself living independently in Beirut where I did not know anybody. The opportunity to live alone has put me in different types of situations and circumstances where I have to act and take a decision. Also, knowing a lot of people from different backgrounds and sometimes from different nationalities has enriched my experience. Leadership activities and workshops offered by LAU were another chance to discover my skills and strengths. And, I believe that whenever you believe in your abilities and you have the will, you are halfway there. The other half depends on the â&#x20AC;&#x153;meansâ&#x20AC;? that will get you there. For me, it was USAID. Now, I have a brighter view of my future and to the world because USAID is there.

SALAM ZAYDAN Nutrition USP 1

It all happened three years ago when I was a high school student. I got accepted and I still remember the day I was packing to move into the dorms. I was afraid and I had no idea that this was the best part! The dorm life changed so many things in me, my personality and the way I see and deal with people. Being independent kind of changed me a lot. I became more confident and it boosted my selfesteem. I have been through a lot of problems and difficulties, but it was all sticks and stones since I had my friends around and they were my second family and as the dorm’s assistants promised, the dorms were my second home away from home. The LAU University and LAU dorm residence created that inspirational environment that made me and all the students, especially the USP students, want to do more and give more. We all need chances in life to grow and give; in my case USAID gave me that chance and the opportunity to be a part of LAU community. We (as USP students) have the potential and we needed the opportunity that USAID provided for us. I got the chance to be part of MAL, the UNESCO Club, the Social Work Club and I’m the current secretary for the Nutrition Club which all made me an even more ambitious, confident, and experienced person. Now, after three amazing years, I’m graduating taking with me spectacular memories that I will never forget. Thank you USAID!

SALWA KOBEISSI Computer Science USP 1

I have always been a dreamer in a bitter reality. I wanted to know what was beyond the limits of my thought, imagination, and this reality. I wanted to feel the difference and live what had always been the unknown for me. I wanted to live an experience that would make me understand our society more and deeper, give me the power to change the reality which worried me and most of the others living it, and help me become a true leader. The University Scholarship Program funded by USAID has been the step for me to get over many obstacles blocking the way up to the top of my goals, my aspiration, and it has been the experience I really wanted and needed to live in order to be what I wanted to be, a leader. It has given me the opportunity to get a high quality education in one of the best Lebanese universities, the Lebanese American University. Also, it has given me the chance to live where difference is a norm, life is dynamic, and change is fast, in Beirut. As a result, I have realized that the true limits are not those that I have had before, they are much further, I have learnt how to deal with the difference and accept the new values which I was not used to or familiar with before, and I have learnt that every single detail in our life must be seen from different perspectives for us to be able to make the right decisions. Moreover, this experience has made me rely on myself rather than on my parents, and made me stronger, more self-confident and responsible of my choices. Besides, it has made me sure that dreams are possible to be brought to reality and make the change we want to our community, and this needs perseverance, hard work, patience, tolerance, cooperation, and ambition. All these together have been the basis for me to develop my leadership skills, the skills I need in order to gain the power required to serve my homeland, my people. 80

As Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m graduating this spring, I would like to say that I really love my USP and LAU family and that this experience will never be a memory or past as it is everlasting for me. It will always be the push and motivation for me to improve myself, reach my aspiration and make the change I desire starting from myself to end up with the whole community.

SANDRA AZZI Business USP 1

Three years ago, when I was still a high school student, if someone would ask me about my plan for college, I would not say anything. I was lost and confused and I did not have any idea about my future career until I was accepted into the USP scholarship program. USP changed my life; it gave me a new plan, a goal, a motivation to continue my education, and to always look forward and aim higher in my career. From the moment I stepped LAU, everyone was very helpful. Furthermore, being a USP scholar gave me extra benefits in everything. For every problem I faced there was always someone to help me solve it. In my first semester, I had a problem in registering my courses. I could not register for anything and all the classes were closed. I was so desperate and no one was able to help me. A USP student mentor saw me and helped me contact the right people and everything was solved because Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m a USP student. Not only did the USP give me many benefits in my courses, advisors, and education, it even encouraged me, and all of us, to participate in all kinds of activities, interests, and volunteering tasks. All activities made by LAU represent an important part of my life. Moreover, I will never forget the day of my community project and the joy that all the kids felt. USP really changed my life and LAU will always stay the best chapter in my life.

SARAH SUCCAR Nutrition USP 1

Once I was watching TV, and it so happened that I say that people were giving scholarships to the student with highest score in Lebanon. At that time I wished I could have been one of them. My wish came true. The following year, I applied to the USP program in LAU and got accepted. It was the happiest news in my life, especially because I got accepted to study in a field I always wanted. I am a source of pride for my family. Being accepted in the scholarship did not only give me the opportunity to get a higher education and study the major I want, but it also helped me to develop my whole personality and be a leader in my community. I learned to have self-confidence, take initiative, work with a team, and participate in volunteering activities, competitions, and workshops. I learned to keep going whenever facing difficulties, and got I motivated to participate in marathons and face my fears. I even started a running club in LAU. In my courses, I learned to work harder and to be patient. Moreover, I have lots of friend and contacts and the special thing about them is that most of them are USP students too. Finally, since day one when I entered LAU till now, every minute counts. The program helps me discover myself and be aware of my capabilities. Now, I have enough self-confidence to continue my journey in life and be a successful influential leader in my community thanks to the USP.

SUZAN FARAJ Nutrition USP 1

I have never thought that a phone call would change my life! It all started with a phone call! That moment when I was called from LAU and told that I got accepted to LAU as a USP student, the countdown had started. My life has entirely changed: moving to the dorms, meeting many people from diverse backgrounds, making new friends, excelling academically, attending workshops, and volunteering in numerous activities, such as Nutrition Club events, reforestation, the Beirut Marathon, UNESCO Club events, the NGO fair, the MUN conferenceâ&#x20AC;ŚThe University Scholarship Program provided me with the opportunity to achieve what I always wanted to become, a dietitian! Also, my experience at LAU made me stronger, more determined and more ambitious. Although I am so excited to graduate next semester, I do not really want to leave such an amazing university. However, my USP experience hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t come to an end. It is the beginning of my journey to become a better person and make my community a better place. When I look back at what I have accomplished, I feel optimistic that we can still make a difference in the world even with our little achievements. Most importantly, I feel proud of the message I delivered: If public high school students were given the opportunity, they would excel!

SUZANNE BOUTROS Civil Engineering USP 1

It is very hard to summarize the past three years in 200 words. I am writing this and hoping my words wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t fail at reflecting what it is to be part of this program. It is never easy to describe a miracle. How did USP change my life? In every possible way. It was a too-good-to-be-true opportunity that turned out to be the door of countless other opportunities. I became a whole new person, a better one. I truly know what it is like to have courage, by overcoming the fear of leaving my family, my hometown, and my environment and moving to the big city and the biggest word; I understood the meaning of diversity by meeting people from all over Lebanon, with different religions and beliefs who become friends, family, and the dearest persons to my heart; I experienced hard work by the unlimited number of nights I had to spend to reach my goals, to see the appreciated look in the eyes of my professors while handing me back my exams, and to savor the letter A on my transcript. But the best part of this dream was that it offered me a chance to release the inner leader inside of me. I always had this eager want to change something, to do something useful with my life, something bigger than getting good grades and maintaining a good academic standing. I needed to help the community, to be a good example for others, to actually achieve what really matters: making the Lebanese society a better place to live in. During my stay at LAU, this wish came to me on a golden plate. By the immense number of activities available at the university, I had the chance to change. We have done so much: reforestation trips, visits to the orphans and elderly, training sessions in the Model United Nations program, cleaning the Lebanese coast,

fundraising events supporting human causesâ&#x20AC;Ś Yes, looking back at all of that now, I get this feeling of extreme satisfaction because I have been useful the past three years more than I had been my entire life! The best gift one can have is the ability to pay back everything good he receives. We were granted a gift, being USP scholars, and we are trying to pay it back the best way we can, hoping that USP changes not only our lives, but the life of every person surrounding usâ&#x20AC;Ś

WISSAL EL CHAABAN Business USP 1

Getting the chance to be a student here at LAU was made possible through the USP scholarship. It is a one of a kind opportunity that broadened my horizons and opened the way for endless opportunities as well. You are not just an ID number at LAU; your voice is well heard. I was given the chance to participate in many projects and plan my own too! The most amazing thing that ever happened was making friendships that could last a lifetime and even belonging to a big family that is made up of people from all parts of Lebanon.

ZAYNAB AYYAD Comunication Arts USP 1

After every fall there must be a rise. This is the first thing I learned from the first day I got my scholarship. My case was a special one; I failed my official exams in 2010 because of a technical problem at the Ministry of Education, and that was extremely unfair. After being one of the best students in class, failing was the last thing to expect. I was in a private school and had never entered a public high school, but I had to change my school so I moved to a girls-only public school with a strict system and an atmosphere that was far away from my own so I felt as if it was the end of the world. Every time I remember those days where I had to wake up for school, I get goose bumps and feel irritated; I feel that I had the worst life any girl could ever have. Then one day, after skipping school for a while because of the severe depression I had, I started attending again. By coincidence, it happened that LAU representatives were presenting the scholarship program by USAID on the first day I came back. I applied and here I am graduating this semester. Everything does happen for a reason. No matter how hard life might seem sometimes and no matter how complicated things might get I learned to stay calm, take a breath, and give it time. Consider every bump on your road as a sign for you to slow down and take a look around because there will always be something special out there hidden for every single one of us.

ZIAD KHODR Mechanical Engineering USP 1

It was a turning point in my life when I received a phone call from LAU to congratulate me for winning a full tuition scholarship. A month after that day, I was at the first step on the road to finding my second family. I was worried about loneliness, far away from my family in the dorms. But, my dorm-mates were so friendly. We had a wonderful time together; telling jokes before going to bed, playing online games… The feeling of helping others is realized now because the scholarship program always organizes a workshop with the cooperation of a nongovernmental organization for students to volunteer and help others, to help cleaning the beach, the environment, etc… Furthermore, I felt blessed when once upon a time, I was the only one among my colleagues to be accepted to register a class by force and they said, “He is a USP student”. So I felt privileged although it is because I should graduate from engineering in 4 years. MUN … It is the most amazing experience I have ever had. I learnt more about communication skills and about the international affairs. I met people from all over Lebanon and also from some foreign countries.

USP 2

ABDULGHANI JADEL AOUN Business USP 2

When I was in the twelfth grade, a group of LAU Admissions representative came to my school to introduce us to the USP program. It was the first time that I heard of this program. They gave applications to those who were interested in applying to this great program in order to fill them out. I took one and filled it out with all the needed information. Then I sent it to the LAU Admissions Office with a small hope of getting accepted to this program since I am from a faraway region. In fact, my family was going to register me in LIU since it was the only university in Lebanon that they can hardly afford. However, I was accepted into the University Scholarship Program after many procedures and processes such as entrance exams and an interview. This acceptance was a huge shift in my life. It allowed me to continue my college education in an accredited university â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the Lebanese American University â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and I am proud to be part of its students. Also it allowed me to participate in many beneficial and worthy extracurricular activities that improved my leadership skills well. In addition, it made me realize the importance of these activities along with the internships that opened my eyes to a great future. Finally, this amazing program gave me a great opportunity that definitely improved my life.

ALAA AL HADI Mechanical Engineering USP 2

It is amazing how a single moment can change an entire personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life. It is amazing how a phone call can reshape your existence and determine your future. It is amazing how an opportunity can prove to be a turning point that redefines everything before and after. The moment I received my acceptance to the USP program, my whole perspective on life changed as if as I was reborn. I had that irresistible sense of achievement and victory. My life was full of successful moments, but that one was different. That one crowned everything I have ever achieved or even dreamed about. There is no joy that matches the first momentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s joy. It took a while for me to get the bigger picture; to realize that my journey is yet to begin. I did not realize how lucky I am until I walked between the LAU buildings, met the Doctors and got to know the other USP scholars. Yes!!..., USP did change my life. Now, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m a part of a wide Lebanese community. I have brothers and sisters in every corner in Lebanon. Here, I was able to trespass the borders between countries, religions, and ideologies. Being a USP scholar made me more active, aware, and ambitious. It taught me that determination will always be awarded. Here I feel my importance to my society and believe that I can do a change. The program extracted the best from me and promoted my hidden potentials. The essence of being part of the USP program is way more than having good academic status and community service activities. We, as a USP scholars, are recruited so that we can make a change in our society and country starting from the change USP made to us.

AMANI AL DANAF Business USP 2

September 30 2013 is an unforgettable date. It had changed my life entirely and brought happiness to my dear family and me, by getting accepted as a USP student. From the first day I filled out the USP application, I did my best to prepare all the needed documents and official papers. Every time they called me to do the exam or the interview, the hope to get the scholarship used to increase until I was informed that my name wasn’t included in the first group of students. I was totally shocked, sad, and frustrated because I had lost an important chance of being a student at a great university. So I bitterly decided to give up this dream and continue my studies at a public university in order to not let my parents hold a burden they could not afford. But God did not forget about me; I received the wonderful call that I had waited months for it. At first, I did not believe what I heard, so I asked the caller to repeat, “Congratulations, you got the USAID scholarship”. I started crying from happiness, then I called my dad who also cried, my mom stumbled for words, and all that I could hear were her whispers and crying: “Thank you God”. The USAID scholarship is undoubtedly the most wonderful event that happened to me in 2013. It gives students hope that there are still good people who care for those who can’t even dream to continue their studies at a private university. In my opinion, it is only such a kind of humanitarian aid that can help people improve and make changes in society. From the bottom of my heart, I thank God, I thank everyone who supports, works, shares, and helps in this program that has changed the lives of many low and middle class youngsters, and equipped them with a certificate from one of the leading universities in Lebanon. This is not to mention the heartwarming circumstances that USAID members give to all of us. With them, we feel safe, surrounded by our USP family that cares about every single detail in our lives, who listens to us with great attentiveness, who with 94

no hesitation is ready to offer help whenever we are in need. Finally, I admit that Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m a blessed and lucky person for being a USAID student. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m enjoying the life at LAU that gives me the opportunity to nourish my self confidence and social engagement, thus my personality is evolving and my responsibilities are widening. Today, I feel like a real adult who is building her personality on her numerous experiences and I owe all of this to the USAID scholarship program.

ANTONIO NEHME Computer Science USP 2

A year before my graduation from Tannourine Official High School, we got the news about scholarships funded by the USAID was heard. As the university life is the major concern for high school students, I started searching for the university that fits my family’s financial status and provides me the major in which I see my future career. For an average wage family of six members, American universities are not affordable at all even with financial aid. I received a 50% scholarship to Notre Dame University for the first semester because of my academic performance, but this made NDU still hard to afford; I was searching for a part-time job to help my parents with the tuition knowing the fact that I have to keep my GPA high to retain the bursary. A friend of mine, who was accepted at LAU a year before, motivated me to apply for the USP scholarship. I filled the application’s requirements and studied hard for the exam. A month passed and I was called for the interview. At the end of July, while I was at my job In Tannourine Water Company, I received the acceptance call. No words could describe the happiness of that moment… I continued my work day saying my farewells to the responsibilities I was not supposed to take yet. Now that I’m majoring in computer science, I have enough time to focus on my studies. USP gave me the opportunity to live in the best academic environment, providing all that I need for my degree.

ATHEER BAAJOUR Business USP 2

Many things intercept man’s life and leave their own impression in it. It was 11:11 am when I received that call: “You have been accepted for the USAID Scholarship Program at the Lebanese American University!” someone said on the phone. That moment I felt I was the happiest person on earth. That scholarship was a qualified change in my academic journey. After I finished the baccalaureate class successfully and with distinction, I got the incentive to continue the mission and a dream came true. It was a great opportunity that allowed me to experience new cultures and new friends from different backgrounds and build up my future. The dorm life is amazing for the colleagues gathered from all the Lebanese regions, representing its special diversity. Being sociable and open minded, it was not difficult for me to adapt to the new social environment. I have met people from different religions and different cities and made a lot of social relationships with them and widened my mentality. On the level of civic engagement, I got a great chance to share knowledge about my society’s issues and improve it. Today, after one year of study and hard work, I am more enthusiastic to go and realize my ambitions. Great admiration and thanks for all those who have participated in this journey. The mission does not end here, but it starts. The journey of a thousand miles starts with a step. I will make every effort to realize myself, improve my society, and do anything that could make it a positive change. I will be a businesswomen, a responsible and successful one. “when there is a will, there is a way”.

AYA MARWANI Nutrition USP 2

“USP changed my life”… Few words that describe a whole story. Four months ago, I was a desperate girl of small, simple ambitions and thoughts. My educational life was limited to two crucial choices: either to be a public university student, or to be a private student and work at the same time. No other doors were opened, and no other choices were available. After I had been walking through a dark path with no obvious features, a spot of light shined into my eye. That was the spot of change where I was accepted to the USP program as a USP II new student, and USP changed my life. Today, I can say that I’m a lucky girl, and that I believe that miracles can occur. USP was a dream coming true; it was the spot of light that drove me to many new opendoors and bright full opportunities. I faced some difficulties in the beginning since I was accepted late. But I managed to cover all lessons I missed in a week not only because I had the will, but also because I was surrounded by the big LAU family and its supportive, lovely, sweat hearted members who were always there for me. Now, the girl of limited ambitions has finally got the chance to dream again and is ready to fly in the USP sky of flowing opportunities. Thanks to these opportunities, I’m now an active member of many social activities such as spreading happiness to forgotten people, marathons, reforestation campaigns, etc. I was introduced to a totally new life and met new different people that became friends later on. Last but not least, I want from every person that reads my and others stories and who gets the chance to be a part of this merciful program not to miss it...

BADWY NICOLAS Civil Engineering USP 2

I can shortly describe this life Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m living on campus as a wonderful changing experience, always evolving with daily new knowledge to add to my little check-book I call my brain. But let me explain how the USAID scholarship made it all possible. It all began with that acceptance call I received; both anxiety and excitement rushed through my system to know that a person such as myself earned an amazing opportunity to spend his academic years in a high quality university such as LAU with privileges offered by the US government. As a USP student I am treated as other students but with a lot of attention, care, priority and privileges; I even have a part in the scholarship blog as an editor yet with big responsibilities and a specific plan to follow. Tragically, I should mention that I am battling a medical disease known as chronic migraines. However with the faith and encouragement of our USP coordinators Mr. Elie Samia, Rita- May, Hassan and my family, I can call myself a USP II student survivor. They helped me endorse my talent: designing horror video games. If you as ask me what this scholarship is doing to me, my response is simple: USP is a one life changing experience that is introducing me to new people, new friends, opening new doors, building my confidence, varying and developing my skills and turning me into a true leader in my Lebanese society for a better future. USP definitely changed my life.

BATOUL LAMAA Computer Science USP 2

Two years ago, I would have never pictured my life the way it is now. USP has changed my life. When I started engaging in social work at school, I wished my participation could have been more effective and USP gave me this opportunity. The experience of being a member in several clubs and getting involved in different missions, including preparing for the events and spreading club goals, has enhanced my leadership skills. USP helped me be a part of LAU family, where people from different places are gathered not only for educational purpose, but also for manifesting Lebanese coexistence. I have participated in the Beirut Marathon for two years where I lived the Lebanese unity, joy and glory. The Safety Awareness Club organized by USP students brought to me a full knowledge about road safety and encouraged me to spread this great mission among LAU students. USP workshops had a great influence on me; thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s where we used to gather as students from different backgrounds and get to know each other despite of the differences between us. USP lead me to a new world of education and leadership, and it taught me that without these two I cannot build a successful personality that can be effective in the Lebanese society.

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BATOUL MANANA Nutrition USP 2

USP, a dream-like window of opportunity that we had applied to, without total believe in its credibility until that date when LAU called us to say: Welcome to LAU… The transition to LAU through USP enhanced my leadership skills and influenced my personal character. At school, I started the transition through ACCESS/AMIDEAST program to engage in more activity and my mission progressed at LAU by the support of USP coordinators. The awareness campaign for orphans we made at school was implemented at the LAU/Ripples of Happiness Program in a wider range. Through ROH, I learned time management, complementary work between group members according to specific hierarchies, and, most importantly, how to deliver my message to younger people with totally different beliefs. To me, ROH seemed to be a peace messenger under the motto “Eat the Best, Leave the Rest”. LAU gave us the opportunity to be part of active clubs seeking change. With its educational missions and peace-attempts, The UNESCO Club which represented Lebanon among the LAU cultural clubs paved the way for us to make “Beirut Old Souk” where people from a village came to sell their handmade and Saj products. Being the secretary of the club made me more flexible and capable at solving instantaneous problems during the events and working in harmony with many others to complete our mission. LAU and the USP program showed me the true face of coexistence; we are living together and working as one big family from different cities and villages, different religions and sects but of same human sense. That sense is what leads us to success. At LAU, we shared the mission of building Lebanon stone by stone at least at our local level through the UNESCO Club. Through USP, I learned that we are the trustee of posterity, we can change; by acting locally we will one day reach globally.

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CHRISTIAN EL HELOU Communication Arts USP 2

The first time I heard of the USP program, it sounded like a fib. I could not believe such a thing could happen. I even applied to it not giving it much hope, you know, so I would not get disappointed. But when I got accepted in the program, my life transformed into something bigger. This program gave me access to everything a student needs in his academic life, and this access made me a better person, a more knowledgeable one, of course in my field of study and life in general as well as a more active person. As an individual, being part of the Lebanese American University gave me the opportunity to express myself through the many clubs, the elections, and the civil engagement life it offers, as well as the activities we do as USP students, such as visiting children in public schools or the Elderly House. Since my admission in the Lebanese American University, every day I feel more engaged to myself as an individual and as part of a community. Coming from a public school, I had the ability to mingle with my classmates and give them as much as I can take from them. This program made me open my eyes wider to the opportunities waiting for me outside campus and the position I can reach if I worked hard enough.

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ELIANA EL KHARRAT Business USP 2

In Fall 2012 I participated in an orphan fair organized in LAU Byblos. Five hundred orphans came and we had a great time playing with those kids. Then after a month I volunteered to go to an orphanage in Antelias. The nuns and monks there first informed us about the situation of the children that were present, and then we spent some time with them. Despite their unfortunate situations, they were enthusiastic and playful. The activity was also organized by LAU. After going to those two activities I set up a new goal that I would like to reach in my life which is helping as much less fortunate kids as I can and I started searching for ways to achieve my new goal. A few months later I attended a camp organized by Le Grain De BlĂŠ to train new leaders and since then I have started serving with them. Le Grain De BlĂŠ is an association that organizes camps and clubs for kids in Lebanon and focuses on Syrian and Iraqi refugees, Bedouins, and orphans. While volunteering in the events, the smiling faces of those children are enough to bring me joy despite all the tiring work. The time I spent in the events taught me so much.

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EVELINE METRY Business USP 2

My name is Eveline Metry. I am USP II student. These two years were an amazing time for me since I learned to be confident and meet new people. From the day I started till now, we went to many places such as “Mission De Vie”, an orphanage that helps many homeless elders and children. I learned that many children do not have parents and many elderly are left behind, but most importantly I got the chance to learn that without money and only using a little bit of love and God’s love we can help. Also I got the chance to meet many people from many different occupations. I learned how to react during a job interview, how to apply for jobs, and what we need. This scholarship by itself is a major success to me because without it I could not realize my dream to of studying in such high level university. To be accepted into this scholarship made me feel special and unique. I got the chance to discover a new world, a new life, and new friends. Thank you for giving me this opportunity.

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FARAH ARIDI Business USP 2

My story is pretty much different. The moment I knew that I did not get the scholarship, I could not hide my sadness. But I applied for the Lebanese University, insisted on working hard, created a bigger dream, and held tight my passion for success. One month later, I received that magical call which informed me that additional students were accepted and I was among them. Oh My God! Happiness made me cry a trillion tears. My glittering eyes saw the autumn trees and flowers green and colorful. That autumn turned into a spring. My world changed from that moment. Such news ignites your soul, turns your red blood cells into confidence, fills your heart with that passion to excel, and increases your responsibility. The first workshop I attended made from me an angel with two wings, the academic and the leadership one. A bird can’t fly with one wing. And the same idea here: I can’t fly and reach the star of success if I broke one of those wings. I learned the necessity and importance of this combination. The activities I make and the new environment I am living in nourishes the strength of my personality and brightens it. This scholarship is the simple gift for my parents; without my parents I would not be here right now. Their continuous support, trust, and care cleared the barriers from my way. The hardest thing was leaving them to come and live in Hamra. Moving to the LAU dorms made me feel what freedom means, but freedom with limits. Those limits aren’t put by my parents, they are put by me to myself by just being a wise young woman, appreciating my parents’ trust, remembering my origin, and thinking of my dad’s smile and love. Writing this puts tears in my eyes; this scholarship made my life. It is a treasure, the treasure of knowledge and learning. I gained a library with many precious books, the chance of attending different lectures of

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important topics, and the honor to meet leaders and experts who share their experiences and advice with us. In addition to that, I gained a new family, the LAU family!!! This scholarship nourished me to the extent that I feel now glitter circulating in my vessels! It made me shine from within, get to know the true meaning of responsibility, think positively, and believe in successful tomorrow. USP is a blessing that changed my life. I wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t lucky, I deserved it!

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FARID ISHAK Electrical Engineering USP 2

Since the day I received that call, my life has changed. On the academic side, I learned the true meaning of responsibility. From day one, we had to sign all the papers, not miss any meeting or workshop, meet my advisor, register for all my courses, and attend classes. Moreover, I learned how to manage my time by setting up my schedule for every semester, by studying all my courses, and by finding time for my family and friends. On the other hand, since the day that I joined this family, I have had the chance to develop my leadership skills by participating in events and attending workshops and lectures. My best memory so far was volunteering for the Orphan fair day, where LAU organized a day for 500 orphans, drawing a smile on the faces of each and every one of those children was special for us. In addition, volunteering for the reforestation day in Ramlieh (Aley, Mt. Lebanon) was a memorable day and a good experience for me. These leadership activities motivate me to improve and have faith in our society. Finally, I realize that I have developed my academic abilities and improved my leadership side, and I hope to continue in the same manner throughout the rest of my life.

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FATIMA ALZAHRAA CHOKOR Nutrition USP 2

When I first received the call for my acceptance at LAU in the nutrition major, I had that feeling of joy but at the same time disappointment for not being accepted in the major I wanted. When I first filled out the scholarship application, I put nutrition randomly as my first choice although I was applying to engineering at other universities. Why did not I choose engineering? Simply because I was a Life Science high school graduate and I had to apply to majors of this domain. However, it was not regret. Now that I am getting more into my major, with a minor in chemistry, I am being able to excel more. The environment necessarily forces the development of the personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mind, thoughts, and opinions. For some people it may be the first time they live independently. I was one. I had to juggle aspects of life such as money, accommodation, health, relationships, family, and future career plans. This can be overwhelming, especially when â&#x20AC;&#x153;life happensâ&#x20AC;? and the unexpected arises. However, being involved in civic engagement and extra-curricular activities makes you more aware of your responsibilities and helps you know who you are! Now as a treasurer in the Nutrition Club, I am able to feel the commitment like no other time before. Expecting to meet personal challenges at the most inappropriate times during your studies is so normal. You will find ways of managing these. Even winners have bad days!

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FATIMA EL ZAHABI Education USP 2

On July 10, 2011 my success trip had begun. When I first visited the Lebanese American University with my ACCESS class, I was astonished by the amazing nature and the special construction the university had. I said to one of my friends: “Someday I will be here.” Deep inside I knew it was just a dream and I would not be able to be in this university. At that moment I did not mean what I said, but I thought I had a dream and I should hold on to it until it came true. I believed that nothing would prevent me from being there. I applied for the scholarship, and at every stage my faith in getting accepted increased. Yes I am finally accepted and my dream is accomplished. My acceptance was the first step on my trip to success. During my years at the Lebanese American University I became more skillful in communicating effectively with others, actively engaged with leadership activities, and passionate about my studies. Moreover, my acceptance has changed the way I think. It pushed me to have faith in myself, in every step I take, and in the goals I want to achieve. It gave me the key power by which I can grow and be what I always wanted to be. It lit up my way and encouraged me to face my fears and pushed me to believe that “nothing is impossible.” When you have faith in what you are doing, the whole world will help you reach your goal.

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FATIMA FAKIH Business USP 2

USP is a life-changing experience. It turned my life upside down. It played a major role in moving me from a world where opportunities and knowledge weren’t greatly available to a world where everything can be attained by hard work. USP is a great experience for me. It totally changed my life. It changed me from a normal girl to a woman full of ambition and strives to get high levels and be on the top. At the beginning, the idea of a full scholarship was like a joke and it was a dream to me. However, when I got it, I started to believe that luck is found and that abrupt things could happen. From the very beginning when I received the first call from LAU, I wondered and said to myself it is maybe the time where dreams start to come true till the very end call when I received acceptance I did not believe what happened. Although, the first time I applied to the scholarship, my relatives, friends and cousins told me that this was all a lie and nothing from what the USP representatives were saying would happen. Thus, USP taught me to take opportunities and chase every chance life gives. USP is a beautiful experience and one that would never ever be repeated. I am thankful for every moment I spend at LAU and for every moment I will spend. Nothing will change my life as USP did, so I am thankful for it too. It gives me the chance to be the woman who I want to be. It has awaken in me the spirit of taking risks, standing on top of edges, and denying what others say in order to get to my goal and objective. As Bryce Courtenay said: “Sometimes the slightest things change the directions of our lives, the merest breath of a circumstance, a random moment that connects like a meteorite striking the earth. Lives have swiveled and changed direction on the strength of a chance remark.” And USP – the slight thing for some people and the big thing to me – has totally changed my life.

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FATIMA KAOUK Nutrition USP 2

It all began when some LAU coordinators came to our school to introduce a scholarship program for students. It happened that I was the only one from the three Life Science sections who applied to this program. My friends kept saying that they would never accept us, we should not waste our time submitting papers and doing interviews; they simply did not believe that the idea might come true. I cannot ignore the fact that they had a good point of view; at some point, I thought the same. Then I thought that this was an opportunity that occurs once in a lifetime and I should benefit from it; in the end, I had nothing to lose so why not take this challenge? Why not challenge myself and grab my opportunity to prove to my colleagues and all those who doubted this whole thing that they were wrong and I have the will, the power to make it? I took the chance, collected my papers, and applied; it was the last day for submission. And I can say is that the dream began to come true; I remember that I was the first person who did the interview for the scholarship and all others were waiting for me to know what it was about. I remember when the coordinator called my mother and told her that I was accepted; I will never forget that moment, the way she jumped with all the joy on her face to tell me the good news. USP gave me the opportunity to meet people from different regions, religions, different thoughts, and beliefs, and work with them as if we are a one big family; we had this spirit. It showed me the true meaning of coexistence. With LAU/USP, I had the chance to prove myself, to enhance my leadership skills, build my personality, achieve my goals and be more engaged in a social life: I participated in different clubs with different missions like UNESCO, safety awareness, nutrition and in different events. But one event that carved its effect deep inside

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is “Mission de vie” where we shared with some orphans the true meaning of Christmas. The sincere smile of the orphans there motivated me to keep on helping people more and especially those innocent children who needed special care and special empathy. There’s nothing better than making a child smile when he really needs it. In one sentence, I can say that LAU/USP made my dream come true. No one should be afraid of taking such chances. One should believe in himself to be able to achieve and should not be affected by the surrounding peoples’ opinions. As Bernard Edmonds says,“To dream anything that you want to dream. That’s the beauty of the human mind. To do anything that you want to do. That is the strength of the human will. To trust yourself to test your limits. That is the courage to succeed.”

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GHIDA SALMAN HARAKE Business USP 2

In my lucky year 2013, I was awarded a scholarship to realize my goal of studying in such an amazing university in my country… I’m an 18 year-old teenager. I was born in a little family that appreciated knowledge. Our financial status was bad, so my dreams were so limited. One year ago, after I learned about USP grant, my supportive friends and family members pushed me to apply because I’m pretty smart, so I prepared all the necessary documents and submitted them to the LAU Admission Office. In the beginning, I had a little hope of success because of the huge number of students that were applying to the USP program. Some of these students were also my classmates in school. At the end of the year¬, three of my friends got accepted. I was disappointed and I lost hope. After a short time, LAU called me and told me that I got accepted to be a USP II student and that I was picked from 12 new students. It was a huge surprise for me. When I was awarded this scholarship, I learned more than how to work hard to get the diploma, I learned how to think in a right way, how to dream big, and how to be challenged. Now, I’m really happy here and have found everything I was seeking. I love my professors, love my classmates and roommates, and love how much I’m learning from this experience. I strongly believe now that the impossible can always be possible. Even with my difficult economic situation, I was able to achieve my goal and build bigger dreams… In the event that I am passed over for this gift, I will try as I have always tried to protect what I have already owned. I will continue to do the best I can wherever I am, no matter what I am doing. Thank you dear American people for giving me this opportunity that changed my life. Until the contest is over I wish I have the hope of winning. I don’t know how to adequately express my gratitude, but it should be noted that I am tearing up a bit as I am writing this. Thank you for making my life as wonderful as it is. 113

GHINA HAMDAN Computer Science USP 2

I first applied to the USAID program by chance. Once I got accepted, it was a beginning of a dream coming true. Since that time and my life has changed a lot. The most important change that has influenced my life is being a member in various on and off-campus clubs; especially in the Red Cross-Youth Department. Indeed, I first applied to the RC as a reason to please the USAID staff because they always wanted us to participate in extra-curricular activities as a way to be leaders in our society. But then, day by day I started feeling that I belonged to this non-governmental organization. It taught me ways to accept others no matter what religion, political views, or even nationality they belong to. Furthermore, the Red Cross taught me to help others despite differences in ways of thinking between them and me, and this helps a lot in the current situation of Lebanon. It is a place where you are not allowed to talk politics or to put any signs that represent your religion; thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not a way to deprive you from your freedom of expressing but it is a way to teach you how to build a new Lebanon. Simply, it taught me the real meaning of humanitarianism, for example by helping the elderly and visiting them on Al-Adha or drawing a smile on a poor childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s face by giving him a present on Christmas without caring about his religion. On the other hand, the Red Cross helped a lot in building my personality by getting me to participate in continuous leadership workshops and programs that help in building leadership skills. On the other hand, the USAID program taught me to be dependent and responsible (such as by living in the dorms). Simply, it made me more sociable and helped a lot in building my new community based on acceptance, love, and respect.

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HAMZAH OMAR Mechanical Engineering USP 2

The University Scholarship Program is that great turning point in my life which gave me a great opportunity in my educational and social progress. When I first knew about it, I could not believe it! A scholarship that not only takes care of your entire tuition fees, but also provides you with residency, insurance, pocket money, and so many other opportunities to embark on success. I have learned through the scholarship’s activities and workshops the importance of time management as an essential tool for tackling all educational complications. Also I have learned the importance of community service as an equal counterpart of academic success, in terms of forming a rounded person able to benefit himself, as well as his society. Though we might come from different culture as a result of Lebanon’s diversity, and though someone might think that supporting the United States’ policies is a requirement for recruitment, USP did not put any restraint on our freedoms, nor did it take a religious/cultural process in recruiting the scholars. Thank you God, thank you my family and thank you USAID for USP.

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HANAA BOU HAMDAN Business USP 2

My name is Hanaa Bou Hamdan. I applied for the Fall Semester 2013-2014 at LAU. My dream is to be an active member in society where I can be a part of a constructive change for the sake of our country, and I can only fulfill my goal by being enrolled in the LAU family. However, I cannot do so by myself due to financial problems. But, I did not give up here; I continued to strive to be who I really want to be and to make my family proud of my success. It all started when I applied for the USP which was a dream that only with patience and hardworking can be achieved. I never lost hope until they chose the USP scholars which made me feel dispirited and dejected. But it did not end here; I received a lifesaving call that freed me from the tornado of confusion and sadness. They called me from the LAU Registrar’s Office and they told me that I had been chosen to be a USP student majoring in business management. First of all, I thought that I was dreaming, but then I realized that this dream was actually happening. It was the call that brought back all my confidence and strength together to even fight more to prove myself that I’m totally worth the trust that the LAU family put in me. Of course without forgetting my passion for arts, I make use of my free time to practice my favorite hobby which is drawing. With the help and encouragement of the OCE department, my drawings were pushed to the next level by developing this gift I have. Do you know what it feels like? It feels like you were a desperate prisoner of dejection and suddenly you find a useful and logical reason for your life. So, this isn’t an imaginary story. It is my story thanks to USP that made it an unforgettable and motivating one.

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HANADI ANKA Nutrition USP 2

To have faith in God, that He will help you as long as you are working hard, is very valuable, and that is exactly what led me to this moment at LAU. About 2 years ago, LAU students came to our school and introduced us to the USAID program and how it benefits us; I was very interested at that time despite that the fact that I had never ever imagined myself outside Bekaa. I was very excited to fill the application and apply to that program. I submitted the application with my 2 friends and we did the exams; they did not pass them but I did. Meanwhile, LAU called me to go and have my interview and finally the result was announced; I was accepted into the program. Being a member in this big family was my first step to start proving myself in the way that satisfies me and benefit others. At first, I felt that I was very strange at that place; my time was all about sitting in the room alone and going to classes. After 1 or 2 months I started to cope with the situation, I started to enroll in many clubs that aim at developing and improving more than one domain. Participating in these events made me more sociable. In this program I came to know many people, and a few of them became my close friends, not even friends but also sisters. My life at the dorms was really interesting; all the girls consider themselves as one soul. USP program had incorporated important things inside me, first of all it showed me what the true meaning of leadership is, the term that Mr. Elie Samia repeats over and over again. This term was not really clear to me when I entered the program. But now I know why Mr. Elie Samia repeated it many times because it is really very important to improve your leadership wing, and by flying you will be able to benefit others and lead them to the right place. This program also showed me what the exact meaning of helping

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others and being helped by others. The presence of all the USP staff from Mr. Elie Samia, Dr. Elise Salem to Hassan, Ghina and Rita May was really crucial; they were like our second family who stay awake all night for our care and satisfaction. These words are not enough to describe my inner feelings, LAU became my second home and USP specifically makes us proud of ourselves and for sure we will make LAU proud of us when the USP Graduates of 2011 (USP I) will graduate this year and say out loud â&#x20AC;&#x153;We spent the best years ever at LAU, to you get this chance once in a lifetime!â&#x20AC;?

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HOUDA HOUBEISH Communication Arts USP 2

Being a top student in my school years wasn’t a coincidence, it was a choice. In my school years I studied so hard, and I never accepted being less than the first in my class, not for the sake of the rank itself, but because I don’t accept the idea of being “ordinary”; what I always seek is “distinction” and that’s why I’m a USP student today. I always planned for the final year in school; I did not want to succeed in the official exams only, but also to get a rank among Lebanon in order to get a scholarship that would open the doors for me to study in a well reputed private university. In those days, being enrolled in LAU was a dream that I was afraid to just think of, because if I could not reach it I would feel down although I knew I could make it. In order for me to fulfill my dream, I chose to study in the branch I knew I’m brilliant at which was the “Literature and Humanities” branch since I was fond of literature and philosophy. Consequently, I actually got a rank in Lebanon in this branch in the official exams; it was the fifth rank in Lebanon. And consequently I merited a scholarship from the Lebanese government, yet in my school days I did not gamble on my chances of getting the rank, so I applied for the USAID grant and I also merited it. So at this stage, I was put in the best yet hardest choice in my life, which is deciding which scholarship I would like to benefit from. It was a choice between the USAID scholarship and thus studying journalism in LAU specifically, or getting the official scholarship and thus choosing any other major in any university of

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the best universities in Lebanon. Well, remembering that I had this chance once in my life, I think now that God gave me more than everything I aimed for. While any other student was dreaming of having one of the chances I had, I had both! Obviously, I chose the USAID scholarship because it was more generous and more stable and clear as we had to sign certain contracts which specified our rights and duties frankly. At this point my new life began. In fact, it is not the first time I say that I feel that I was born at 18. My life began since I started being a student at LAU. Well this doesn’t mean that I’m deleting my whole life out of my memory because if I did not have my previous life, I would not have reached my current one. Yet I mean that I started feeling how joyful life is here, I started discovering the truth of myself and life here. I changed so much, for the better. I knew great people here, and I had great experiences. I’m proud for choosing the USAID grant because I know I did the right choice. Being a USP student under the grant of the USAID isn’t my happiness; instead it is the number one step without whichmy happiness would not have come to life.

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HRATCH MOSKOFIAN Nursing USP 2

I am Hratch Moskofian, an LAU - USP II student majoring in nursing. USP isn’t any scholarship program … it is a scholarship in which some dreams come true. It has been the key that opened my future’s door. USP changed my life? Yes it did … it made severely changes in my life from dependency to independency, from a schoolboy to a college man. The question is how does this happen? Which day? Which event? Which workshop? I can’t say that this single workshop changed my life. I went to many useful workshops that changed my way of thinking, acting, and accepting others. In the activities that I have been in, I visited places I had never been before and I did things that made others happy. The first time I knew that I was in the program was an epic moment for me. My happiness increased with the facilities that came with the scholarship. The best thing about the program is that it focuses on both academic and extracurricular activities to build our CV and enjoy our university years. I am so glad about how this scholarship affected my life and I am so glad to be part of its family.

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HUSSEIN BASSMA Mechanical Engineering USP 2

My name is Inass El Souki. I am an LAU USP II student. Being accepted at LAU in a full scholarship program was one of the best moments I have ever had in my life. It was the result of my hard work and more than an award. Being a USP student means that I am one of the most special and successful students in Lebanon. My success story began with this opportunity given to me from the Lebanese American University and the USAID agency. Then, this story was completed by passing all my semesters with a good GPA. But this is not what the scholarship is all about! There are the leadership activities that we do on campus. At LAU, there are clubs that are always active in preparing and organizing activities and events that spread joy and the leadership spirit in the studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; days. These activities such as the Heritage Day done every spring at LAU as an expression of all the cultures that LAU students come from; the First Aid Training done by Safety Awareness Club with the help of the Lebanese Red Cross; the Independence Day event done by the UNESCO Club every year; and the Road Safety lecture done by Abdo Feghali and the Safety Awareness Club... are the most joyful things that ever happened to me while studying at LAU. Such moments can never be forgotten. These moments express the real success in my life. Being sociable, having new friends, spreading happiness, having some fun time while learning new skills, having the soul of a leader, being satisfied with whatever my accomplishments are, and having new horizons to look for... form priceless moments and a great feeling of success.

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IVALY MELHEM Nutrition USP 2

USAID gave me a great opportunity to be an LAU student so that I could start achieving my ambition, continue my university studies, graduate with Bachelor of Sciences in Nutrition, and then realize all my dreams. In addition to academic success, USP encourages their students to develop their leadership skills in order to help their surroundings and community. As part of our extra-curricular activities, we are required to be a member of at least one club; the Nutrition Club is one of the two clubs that I signed up for this semester. During Christmas time, we did a healthy bake sale fundraiser at the LAU Byblos campus in order to help needy people. I was so excited to participate and help as much as possible. I baked a chocolate cake in my own healthy way. We sold the cakes for two days, in addition to healthy fruit salad, healthy cookies, juice, etc. It was a wonderful feeling! The president of the club and all the members were cooperating to achieve the eventâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s success and raise as much money as we could. After this event, I understood that age is not a major factor in how much a person can give: a freshman or a senior student can be the president of a certain club and be a good leader, active, responsible, and sociable more than any other students. It only requires a sense of responsibility, leadership and intelligence. I really feel more confident and encouraged to be a nominee for the board members of my club in the coming year. Even though, I am an active member and responsible in MJO (Mouvement de la Jeunesse Orthodox) for the 16th consecutive year, USP gave me an important opportunity to live new great experiences that developed my skills so I became more confident and self-assured. I will never hesitate to take the initiative to volunteer and help the community after todayâ&#x20AC;Ś Thank you USP for letting me be one of your amazing scholars!

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JAMAL EL DANAF Nursing USP 2

Kinsella said: “Success is getting what you want, happiness is wanting what you get”. USP is not only success, but also happiness. USP is not only a dream, but also reality. Here I can honestly say from the depth of my heart: I am now a new person. I have new ambitions, a new future, new plans, and a new me. My new ‘me’ has changed weaknesses within in me to power and energy. I wanted to have this scholarship and now I do! This by itself is a transformation. My plans were very strange before the USP scholarship. I was planning to take a loan from bank X, but they had specified a condition where I had to pay the loan in just few years after graduation so I was very afraid of not being able to repay. The loan also meant mortgaging our home or land in addition to many other restrictions. I was very lost and unable to decide. In the meantime I applied to the LAU-USP scholarship and waited for a reply. My father was also searching for loan facilities and my brother was trying to help as well. Once I was in the shop just a few floors down from my home when mom called me to go up and answer a phone call. It was LAU saying, “Congratulation, you have been accepted to our new program: USP”. That was the best moment of my life. I started crying and thanking God and LAU for the blessing they gave. After being afraid of the loan, the door of hope had opened for me and I started the journey. In only three years time, I will be an LAU nursing graduate. USP really changed my life!

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JOUMANA AOUF Nutrition USP 2

â&#x20AC;&#x153;USP changed my lifeâ&#x20AC;?, it sounds poetic! But this is the fact. After hearing about this great program at random, a long and motivating pathway had begun in which each period was full of hope, excitement, and even worries from time to time. As of filling the application, securing all the required documents, sitting for an exam, waiting for the results, sitting for another exam, jumping to the interviewing stage, being accepted, starting my academic years, and until the minute I am writing now, I believe that each day held and is holding a thread that helps and meets my educational and academic objectives as well as my leadership skills. Definitely, it did change me. It first helped me find and choose my right identity after stimulating me to become a successful, responsible, self-confident, and ambitious person. In addition, this scholarship was an opportunity that produced many other opportunities by providing a lot of activities and gatherings that allowed me to meet new people who own highly important occupations, to participate in numerous fruitful activities and to share many unforgettable memories with new friends who came from different cities and backgrounds. Last but not least, I would like to take the time to thank everyone who contributes to this program in order to make my dream come true.

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KARIM ASAEED Business USP 2

What differentiates USP from any other scholarship is that it graduates students fully ready to encounter, recognize, and solve any problem. Yes! It graduates heroes. With its community and leadership engagement, USP has opened my eyes to new perspectives in life. This scholarship has given me the opportunity to explore my potentials, to develop my personality, and to believe in my dreams! As a business student, USP has equipped me with all the necessary tools to adjust with this continuously changing world. When I look back at myself when I first entered the university and see myself now, I honestly see the change. Of course USP changed my life. Thanks to USP, I am now a person with dreams, a person with visions, a person with plans, and a person who is ready to lead the change in his community, country, and region. I am no longer a person who waits for chances, I do create ones! And if you ask me to describe what USP did for me, I would truly say that it has given me the opportunity to be more than a face in the crowd. It has been, and will always be, an honor for me to be a USP scholar at the Lebanese American University. USP has not only changed my life, it has brought back to life!

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KASSANDRA ATTARA Communication Arts USP 2

“USP changed my life” – The sentence that I have been using to tell people about my journey at LAU. I got the scholarship under the name of USP II), and that’s when the journey had all begun. It was a bit challenging at the beginning knowing that I got the late acceptance and had to deal with what I had missed. However, I was and still am a lucky person. I consider the USP as my lucky winning ticket. This opportunity opened the closed doors that I always dreamt of opening. LAU was the first door, and the rest came in along the way and still is flowing... Events and wonderful incidents happened thanks to the USP, one of which that I was grateful to attend was the Annual Principal’s and Counselor’s Dinner held at the Pheonicia Hotel, where I got the chance to sing and speak in front of many public figures including the President Dr. Jabbra. Many interesting events happened and were opened exclusively for the USP and LAU students such as the Reforestation Project, Beirut Marathon and so much more. I am a Communication Arts Student, so basically my major asks for many social skills and communication with others. I’m making wonderful friends and meeting very generous and outgoing people like the OCE group and many kind instructors and advisors. But what means the most to me is that I never dreamt of coming to such a university since I come from a very modest family. If it wasn’t for USP, I would not be in this university pursuing my dreams; I would have been in the Lebanese University or in another private college as a working student. I’m completely thankful and filled with joy to be a part of the USP family. Yes once again, USP has totally changed my life!

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LAMA MATTAR Nutrition USP 2

“Is that real? Am I in a dream or is that true?” This was my first impression when I knew that I was accepted as a USP student. When I applied for this scholarship, my acceptance was a spot of light in my future. After applying, I was asked to do exams and an interview. These were a great part of my story where I got to know more students applying for the scholarship and I met a part of the LAU family. I waited all summer to get a call from the university. But when USP III scholars were chosen, I felt really sad because I missed this unique chance. At that moment, I lost hope and I decided to put a new plan for my life. For that reason, I registered at the Lebanese University as a pharmacy student. But suddenly and on my first day in the Lebanese University, life smiled to me. While I was in class, I got a call from my mother. Her first words were: “I want to tell you something wonderful. You were accepted at LAU as a USP student.” That moment was the best in my life. In all the past years, I have worked hard, studied hard, and put all my effort to be able to have an awesome future. My acceptance was a gift; actually it was so special since I got it from LAU. The second day, I went to LAU and registered in my classes as a nutrition student. From that day on, I became a member of the big LAU family, and my life changed a lot. Since I came to this university, I have met some incredibly intelligent and talented people, and I have had lectures that were awe inspiring. Not only have I been inspired by the people I have met and the lectures I have attended, but I have also found really good friends. The wonderful thing about university is that everyone talks to everyone. We all just want to make friends so we approach everyone we meet. As a result, we are always laughing, we are always excited. 128

Another really huge part is that the university makes us feel worthy. At the beginning, I was scared that there might be several intelligent students, but day by day I knew that everyone is simply bright, interesting, and keen to learn. Actually, I feel as if this is my new life, and I really love it. I have discovered in my short time here that I am capable of standing on my own two feet. It is really wonderful and great and the best is yet to come. In short, thank you LAU for giving me a push to continue learning and become an important member of the society.

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LARA BOU KHEIR Economics USP 2

Have you ever closed your eyes and made a wish? Well, I did. That call of that August made my wish come true. I feel lucky to have the honor to be a USP student. As Red Blaik says: “the champion makes his own luck”. Well, every one of us has worked hard to receive this gift. USP is not a scholarship that only pays your tuition fees or a scholarship that only helps you only build your future. It is a scholarship where every scholar belongs to the family of USP. It is a family of students all across the country. Knowing those people makes you feel home whether you are in the South, North, East, or West. Doing a before and after comparison , I see myself as person that believes more that “when there is a will there is a way” , a person that believes more that the ‘good’ is the enemy of the ‘best’, a person who is willing to change and to have a better Lebanon. Thanks to USP, I can feel peace even if wars are happening all over the world because it is a proof that good people still exist nowadays. All I can say: Thankful to be a USP scholar. Lucky to be a USP scholar. Proud to be a USP scholar.

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LARA SLEIMAN Civil Engineering USP 2

“I will prepare and someday my chance will come.” – Abraham Lincoln. After many years of preparation and hard work, the University Scholarship Program (USP) offered me a not-to-be-missed opportunity to continue my education. Certainly, this scholarship has several features that changed my life. First, it allowed me to study in one of the most important universities in Lebanon which is the Lebanese American University (LAU). In addition, it provided me with lots of services that facilitated my life at the university such as the dorms and stipend, so I became more independent. Nevertheless, the University Scholarship Program is about not only academic excellence but also the social and leadership skills. Throughout the numerous workshops and activities organized by the USP team, I learned how to be an effective member in society. Not to mention the different occasions when LAU took the initiative to help needy people, especially the elderly and the orphans. All in all, these two years at LAU were very beneficial; they developed my personality and helped me define who I am and who I want to be. This was the best opportunity I have ever had and it really changed my life.

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LIWAA AL AWAR Computer Science USP 2

I first got introduced to the LAU-USAID program when LAU gave my school a visit. Actually, I could not believe such an amazing opportunity. I started preparing the necessary documents before the application deadline. Then I got informed about the exams and the interview which I passed through. After that I called the Admissions Office regarding my acceptance and the results, and I found out that I wasn’t accepted. I felt really upset, but I believed that it was my luck and so I registered at the Lebanese University. But just two days before the start of the semester, I received a call from a number I had seen several times before informing me that they are going to accept a limited number of scholars in certain majors… Thus, I signed the necessary papers at LAU, attended workshops and orientations, and here I am enjoying a wonderful life on campus, joining clubs, and making new friends... I can proudly say that LAU along with USAID made my life totally different. It changed it for the better. Really this is an opportunity that each one of us should benefit from… Thank you LAU and thank you USAID for such an opportunity!

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MANDALINA AL CHIDIAC Electrical Engineering USP 2

My special journey had just begun on the 14th of August, 2013 when I was accepted into the University Scholarship Program II (USP II). The ultimate goal of the scholarship was to build successful people on academic and professional levels, in addition to highly effective, independent, and exceptionally great leaders for society. Thus, outreach and civic engagement in society through beneficial extracurricular activities were a primary requirement. As for me, I had decided to be a volunteer teacher with a community named MOMKIN. My job is to help Brevet students in public schools succeed in their official exams. Those teenagers are truly willing to succeed, continue their education, and embrace their dreams and ambitions. However, they lack sufficient support, care, help, and sometimes special attention and assistance from their teachers, school directors, and parents in order to reach their goals. We, volunteer teachers, help by giving them extra sessions on mathematics, physics, chemistry, French, and biology at their schools after their classes. Not only that, but we are also being exemplary role models for them because they see us as young, smart, and ambitious friends that do truthfully care about their success, unlike the others. Volunteering in this action was advantageous for the students as much as it was for me. Thanks to USAID program which always introduced us to different communities and encouraged us to be part of the society through numerous workshops in order to develop our leadership skills, I became more assured that I have the potential and courage to apply to be a volunteer teacher. Being a USP student gave me the chance to live this exceptional experience, gain more confidence, be more responsible towards myself, my students, and my society, and above all become more self-assured and determined. Thanks to USAID, I am definitely a better person.

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MARIA GHAFARI Nutrition USP 2

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Life is an opportunity, benefit from it. Life is a dream, realize it. Life is a challenge, meet it.â&#x20AC;? ~ Mother Teresa. Being a part or a member of the LAU family was a dream, a great opportunity and by getting accepted as a scholarship student, my dream is realized. LAU is an institution where leadership activities are important goals to achieve in addition to learning. Since LAU really cares about the activities, it gave us the chance and the opportunity to be part of the most active clubs. UNESCO Club is one of the most active clubs in this university. This club represents Lebanon in every single occasion and spread awareness among students. Joining this club had developed the team work spirit and the ability of accepting all people and work with them in harmony. Also, LAU offers the opportunity to join MUN (Model United Nations). MUN is a program that provides knowledge and leadership skills for students from different schools in 5 training sessions. Being a school relations coordinator gave me the chance to be part of this wonderful family and made me more flexible and spontaneous problem solver. Also, this program helped me to improve my communication skills and leadership techniques and gain a new family. Being a USP scholar at LAU has changed our lives by giving us the chance to experience new opportunities and showed us the true meaning of living together without caring about the regions and religions that everyone came from.

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MAROUN EL KHOURY Mechanical Engineering USP 2

The moment when I got accepted in the USP Program is unforgettable. I was excited to meet all the members of this program and my USP partners. First I did not know that there was so much to learn, but so far, being a USP member taught me several things: It enhanced my leadership skills and communication. The first wing of the program that deals with extra-curricular activities and leadership skills always urged us to apply to the Model United Nation. I worked so hard on my speeches and my posture when I got accepted to participate in the training camp. It taught me the true meaning of volunteering. At each event, a volunteering request would be held for any student who wanted to draw a smile on another personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s face, and all USP scholars were encouraged to participate in such requests. So, this scholarship has taught me how to lead and how to make others happy. Truly, USP changed my life.

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MIRA ABOU DIAB Nutrition USP 2

Once David Frost said: “Don’t aim for success if you want it, just do what you love and believe in, and it will come naturally!” That was how I applied to the USP program: I just believed in my standards and ability and I was luckily accepted. The way we applied, the steps we took, the standards that the USAID program wanted, and the interviews were all part of a dream. Out of thousands of applications that were submitted, we were chosen and this is the beginning of the accomplishment of half of the dream of success. We became a part of a big family, a new life, and new experience. This experience made me another person, more mature, responsible, and independent. The USP scholarship program not only gave us the opportunity to be here and to learn but also to be engaged in extracurricular activities and leadership skills. It believed that whatever his major is, a student must be knowledgeable in several fields. I am a nutrition student but at the same time a logistic coordinator at the Model Arab League and a member of the UNESCO Club and the Nutrition Club. “In order to succeed, your desire should be greater than your fear of failure.” This was my situation where I thirsted for knowledge and reaching the top. This USP program was my support and a realistic dream that guaranteed for my future success. I am looking forward to the coming days wishing that the best is yet to come.

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MIRIAM TAWK Civil Engineering USP 2

“I have been lucky. Opportunities don’t often come along. So, when they do, you have to grab them.” – Audrey Hepburn. After years of hard work, the University Scholarship Program (USP) came as the perfect opportunity for me to pursue my education. It enabled me to study in one of the top universities in Lebanon, the Lebanese American University (LAU). The workshops organized by the USP staff brought me out of my shell and developed an important part of my personality. USP also provided me with the resources to be more independent than before, not to mention the impact it had on developing my leadership skills through workshops and activities. However, USP is not only about education and leadership. Throughout the past two years the USP team engaged in social activities that aimed at helping others such as visiting the elderly and orphans and putting some smiles on these people’s faces. It really did change my life. I learned how to depend on myself and how to organize my life so I can be civilly engaged without affecting my academic standing. I can say that this was one of the best chances that life offered me in the journey of preparing my future. In brief, as an opportunity, USP was too good to be missed.

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NANCY RAHAL Computer Science USP 2

USP changed my life in many aspects, First of all, it gave me the opportunity to attend such a high caliber university that I would not have attended if it werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t for this scholarship I was given. It provided me with a chance to learn in one of the best universities in Lebanon. Besides that, joining the Red Cross Club through USP and LAU made me realize many things and made me get to know more people. In addition USP and LAU changed my personality. In this year and a half at LAU, I became a stronger, more mature, more sociable, and wiser person who is totally different from the one who came at the beginning. Thank you USP for changing me. Thank you USP for waking up the true person inside me.

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PAULA ZAIDAN Electrical Engineering USP 2

It was a normal day, sitting at home, enjoying the summer vacation. While watching the television my cell phone rang, I hurried up to take the call but I missed it. It was a call from LAU and I missed it!! I waited a while thinking about what to do. Then the home phone rang a second time, I ran, picked it up, and answered. It was another call from LAU. A woman with a nice voice talked to me and told me that I was accepted with a full scholarship to LAU. I felt as if time had stopped and the earth had ceased its rotation. Since that day USAID has changed my life and is still changing it. From that day when I entered LAU till now, everything has been moving so fast. I have enjoyed all the times I have spent with friends, doctors, and all the events, activitiesâ&#x20AC;Ś especially that unforgettable journey with children in â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mission De Vieâ&#x20AC;?, where we met orphans from different races, religions and nationalities, all living together, loving and taking care of each other. We got to know each one of them, played with them, danced, and listened to music. It was an awesome moment when you realize that you were the reason behind that smile drawn on the face of those angels. USAID has given me this opportunity to help people and to spread joy in those innocent hearts as much as a regular person can do.

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RASHAD EIDO Business USP 2

My story begins as a teenager who always thought that he was doomed, and the reason for that is living in Lebanon. These thoughts were related to the many problems Lebanon had suffered. The government’s failure in controlling Lebanon’s sorrowful situation, the bad services like electricity and water, and the sectarian system which implanted sectarian discrimination in the Lebanese people all made me feel unrelated to my country. When I finished high school I was planning to join the Lebanese army; this dream did not come true because I did not have any mediation from any political leader. Consequently, the last hole of hope in my life was closed. Yet, my story wasn’t fated to end up with a tragedy, fortunately. So one day I received a phone call from the LAU Admissions Office informing me that I was granted a USP scholarship in LAU as a business accounting student. And here I can say that my story began. My optimism, hopes, and dreams were finally back. Now I am glad to say that I am successful in my major. In addition, I am the vice president of the UNESCO Club which is working hard to improve our country’s sad reality, especially when the UNECSCO Club had the Independence Day event where some people, including me, regained their faith in this country. Also, I am a logistic coordinator in The Model United Nations and the Model Arab league. To sum up, USP did not only change my life, but it also changed my future. It also offered me a second family that is consisted of the USP students. I shall say that I have learned to always be hopeful no matter what, and while being hopeful I’m enjoying my life.

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RAYAN BASHA Business USP 2

I applied to USP at LAU two days before of the deadline, and when I saw the huge number of applications I lost faith; however, with each level that I passed with success to take this scholarship, my selfconfidence increased until I finally became a member of this warm family. The interview in this scholarship was an important level for me. I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t ignore the fact that I was afraid since I will have a direct contact with professional interviewers. I did a great job in this interview, and once again this was an important part in my life that showed me that I have a strong personality and self-confidence to be one of the scholars. I learned how to manage my time between academic and leadership requirements, and how to transfer my academic achievements into opportunities to benefit my community. For example, with the UNESCO Club at LAU we did a successful awareness campaign about all types of addiction for students at a high school. Moreover, this scholarship changed my weaknesses into strength. It helped me tolerate the pressure and stress that students at LAU feel when they want to register for courses because each scholar has an advisor who helps us to select the right courses in order to graduate within the planned time. Finally, there is no elevator to success, so you have to take the stairs, and USP is a true story of success that changed my life.

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REEM BOU HUSSEIN Communication Arts USP 2

“Opportunities don’t often come along. So, when they do, you have to grab them,” said Audrey Hepburn. That’s so true. For me USP was a great opportunity that changed my life and nourished my soul. With this scholarship I had to leave the security of my sweet and comfortable home to live alone and depend on myself, I had to take control of my life. This wasn’t easy at the beginning but each step I took carried with it confidence and great achievements. USP opened a new door for development and progress, and it taught me that life isn’t only about studying. A person can have good grades but he can also be engaged in his society; he can acquire a lot of skills by doing community services and extracurricular activities. In the end, it is not the destination that counts but the obstacles and lessons that you have learnt along the way and all the hardships that you have overcome. As Jim Rohn said, “We have three colors, seven musical notes and ten digits, it is what we do with them that matters.” So we all have the opportunity to change and develop. USP was our guarding mother that helped us take the first steps in our journey to the future and now it is our turn to create ourselves and paint our future.

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REEM BOU SHAHEEN Education USP 2

I am having quite an experience at LAU. When I started my college life in Byblos, I met wonderful people who are now a part of my family. It was hard at first, but the clubs and the university events made it much easier to socialize and get along with new people. It was sad that after a pleasant semester I had to move to Beirut and start from the beginning. I still miss the Byblos campus and my friends all the time! But the Beirut campus has given me wide opportunities to excel. I started an internship in the International College which is helping me to start building my career life. I also volunteered as an LAU ambassador with the Administration Vice President for Enrollment and Management, LAU Committee Facilitators program, Ripples of Happiness project, and joined different clubs and leadership workshops. LAU has given me the chance to show who I am and to continue my social contribution that I had started before in different NGOs effectively. The picture below has been taken during the Ripples of Happiness project that was held in Amyounâ&#x20AC;Ś.

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REEM CHEHADE Business USP 2

I picked up my stuff and went to the bus, with full excitement; it was the reforestation day. It was my first attempt at planting a tree, at touching the soil of the sacred land of our beloved country. I felt united with our land. While digging the soil, I enjoyed its smell and I felt like it was giving me a summary of the great history of this land and how many people have passed from here, how many people reside inside it, and how much blood was spilled to protect it. I planted a young tree which was, just like me, attached to this great land, growing inside it, getting strength from it, and in the end returning to it. I felt I have planted a part of me in this soil that will remember me forever. That day changed my life; I feel that I now belong to this land; I have a part of me planted inside of it. Thank you USP for giving me this opportunity to be a member of LAU and be involved in such activities that have changed my life for the best. USP, with the great follow-up of our supervisors and an awesome group of people, gave me the best ways and motivation to make me see the world from a different perspective, as if a new dimension entered my life.

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RODOLPH YARED Civil Engineering USP 2

Being part of the USP family has brought about radical changes to my life. This program has succeeded in directing me towards many positive opportunities. After I had my first interview with the team I became more self-confident. I was then introduced to my colleagues whom I consider my second family, all living together helping each other. Before being accepted in this program, I used to rely on my parents for a living. USP introduced me to a new life and eventually I started relying on myself. Furthermore, I learned to manage my time in accordance with my university courses. I also learned to respect the opinions of others since LAU is a multicultural university. This program also includes the participation in extracurricular activities. It has opened new horizons in which I participated increasingly in such activities, such as visiting an orphanage and participating in Beirut Marathon. The USP program is not only about enrolling students in university to attend classes, it is a comprehensive program that works on developing them morally in order to lead them into success in life outside campus.

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ROKAYA SOBOH Nursing USP 2

“Be careful, don’t talk to strangers, stay with your close friends,” my mom kept on telling me these words, actually “warnings”, before I went and started a new life away from my city, family, and old friends. Being accepted by LAU into the USP program really changed my life. The first day I came to LAU, I felt responsibility because I became independent after being totally dependent on my parents and my school the year before. But at college, it is totally different because everyone needs to be himself, everyone needs to express and build his own personality in order to be an effective member in society after graduating from this program; and actually, USP creates these kinds of qualities through the leadership activities that I participated in. I experienced these qualities in some situations in my personal life where I became a good listener, dealt with problems carefully, and did not make any decisions without thinking of all the disadvantages and advantages and all of its effects on myself and others. I became a stronger person after being a shy one. Now I can express myself better than before. USP is the best thing that happened to me and it is a great opportunity that everyone should hope to be a member of this big family.

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SANA ABDUL SATER Business USP 2

It is been almost 16 months, and until today I still donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know how I came here. It took few months to turn my whole life upside down. Hundreds of thanks go to USP, yes to USP; the scholarship I have got out of things I never thought that might help me in life. With all the pressure I had during the last year at school, a woman came to talk with us about a scholarship that the American people were offering for the students of Lebanon. A lot of my friends applied, and I did as well. I never thought that I would be accepted but I did not lose hope. Because of the different documents that were needed, I could not send the application until the day of the deadline. I thought it would not be read. In addition, among my colleagues, I was the least expected to continue in the program. All these things together increased the pressure and caused me to lose hope. But after every step I was accomplishing, the prospect was increasing but the fear of losing it was increasing as well. After a few months, I got the final call saying that I was accepted. This experience taught me a lot. It taught me how to stick by every single thing that might help me in my life, never to lose hope and never to stop. USP is not a simple experience; it is a life changing one.

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SARAH HANBALI AL MASRI Business USP 2

August 2012 was not like other Augusts, It was a turning point in my life. In August 2012, I got the acceptance for the USP scholarship program, and after the scholarship my road to success had just started, and the road of a million miles starts with a small step. Before this date, I was a teenager in high school who enjoyed hanging out with friends and wanted to major in banking and finance. My life has completely changed after the scholarship and its academic lifestyle. I am now more mature, more responsible, more skilled and highly self-confident. I got engaged in many activities at LAU. The most influential thing my life is being the president of the UNESCO Club since Spring 2013; we work in collaboration with the Lebanese National Commission for UNESCO. Our mission is to implement the UNESCO objectives at LAU, and we successfully did so by organizing many on and off-campus events, such as Heritage day, celebrations of Independence Day, Beirut Old Souk to support the traditional markets, awareness campaigns at schools, and the mini-football tournaments. The success of these events was greatly dependent on the effort of the 102 committed UNESCO members. The UNESCO Club has also given me the opportunity to be invited to attend international conferences and training sessions. One of them was being a participant in Connecting Cultures Program in December 2013 that took place in Oman; this had opened my eyes to future opportunities, new cultures, and international perspectives. Moreover, I have participated in many

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other activities such as volunteering with the MUN and MAL as a logistic coordinator and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m a member in many LAU clubs and volunteer with the OCE in many events. Finally, different situations bring different changes in our life. It is a great opportunity to be a USP scholar and I will keep on working hard until I fulfill all my dreams.

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SULYMAN AL TAHERA Computer science USP 2

My name is Sulyman Al Tahera, I am a USP II scholar, and I have a very interesting story with this great program. It all started when the LAU representatives came to my school; the moment I saw them I knew that’s something good was going to happen. I took the application and looked at it for a long time. Then after a few days, I filled it out and went to the university to apply. After two weeks, I received a call from LAU telling me that I was accepted. I felt amazing, and I ran to tell my family; they were so happy too. I accomplished all the phases of all the tests that were mentioned in the application, until I reached the interview phase. After this phase, LAU stopped contacting me. I was worried, so I called them and they told me: “Sorry you are not one of the finalists.” Suddenly my dream crashed in front of my eyes, but life did not stop there. I applied to the Lebanese University. But on the second day in the university I received a phone call from LAU; I answered and heard a sweet voice telling me: “Congratulations you are back on the program!!” My smile returned to my face and I rebuilt my dream in my head. Now I am living that wonderful, beautiful dream in real life. Thank you USP and LAU for this fantastic opportunity.

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TAYIB HADI MOUSSBAH Nutrition USP 2

In the beginning of September I went to LAU and found out that I was not accepted. I was shocked, and it was hard for me at the beginning but life goes on, so I went to the Lebanese University and registered for the nutrition entrance exam. On Saturday September 28 I found out that I was accepted at the Lebanese University; although that was not what I wanted, I was happy about it. The next Monday I went to get the required documents for my registration in the Lebanese University, but first I wanted to pass by LAU’s Admissions Office and ask about a phone call I got two weeks earlier saying that they could do something about the scholarship. So I went to the Admissions Office and they said: “Congratulations you have been accepted”. On Tuesday I went to register and I stated attending the next day. That day was the best day in my life, and I can be sure that it is the beginning of a bright future for me.

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WAEL AL RAHAL AL ORABI Computer Science USP 2

Two years ago, I was sitting on my desk at school. Two women entered our class and started explaining the USP opportunity. At first, I felt like “What are they talking about?” This is not a scholarship, but this is a dream. I did not give it any importance and I also decided not to fill out the application. One day I was telling my friend about it, she told me that I have to submit my application. There was still only 1 day before the deadline for accepting applications. I hurried up and I submitted my application, but I did not give it any importance. I always felt that it was very difficult and I would never be one of the scholars. I was asked to do the exams and later on to have an interview with the coordinators of the program. It was the most difficult interview and the most beneficial one. The best moment of my life was on 09/08/2012 at 2:47 P.M. I was at my friend’s home when Zeina called me and told me that I was accepted into the scholarship. I was very happy and I could not even talk on the phone to thank her and ask her about the major. From that moment on, I felt that a new life was there for me. From that moment on, I learned that if there is a will, there is a way. USP is a new life and a new way of living. Always trust in yourselves and you can do it.

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WAEL RIMAN Nursing USP 2

“Curving my way toward success, aiming for the best to reach my goal” is the best quotation to describe my story and acceptance as a USP scholar. USP! What a dream!! Through this generous, fascinating, and captivating program, it pushed me closer toward rising in the glory of victory. As Mark Twain said, “Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can’t lose. I am working hard in order to not let success be my lousy teacher, but my lifelong friend. Having this outstanding scholarship will never make me lousy or indolent; in fact, it will definitely push me to be more confident and stronger to reach high places in life. That is alongside not giving up because as Martin Luther King Jr. said, “If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.” USP, I would never forget how you contributed to my present and future success. Thank you USAID for lighting up my way! I wrote a small poem that I would like to dedicate to the whole USP and USAID family and here it goes: USP: A Rewarding Destiny!! They asked me about despair Looking around not knowing where to stare Toward the optimism or grief Toward a blossom or a rotten leaf, Something is struggling inside me Shouting to be set free, I asked myself is it an illusion

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Or I am just lost in my confusion What would that be? A drop of water in my ecstatic sea Or a light from my sunâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s glee Maybe a page of my desperate story Or even a star of my skyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s glory Until I got that unforgettable call One that ravished my soul I could not describe such an enchanting flash All I felt was a euphoric rash Relieving my anguishes that were gloomed Until my USP family appeared An outstanding, overwhelming, and delightful clan Uniting us within LAU, and for sure guaranteeing our successful destination plan!!

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YARA NAHLE Communication Arts USP 2

USP is a word that changed my life. Since I got the news of being accepted at the USP scholarship program at LAU, my whole life has changed. Change began when I was accepted in the communication arts program which wasn’t my first choice of major but which my interviewees saw fit for my personality and aspirations. If I had been enrolled in any other university or even at LAU but without a scholarship, I would have probably chosen a different major. But now, as I’m in my second year majoring in journalism, I know that this is what I want to do, even more, that’s what I am. The people who interviewed me from the program were as guides for me, they helped me choose the right thing. The program itself offered me everything, and all I am asked to do is just follow my dreams with passion. Ever since I was been enrolled in this program at LAU, passion has been my inseparable companion. Another way the program helped me change and for the better is the social and community service it required from us. To preserve my scholarship, besides the academic requirements, we are supposed to acquire leadership skills and do community service. This incited me to engage in volunteering work and in social activism, reinforced my sense of responsibility towards my community, country, and culture, and enhanced my yearning for change. That’s when I became active in not just wanting the best, but in working for the best too. Moreover, LAU provided me with the means to put these concepts into action. With the clubs, especially Red Cross, and the different organizations and volunteering opportunities, I became very active in social work. As part of my social activism, I started to develop relations with different NGOs and never before have I felt this devoted, this satisfied, and this engaged with my country. 155

YOLLA ABI KHATTAR Nursing USP 2

You may study a formula and succeed in your exam but not necessarily in your job or life. The aim of the USP program is much more than this. Yes, I chose my major by coincidence since I filled the USAID application at the last day. I think that destiny played a role. I was confused when choosing my major, but when I got the scholarship it was obvious that it is nursing. A nurse must have the positive attitude to be helpful and support the ill, the creativity to deal with different patients and to get to her goal in a suitable way if there are barriers, the ability to inspire and make changes in the patientsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; life, the honesty to be a credible source of information for the patient, the ability to communicate and have commitment. After 2 years those characteristics are forming a basic corner in my personality. I am working to make changes in society by volunteering in a hospital, by visiting the elderly, or by going to refugee camps. A leader must work to lead other people and show them how to work effectively and benefit society. It is not only by quotations or writings.

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YOUSEF JOMAA Business USP 2

That day that changed my whole life... I was going to the Lebanese University for the third time to register for the 2013 educational year. The last two times, the employees at the Lebanese University did not accept my file because of some missing papers. It was Tuesday when I came back from the Lebanese University by bus with my friends. An unknown number called me. I was thinking before I answered the phone. I said in my heart: “I know that number”, I answered the phone. A sweet lady was talking to me, “Yousef Jomaa?” I replied, “Yes, how can I help you?” She told me she was from LAU. My heart started beating rapidly. She asked me which university I was in then. I told her that I hadn’t started university till then since the Lebanese University would not start till the 23rd of October. She told me “Congratulations dear... You are accepted at LAU as a USP student”. I could not believe myself. I asked her to repeat what she was saying more than three times. I started jumping inside the bus until all the people there started looking at me and asking “Who is that freak??!!” and I was screaming, “LAU… LAU... LAU!” I returned to my house. My mom asked me what had happened with me. I told her I needed to take some extra papers to the university tomorrow since my papers were not complete. After we sat together, I told her: “Mom, I got accepted at LAU.” She did not believe me. She asked me to repeat again. I told her loudly “Mom, I got accepted at LAU.”She started crying and crying. She hugged me with a big smile on her face and her tears which killed me. I promised her that I will be the kind of person she wanted me to be. The next day I went to LAU. I met a wonderful sister, an amazing friend, and the best mate ever. She is Kassandra Attara. She and I are just like siblings. She stands beside me in all my tough situations. She was everything amazing at LAU and I am really glad that I met her. That’s my story, a story of a boy who keeps on dreaming to the max. 157

ZAHER BEAINI Business USP 2

My story starts at the “ACCESS” program from AMIDEAST where they told us about scholarships from the American people to some lucky Lebanese students in public schools. This scholarship is by USAID to certain universities in Lebanon. I was excited by the idea, so I went to LAU, grabbed some applications for USP III with a few friends, and started working on it. One day, LAU called each one of my friends including me and told us that we should sit for two exams: the SE and the EEE. As I went to fill in the necessary paper work for the exams, I was very excited I felt that it was an inch away. After the exams, I felt good, but not perfect. I thought to myself that LAU would consider that I’m French educated when they tested me in English on subjects such as physics, biology, and mathematics. After a while, my friends and I were worried about hearing nothing about the results. I used my good ability at searching the Internet and I found out that our ID numbers weren’t even there. After telling my friends... Well, you can just say I ruined their evening (it was just before the official exams). After the official exams, and after everyone had lost hope about LAU, we waited for the results. I wasn’t that great among my friends as I had only scored 12/20 (the minimum academic requirement for having the scholarship). I thought that if I had a chance, my friends would have had a better one. Just before the end of the summer vacation, LAU called us, telling us that we were not accepted, so what was left for us was the Lebanese University. I was sad because it is a really far university and that I would be too tired to do my best there. Just when the universities started on a Monday, LAU called again, telling me that I could not have a biology scholarship but a full scholarship in the other majors available. I chose business as it was one of my three choices of majors in the

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original application. As I went the next day to register for my classes at LAU, I was the last student to get his name entered among the accepted scholars. I also was happy for one of my friends Tayib who I saw the same day. Unfortunately, my other friends did not make it. We the new scholars were accepted as USP II students. After being accepted at LAU, there isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t much to talk about, the experience says it all. It surely is a changing experience to reach what was at one time unreachable. I surely hope this program continues forever, and that lots of public school students can live the LAU experience and what it includes, starting with wonderful and creative activities to a wide area of elective classes which really enrich your knowledge as a complete human. Last but not least, I want to thank LAU and USAID for literally changing our lives.

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USP 3

ABED AL RAHMAN AL JAMAL

Computer Science USP 3

When I first heard about this University Scholarship Program, I did not expect myself to be one of the accepted students who would have this scholarship, especially when I heard about the huge amount of applications that were submitted. But my faith in my abilities, my persistence, and my ambitions encouraged me to apply and to work hard to pass all the steps required for this scholarship. I still remember the afternoon when I received that unforgettable call telling me that I had been accepted into this program. It was the best moment in my life. I still remember the first orientation we had; it was very intelligent and engaging; it shed light on the importance of hard work and success and the priority to be engaged in community services and leadership activities. With this scholarship I have been given the opportunity to actually make something of myself. Now I actually know the importance of being responsible and relying on myself and the importance of being successful and satisfied and working hard to achieve my goals. Now I am better at building strong relationships with people from different regions, demonstrating ethical behavior, communicating clearly, and working effectively with teams. I have become more interested in being involved in civic engagement and enrichment activities because I can now understand how they can make a difference in the lives of others by developing a combination of knowledge, skills, values and motivation. This scholarship gave me the chance to grow and expand as a person and a student. All I can say is that â&#x20AC;&#x153;the dream is now a reality â&#x20AC;&#x153;. I am very grateful to this program for the opportunity it gave me to study in one of the best universities in Lebanon. My hopes have just started now, and many ambitions are still on my way to reach, but at least after twenty years in time I can look back on my life and say that I have actually achieved something.

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ABEER AL GHAREEB Biology USP 3

“Dream as if you will live forever, live as if you will die today”, a quotation that I personally did not really believe until USP changed my life! I used to accept reality and work hard just to guarantee a successful future, thus LAU was a dream that I did not even think of dreaming about and LU was the only choice a student of the middle class like me has. Applying for this scholarship program happened by chance; I used to attend a private school until my first secondary year when certain circumstances occurred and I had to go to a public school to finish my last two high school years there. Taking such a decision wasn’t easy; my parents and I were anxious and hesitant especially because I’m a bright student and wanted to maintain a good education. Anyhow, I attended a public school in our region without having any idea about USP! After LAU came to the school and talked about the program, I filled the application wishing that I will get accepted but not that hopeful that it will work out. I was disappointed when AUB rejected me (I thank God now) and lost hope of getting accepted at LAU. However, the latter contacted me to take the entrance exams, later to have an interview there, after that a workshop, and finally to inform me that I got accepted! My whole plans for the future were altered ...my life changed and my hard work paid off. I moved to a dorm, and thus became more independent, learned to accept people of different backgrounds and opinions, participated in several activities, voted for the first time and for the person I chose, and most importantly learned how to dream, how to achieve these dreams, and that dreams count. Dreams count especially at LAU where the student is not just a number; he/she is part of a big family that will always support you, with the aid of the American embassy in our case, to turn dreams into a reality. All of that happened during only four months, and more is yet to occur in the following years.

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ALI ABDALLAH Electrical Engineering USP 3

When I heard about USAID scholarship, I felt that there is still a chance in my country, Lebanon, to have a successful future. This scholarship was my target for a complete year of studying and effort so that I could be chosen as one of the best students in my country. Now I am speaking as a member of the big family at LAU with optimistic and proud words, and you will say the same thing if you are experiencing the same events and happiness in our beloved LAU. Moreover, I admit that this is the first time in my life I feel a sense of belonging to Lebanon, and the reason is my presence in this scholarship program at LAU which gathers persons from all over Lebanon in one campus. Isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t that really fabulous!!?? Finally, I will curtail my words, and all that I want to say is that I am very proud of being in such place, and I want to admit that now I am able to dream and fulfillâ&#x20AC;Ś and that is what I will do.

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ALI EL SAFADI Biology USP 3

I will never forget that day, that voice in my ear congratulating me that I been accepted to the Lebanese American University and thanks to the American people and the generous scholarship program founded by the USP/USAID. Simply, this scholarship changed my life direction and enriched me with hope and happiness after I thought that they did not exist, especially because my financial status was blocking me from carrying out my dream of pursuing a career in medicine. But with the help of USAID I can now start achieving my dream in one of the most beautiful universities in Lebanon. I’m very lucky that I’m studying in LAU, and I actually consider it as my second home. This is especially because I’m surrounded by amazing people who are working hard and are providing me with all the facilities that help me meet academic excellence and do leadership and extracurricular activities which are the two important wings emphasized by Mr. Samia, the director of the USP/ USAID program. I’m looking forward to putting my degree in the public field and using it to help society. And Ii want to take this opportunity to thank USP/ USAID and LAU for believing in us and for making my life fantastic as it is.

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ALI SAMHAT Mechanical Engineering USP 3

USP was definitely a turning point in my life. It has caused great change in my life. It was the start of new life from the moment that I was accepted to USP and it will continue after graduation. First of all, I had to adapt to a new style of life in the dorms, meet new friends from different areas, and build good relationships with him. In addition, this grant allowed me to know new places in my country, recognize the tradition of each region by visiting these areas and viewing peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s behavior. However, the most important thing that I was facing is the responsibility that I knew I will be carrying from now on. I had to be responsible for my success by managing time between studying and having fun. Furthermore, USP allowed me to learn in one of the best universities in Lebanon and the Middle East. This scholarship allows me to know and try a new learning system. Last but not least, I appreciate USAID for giving me the chance to discover and develop my capabilities. Simply, USAID gave me a life opportunity.

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AMANI SMADI Mathematics USP 3

That call did change my life. I was waiting for it, and I could not speak a word when I was told that I was accepted at LAU. I told my parents and they were so proud. I was so scared from what was coming but the university was supportive. We attended many workshops where they trained us well, taught us everything we would need, gave us advice that was amazing, and told us stories of success. Our mission was not only to excel in grades, but we had to be socially active. “These are the two wings we need to succeed” said Mr. Elie Samia. Now after only one semester at LAU everything changed: my confidence, responsibilities, and thoughts. My friends hate these changes because they say I’m busy most of the time, but I say that good things are worth this time. We had lots of great events at the university. One of my favorites was the breast cancer fundraising done by the event organization club; we sold homemade cupcakes and raised some money. We worked hard but we enjoyed every moment of every event we did. Finally, I hope I will achieve more and more through the help of both LAU and USAID.

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ANIS BAZ RADWAN Mechanical Engineering USP 3

Ever since elementary school, I have believed that hard work is the only way to achieve one’s goals and dreams. For that reason I was always motivated to give my best in everything I do, anticipating something great to happen. Indeed my efforts were not in vain, for something magnificent did occur. It all started when a representative from LAU came to our class and told us about the great opportunity that lies ahead. Right then I thought “This could be it, the fruit of my work.” It was a journey of many stages that led to that breathtaking moment I was eagerly waiting for a phone call that would decide my future for the coming years. And there I was, holding the phone to my ear, taking a deep breath, with one thought on my mind, wondering what my next emotion will be. Will it be the bitter-full disappointment? Or the overwhelming joy? And here I am, so I guess I knew the answer to my question. USP has indeed changed my life, and opened doors that I never knew were there, and till now it has been one great journey that I hope will continue unveiling more surprises and good fortunes.

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BARAA MERSALLY Nutrition USP 3

“I remember when my reality now was a dream in the past so I believe that my dream now can become a reality in the future.” – Baraa Mersally, USP III. I want to talk briefly about my personal experience in the USP program. One year ago, I heard about the University Scholarship Program from the ACCESS program. At the beginning I was not interested in it because I thought that was an impossible dream to be accepted into such scholarship. However, because of the encouragement of my teachers I applied to the program. After that, I passed from one step to another and the dream become closer and closer. I cannot describe my feeling when I was accepted into the scholarship. In short, it is dream come true. Certainly, this experience created many changes in my life. Actually, knowing that someone believed in my abilities enough to select me over all the other worthy candidates empowered me to do the best I could. In addition, receiving this award gave me more confidence to achieve my goals. Moreover, this experience made me more independent because it makes me cope with leaving my family and home and living on my own in the dorms. Finally, this scholarship will enable me to obtain my degree from one of the most important universities in Lebanon and fulfill my dream of becoming a professional nutritionist. Last but not least, it is a honor for me to be a member of the LAU family and the USP program. I encourage all students to apply for this program and become a member of our big family

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because no one knows when his/her dream will become a reality. I hope students who come after me will be touched as much as I am from this experience. Therefore do not waste the opportunity of applying to the program because such a chance comes only once in a lifetime!

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CHARBEL ASSAKER Civil Engineering USP 3

A 60 second phone call can change your life. I was watching TV at my home when the phone rang; it was a strange number and I answered; at this moment I did not know that this call would turn my life upside-down. I will never forget her words: “Charbel Assaker, you have been chosen after a long process to be a part of the USAID III program!”; first I was chocked, I did not know what to say, then I smiled and said to her: “thank you”. After I hung up the phone, I asked myself, “Am I dreaming or is it true?”. I did not believe that I would be a part of the USP family and I knew that my life would change forever. I felt very honored that this program would give me a life opportunity to study at the best university in Lebanon, it is a dream come true. This scholarship is the best thing that has ever happened to me, it is my key to success in the future. Finally, all I want to say is that a very tiny detail can change your life and I’m very lucky to be one of the few persons that share this life opportunity.

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ELIE TANNOUS Business USP 3

My name is Elie Tannous and I was a normal high school student just like everybody else. I was really good at school, had high grades, and my teachers loved me. I always had this dream of going to a private university and having friends from outside my area, but the thing was that my parents weren’t able to send me to that kind of university. One day, LAU came to our high school and they told us about the USP. I knew it was my chance to fulfill my dream. I applied, worked really hard, studied for the exams, and passed them I was accepted at LAU as a USP II student but I did not go because of my arrogance. I did not take the official exams seriously and I failed my year. The second time they came, I had to apply again so that I could pursue my dream. I did my best, applied, and studied harder than ever not only to pass the LAU entrance exam but to pass my official exams. Luckily, I passed my official exams and LAU exams and I was selected as a student in the USP. Now I’m living the university life at its best here at LAU. I met new people new professors and even adapted my lifestyle to what I’m living now. So we can all say that “USP Changed My Life”

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FAJER ZEIDAN Civil Engineering USP 3

I can still remember the feeling I had when I saw the universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s number calling my phone. I paused for a second to realize that this call meant the moment of truth. I felt a chill running down my spine as I answered, and when I was told that I got the scholarship I was flying out of excitement. Life was never the same since day one of becoming a USP student. The realization of the great opportunity gave me all the motivation I needed to grow and learn. Moving away from home to a place where many different cultures meet gave me a great deal of confidence to interact with other people, tolerance to accept all ideologies, and courage to step out of my comfort zone. The great learning atmosphere made me a person thirsty for knowledge, seeking out information in every experience I go through. Most importantly, the whole experience let out the leader inside of me and paved the way for shaping the best person I can become. I doubt I would even be here had it not been for that overwhelming act of generosity.

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FATEN FAYAD Business USP 3

‘Everything has a start and an end eventually. However, truly pleasant things go as soon as they come, though we really wish their existence would be eternal!’… After being introduced to the LAU-USAID program and that was when LAU gave a visit to my school…Actually I could not believe what the American government and people through USAID and LAU were offering! Full tuition fees coverage? A book allowance? Housing? A monthly stipend? A laptop? I asked myself, “What’s the point of all that?” What an amazing opportunity! I started preparing the necessary documents before the application deadline. It may sound to you that that was an easy task to complete, but believe me it was not! You have to go through a challenging procedure to attain what you aspire to. Then, after I submitted my application, I received numerous calls from LAU informing me about entrance, sophomore exams, and an interview. I can’t tell you how I used to wait for LAU’s phone calls each and every time to inform me about something new. On a very ordinary summer day, my cell phone rang unexpectedly. Oh, I know that number! I have already seen it several times! Mom, this is the same number that makes my heart beat faster and faster each and every time! - Hello? - Faten? - Yes, it’s me. - Hi, I’m from LAU Beirut! I would like to tell you that you have been accepted to LAU as a USP III student! Congratulations! After hearing those words, I did not know what to say! I’m one of the students that LAU was seeking! After all that, I started counting the days: signing papers at LAU, attending orientations and workshops, looking up to add classes after passing through the advising 174

and registration procedure which is really tough! Then packing and moving to the dorms, getting introduced to new people of different cultures, and above all joining clubs, enjoying the life on campus, and volunteering in extracurricular activities like the marathon, which was really an amazing experience! Besides, I’m enjoying my life at the dorms, I could not believe myself going away from my home and family, but within less than three months I made a lovely family along with wonderful friends. I can say that USAID along with LAU has been my beginning to becoming who I have always wanted to be in the future. It has made me believe that nothing comes easily. All in all, being at LAU is such an amazing experience that I won’t ever forget! And as Dr. Samia says, “Part of the conditions of your grant is for you to excel on the academic and leadership levels and we want you to be creative and discover your voice”. I will always be dreaming and achieving, and USP will always be my motivation and my passion! I’m proud to be an LAU student and much more to be a USP student, so thank you LAU and thank you USAID for such a great opportunity that made and will be making my life amazing now and then!

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FATIMA ISSA Psychology USP 3

Sitting in a classroom at school with only girls and listening to a presentation could be a very boring experience and one could feel sleepy, but it was not the case when my friends and I were listening to the LAU presentation about the USP program. Competition in my class was very high and I felt highly challenged when my colleagues were discussing the difficulty and even the impossibility of getting such scholarship. I went back home and felt highly enthusiastic to tell my parents about the scholarship. Being realistic, they did not meet my enthusiasm. These reactions triggered a sense of challenge and I wanted to prove to everyone what I can do when I insist and when I am convinced about something. I applied to USP on the day of the deadline, and that moment was a turning point in my life, a life of a normal 18 year-old sitting on the modest seats of Saida Secondary Public School for Girls. LAU was a dream for me, yet a reachable one with hard work. My friends saw it as a dream that may not come true as did my parents. This dream grew in me like a seed in the ground. Day after day, awaiting the response from LAU, the tree was growing and I became more and more eager to get it and prove to my entourage what hard work and perseverance can do. I believe my good academic performance at school and my civic engagement from which I can list my volunteering projects with INJAZ and my active membership with a local NGO “Shajar w Bashar” made my profile a matching one to get the scholarship. Till now, I can’t forget the feeling I had the moment I knew that I got the scholarship. I will never forget the phone call I received from LAU informing me about my acceptance to the psychology major at LAU with a full scholarship. I was screaming out loud, I turned 176

crazy. The growing tree gave a fruit. The most delicious fruit I have ever tasted. However, this tree cannot survive without water. The water is the experience post-admission. I decided to benefit from every moment while I am studying here. Along with good academic performance, I am aiming also to participate in every single opportunity of leaderships and civic engagement activity. I am not part of the LAU MUN and MAL secretariats. I went to the Reforestation day, I ran in Beirut Marathon with the LAU team, I volunteered in many events on campus, and I was with my colleagues during our visit to old folks’ home on Christmas and to UNIFIL. LAU USP “changed” my life, indeed! This is the least I can say.

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FIDA KHALIL Civil Engineering USP 3

When representatives first came from LAU to my school and explained this scholarship I was really excited: it was my dream to go to an American university; I applied and was looking forward to the results. When they called me from LAU telling me that I was qualified to the interview stage, I was volunteering in the “Offre Joie“ summer camp for Lebanese children and I was thrilled with the news. After I finished my interview I was so happy that I sang and overcame my shyness. When they called again to tell me I was in, I was at my work in McDonald’s so I rushed to answer and I was overjoyed. Then I came to LAU and started to see and benefit from everything this program was offering me. We have done so many activities, lectures, workshops and visits, but I will talk about a specific one. When we went to visit the elderly at Hazmieh before the Christmas holidays, Monday December 23, 2013, we sang to the old women there and their faces were shining with a true smile, and they did not stop thanking us and blessing us all. Then we went to see children in a hospital and brought them some Christmas joy. While we were singing, they were dancing and singing and clapping. I had never sung this way before: it was as if the power of their smiles was pushing me to sing from my heart and I am so grateful they made me that happy. I did start my holidays with a blessing… The USP program was a golden opportunity for me and I really feel proud and much more confident about myself. Last but not least, I would really like to thank everyone who is helping us in this program and who is offering us the amazing chance and honor to be a USP student at LAU.

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FIRAS SHAHEEN Biology USP 3

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” – Lao-Tzu The LAU team visited our school to give us information about the USP III scholarship which was given to 85 high school student. It was impossible for me to study in a private university because of my family’s financial status; however, my grades were great and I would be accepted in LAU for sure, so I did not give up. I filled out the USP III application form. This was the first step, and after the long selection process I was accepted for a full scholarship at LAU – USP helped me fulfill my dream. Now I’m a biology student at LAU, my life has changed, and I live in Beirut now away from my family but with more responsibilities and self-esteem. I am involved in several activities inside and outside the LAU campus. USP gave me this opportunity, the opportunity to start a new life. Now my goals are updated, my dream now is to enter the medical school in LAU. Financially it is impossible, but I’m sure that if there is a will, there is a way.

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GEORGIO HILAL Civil Engineering USP 3

Being a student in a public high school isn’t something easy, but not having enough money to go to a private university was a bigger dilemma. The Lebanese University was my only option, a place where it is really hard to show all my potential and feel like I’m at ease while getting an education. When LAU came to our school and presented the brochure that was the moment that I knew it will be my chance. I applied, and started working really hard. My English wasn’t that good; I thought I would never get accepted. But a phone call changed my life saying I was accepted at LAU as a USP student. It was like a dream come true. I was moved, I shifted to another world. I finally got what I always want, a good education and, as a matter of fact, the best education with no worries about the future, not having to worry about finding a part-time job to support my parents or worrying about having a hard time studying. Here at LAU I feel like I’m with my new family, the USP family, and with the new friendships that made a lot of difference in my life.

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GHADA AKKARI Communication Arts USP 3

The dream started like a baby, growing into an adult, into reality. At every successful step in the application, I felt that I was celebrating the birthday of the baby every year. Finally, I got accepted into the USP. The roles exchanged and the baby grew. It started taking care of itself and supported me personally, educationally and financially. USP is helping me build my future. Here is the place where you can find people to love, help, trust, and give a hand whenever you need it. Being a member of the USP family gave me a big chance to learn many things. I learned that university life is not only about education, it is about building your personality, engaging with others and being independent. In addition, in my high school, scholarships seemed very impossible for younger students until they heard and saw about our acceptance. They started believing that dreams could come true. Their aims got higher and finally they started having a target to look for and achieve in the coming years. USP did not only play a role in my education but also built friendship which I am sure will last a lifetime. Always make sure to never give up on your dreams but instead choose them so they become real.

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GHIDA ZBEEB Computer Science USP 3

Some people don’t believe in miracles and say that their path in life is already decided, so they give up for what is meant to happen. But what they don’t know is that each one of us is the driver of his own life and can always find a way to change. It is pretty obvious that things don’t come easy, but perseverance and hard work make the impossible possible and nothing is too late. I was one of those people and thought that big chances and opportunities are never mine, but my perspective changed after my experience. Even though all these years I have managed my priorities and my future was on the peak of all, I never expected to reach what I reached today , to see that my hard work actually has a meaning after all. USAID Scholarship changed my life and reflected so many positive things socially and academically. It gave me the huge opportunity to continue my education and to do what I always wanted to do in the best university, with the greatest and most professional professors. This scholarship allowed me to meet important and well-known people. especially those related to my major, which designates a push for my career life in the future .Moreover, the best thing about this scholarship is that after all what the USAID people did for me and how they guided me to the right way they are still giving and looking after me, encouraging me academically, and building my personality on strong bedrocks. All those years, I did not have the chance to participate in enthusiastic activities, and I did not even know about the presence of some of them taking place every other time, but now I am always up to date with what’s going on. Furthermore, when I decided to apply for this scholarship, I was just trying to grab this chance and try, but everyone said your chance to be accepted was one in a million and there were many other people who were better than me , but I thought that no one could predict what was going to happen. Then , things started to 182

get mysterious, getting calls each other time , and asking me to do things and going through a procedure that that they used to choose the scholars. In addition, I reached the interview part and entered that door, feeling tensed and worried , but once they started asking me questions I started talking and expressing myself, and I felt that I had finally found people who understood me and appreciated what I want and what I have. I remember Mr. Elie Samia asking me where I would find myself in my major after 10 years, and I briskly answered that my dream is to work in one best Software companies such as Microsoft but what he said : â&#x20AC;&#x153;why not owning Microsoft?â&#x20AC;?, This question motivates me every time I feel am not able to do something , and pushed me to work harder because there are many big chances out there that are waiting for me , where I just have to stick to my plan , and always be optimistic that I can be better every day . I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t say how much I am thankful for the USAID people for keeping faith in me and expecting the best of me.

GHIWA AOUN Electrical Engineering USP 3

I remember the first day I heard about this scholarship, it was a dream for me and a goal that I wanted to achieve in my life. I was very excited, very interested, and I decided to work hard to get that chance and be a student in one of the most prestigious universities in Lebanon. When I got accepted I realized how much precious this scholarship was and how many great opportunities it will give me. I felt very happy and proud of myself because I made my parents proud of me. When I entered the university I realized that being a USP student is really a special thing because it gives me faith in my abilities and confidence in myself. I knew that a good student isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t only someone who gets a high GPA but who also has the capacity to participate in many social activities that may help others and develop society. From the day I was accepted, many things changed in my life. Today I am more confident, I believe in myself and my capacities and I am working on improving them in order to get a great result that will make me happier and make my parents prouder. I am being responsible more. I know that it is an important chance that was given to me so I should benefit from it as much as possible. I was asked to sing in the Christmas dinner choral organized by the residence hall supervisor Ms. Suzy Saba. First I hesitated because I had never sung before but then I remembered that in life there is always something called a â&#x20AC;&#x153;first timeâ&#x20AC;? so I decided to have confidence in myself and sing. I still remember that night, the night that I had sung for the first time in my life. It was really unforgettable and I felt very happy about this new step I took.

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GHIWA MAKKE Biology USP 3

It was another boring day at school when I first learned about this scholarship. A woman from LAU entered our class and started talking about the terms and details of a scholarship at LAU known as University Scholarship Program (USP) provided by the USAID. I was surprised and impressed that such scholarships existed, and I never thought that I would get it, but I applied anyway because you never know what might happen! I decided to take an application and fill it out. After spending a lot of time filling out the application with the help of my father and bringing the necessary documents, I went to the LAU Beirut campus and submitted them. After a while, I got a call from LAU asking me to come and register for the entrance exams. Then after the exams, I got another call from the university informing me of the date of the interview. About two weeks after from the interview, the university started calling the students who were accepted into the scholarship, but I wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t contacted so I thought I wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t accepted. But one day, early in the morning, I heard my phone ring, so I answered it. It was LAU informing me that I was accepted into the scholarship and that I had to go to the campus to sign the contract papers. I was really astonished but happy that I was actually accepted into such a scholarship at a university that I would not have even dreamt of being in.

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HAIDAR ASAAD Nursing USP 3

It was my first secondary year when I first met her. She introduced herself to us as the ACCESS teacher and gave us a small introduction about the ACCESS Program and how she could help us get a full scholarship to one of the most important universities in Lebanon which is Lebanese American University, LAU. At first, I did not take into consideration the scholarship, but I applied to the program to entertain myself and fill my free time with it. My grades were very good at school, but I never thought of applying to such a university. When we started the program, Ms. Hanan Bittar, our ACCESS teacher, told me that I would be the first in the class who would get the scholarship. I did not take her seriously and I answered her in a sarcastic way, â&#x20AC;&#x153;They will forget all the other Lebanese students and give it to me!â&#x20AC;? But her answer was always that when there is a will there is a way. She was the one who helped me be here in LAU as a USP student and without her I would not have applied to the scholarship. She stayed beside me step by step in school, when applying to the university, and during the official tests where I got high grades and got accepted into the scholarship. Till now, every time I see her I thank her for what she made me and how she made me more self-confident so that I can reach higher degrees with success.

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HALA ISSA Nutrition USP 3

â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting.â&#x20AC;? Paulo Coelho One of the greatest opportunities the scholarship program provides us with is the continuous education, lectures, activities and workshops. One interesting workshop which affected me the most was the civic engagement and integration workshop held by Mr. Elie Samia and Ms. Rana Salloum. The integration part discussed many coping skills that can give us an important break from mental and emotional distress and sometimes they are literally life-saving. During the workshop, I felt that something touched me positively because it meant a lot for me as a new student. How important it is for me as a new student to be prepared for such an experience! Instead of being confused and lost, Miss Rana made us feel that she is involved in how we may feel, how we may think, and what problems and obstacles every one of us may have. So, a little orientation alleviates much of the problems that by time become a lifestyle. When I got out of the workshop, I was excited and relaxed. I felt that I was not alone and there was always someone who is careful and aware of most of the details related to me. With help and support, any disturbance changes to interest and joy. It only needs such preparation that eases life for us as beginners in the university and in life. Later, I realized that listening to more experienced people and following their instructions and advice shortens the distances between problems and their solutions.

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HAMZA DENNY Biology USP 3

When I was a high school student, I was very active in my school and in my village Saadnayel and being a leader in Jarrah Scout helped me be active. But I never thought that one day I could be affective in my society and make it better. And, I was afraid of being a university student since I thought that the college would force me to give it all my time and this was annoying me. However after becoming a USP student I achieved my fabulous dream which is learning in a university which has a high level in both academic and the outreach/civic engagement activities. So USP made my dream come true and by being an LAU student I have the opportunity to learn in a professional way about my major, to help my society, and be active in it by participating in the LAU clubs. Now I am a member in two clubs at LAU and I am a logistic member in the MAL. Through this way the USP program is giving me and my friends the key to start changing our society and make it better with everyone starting from himself to achieve his dream and make a better Lebanese society.

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HANINE ABDALLAH International Affairs / Political Science USP 3

No one knows what has been written for him/her. Because I always tried to be the best among my siblings, my friends, my colleagues, I studied very well to succeed at the Lebanese Official Exams and get a scholarship to the Lebanese American University through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under a program called the University Scholarship Program USP. I was afraid of submitting my application because I was not sure if I would be one of the USP scholars, but I had nothing to lose and my parents encouraged me to submit it and told me not to lose such a golden opportunity since my dad was very concerned about my university education. I went to LAU campus in Byblos and I delivered my application to the Admissions Office. I went home back and I was happy; I felt like I did something good for myself, for my family. After a while, someone from LAU called me and told me that I had to go there and do some exams. Unfortunately, on the same day I had my graduation at the high school; I got a little bit sad for a few minutes, and then I did not know what to feel: happy because they called me or sad because I could have missed my graduation! Saturday June 8th, 2013 was the weirdest day in my whole life. It was a very long day, I got tired and exhausted. When my friends were happy in the playground, talking to each other, taking pictures, and saying goodbye to our teachers, to the director, and to each other, I was doing exams, long ones, and thinking about those moments. Finally I was called to be interviewed by some teachers in order to test our personalities and get the final selection. A month later, my cell phone rang 3 times but I could not answer. I was afraid that they would not call me anymore so I tried to call them, but they called me for the fourth time. I could not believe my ears

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when someone told me that I had been accepted and chosen by them. Now, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m living in the LAU dorms. I have made a lot of friends, and we live together, eat together, study together and hang out together. I love them, I love LAU. Thank you, USAID (and the American people).

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HASSANA AL NACKASH Business USP 3

It was one of the happiest moments of my life, if not the happiest, that moment when I received the call saying that I got accepted as a USP III scholar at LAU. It was the perfect reward for the person who worked hard for 12 long years as a clever and intelligent student full of potential and skills. If someone told me 1 year ago that I would be a scholarship student at LAU, I would not have believed him. But here I am today, one of the 200+ lucky individuals that were critically selected out of more than 8000 applicants chasing the exact same goal. It was a dream difficult to reach, the journey was long, nerve wrecking, and required a lot of hard work and patience. The dream was almost unreachable at the beginning, but with every step I passed, the image became clearer and achievable, ending up with the most beautiful closure anyone could ever imagine. This program represents what every smart student needs, the student who is unable to get the education he/she always desired. USP is one of those few things that still spread hope, in which you can see an upcoming bright future for a lot of people. USP has proven that students who are passionate for educational success will eventually reach their target.

USP made my dream come true.

USP has definitely changed my life.

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HASSANE KASSEM Civil Engineering USP 3

USP is a great chance to change your life. It was a big dream for me. The herculean stages that I have passed through made me more confident. In addition, being a student in a public school and getting a scholarship is a big challenge for me especially because I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t afford paying the tuition of a private university. It was a great opportunity to meet new people and to get involved in civic engagement. It is a big opportunity to help your community. Moreover, continuing my education at LAU is the most important thing. The scholarship has made my family and friends proud of me. LAU is a place where I would like to shine in. When I got the scholarship I felt like I was too smart. When I got the application of the scholarship, I was excited because it was the beginning of my dream. The hardest stage was the second one because when I had the exam at LAU; the university was crowded by people so I thought that passing this level would be hard. Fortunately, I passed all the stages and it was an outstanding experience. Finally, these are all the reasons why USP changed my whole life. HIND RAAD No one knows what life will bring us, maybe good things or bad. Although my dream was to be an architect because my hobby is drawing, now I have had the most beautiful experience that changed everything in my life. This experience was becoming a USP student which has a special meaning for me. My major now is nursing; yes, nursing and architecture are so opposite but maybe this major will help me achieve my goals. However, it is a big chance that no one expects to get. For that, I became more confident in myself and I have faith that I can achieve anything

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I want no matter how hard it is. Even though I did not always act responsibly with my studies, now everything has changed. I have been more responsible about anything related to my studies. But the most important moment was when I got accepted and felt so proud of myself especially because I achieved my dadâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dream who had passed away 5 years ago. Now, I am sure that he is seeing me and feeling so proud. Pride and confidence became two new characteristics in my personality.

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HOUSAM ASSOUM Mechanical Engineering USP 3

One can never know what the future might hold. For me, I had simply believed that if I worked hard enough, the future would grant me something greater than all of my expectations. Indeed, that was the case! It all started when a delegate from LAU walked into my school and explained the grant. I have to say that my expectations were blown away when I heard about USP. For days and nights I kept wondering about what it would be like to go to the greatest higher education institution in the country and be an LAU graduate. I simply could not have asked for anything more. This is when I promised myself to give my best to be one of the lucky 85. Certainly my hard work did pay off; a phone call changed my life! The call that set my life on what I hope to be the road of success pronouncing that Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m a USP scholar! College can teach us a lot of things, but it is different when you are a USP scholar. It is different because USP had taught me the most important lesson in my life, in which now I truly believe in: Never give up on your dreams! Due to USP I believe that those who seek the best shall get nothing but the best, if they work hard enough. For that I am grateful for what I have, and to embrace every experience and lesson LAU has to offer. After all, after asking for the best, what could be better than a USP scholar?

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HOUSSAM HALABY Mechanical Engineering USP 3

During the first years of my education, I had set my ambitions on getting a higher education in a prestigious university. I had dreamt about a higher education endlessly until three years ago when my family’s economic status decreased dramatically and I started losing hope in that dream. USP was that faint light you see at the end of a dark tunnel and day by day, that light became brighter with every phase of the selection process that passed. The days felt like years each time we knew LAU started calling candidates for passing the several phases. I was in the scout camp when I got the final acceptance call I had been waiting for. I felt so proud at that moment because everyone there started congratulating me and my close friends ran to me and hugged me tight while telling me that this is what I have been waiting for. That was it; I had made it successfully to the other beginning of another race towards success. Ever since that day everything seemed a bit lighter and a bit happier. But what I did not know or expect was how LAU/USP would immerse me into a bigger family than mine, how LAU/USP would give me the chance to excel, a chance I had once thought lost. Every day I hear my colleagues’ conversations on how they were worried about paying the tuition, buying their books, getting their laptops with them, driving every day to university and how all those problems were very stressful and then they would look at me and tell me: “You lucky bastard, you don’t even think let alone worry about any of these now, do you?” That is when I realize how USP changed my life.

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HUSSEIN HIJAZI Chemistry USP 3

A right opportunity should be a path for you to have a better life. It can change you and your familyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life. The United States of America, being the land of opportunity, made the dream of being a USP scholar at LAU come true. USP bridged the financial gap that I was facing as a college-bound student. The donor did this by providing scholarships to students with great potential, high financial need, strong academic demonstration, and community/civic involvement. USP gave me more self-confidence since the process for winning this grant was very challenging as we were chosen among all the students of Lebanon who applied for this scholarship. This scholarship made me more responsible because I had (and have) to work hard to maintain it. Moreover, it guaranteed me the bright future of a student who graduates from a university like LAU with scholarships that impress potential employers when they read the resumes of these students. The reason behind this is that these students showed responsibility and discipline by being able to get the grant. An applicant who obtained their education via USP is highly respected in the eyes of most potential employers not only because he is well educated but also because he is a great leader since this grant is of two wings: academic and leader potentials. Finally, this scholarship is not easy to get, and this is why it is so valuable. It provided us with the tools to build a successful life.

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JAD ZIADEH Business USP 3

Our trip of a thousand miles began at the recess when our director informed us to stay in the class waiting for the representative of the Lebanese American University to announce the University Scholarship Program III from USAID. As usual we stayed waiting for the time to pass. When the representative spoke about this program, no one among us had taken it seriously besides me. In contrast, I believed in every word that was told to us. At that moment, I decided to extend my ambitions and to apply for this program. I finished my booklet during a week. I had two goals to achieve, to finish my exams and get accepted to LAU. My dreams became bigger and bigger, yet I faced my family, my school and my society. No one could believe a program will present a grant for a public school student. It was a weird idea! The first question that came to my head was, “What distinguishes the official students from others? And why isn’t it admissible for private schools?” Simply speaking, it is about our desire for success, our ambitions with our little potential, and our extra hard work. Once a teacher asked me, “What is your plan for your near future?” “Studying at LAU with a scholarship,” I answered. He laughed with his cynical laugh and continued his class. At that moment I had a challenge and I knew I was in the middle of a competitive program where there is no place for the weak. After months I got a call from the university for the exams.

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I passed my sophomore exam although it was in a delicate time â&#x20AC;&#x201C; in the middle of our break for the official exams. After I passed each step, I felt I became close to success. After passing the exam, I had an interview, and it was smooth; thus, I felt I was the person who deserved to be there. I waited for the final reply. Every day that passed I felt was like a year, but I still had my belief. I did not apply to other universities and never tried any other chance. At the end, I received a call from LAU telling me that I was accepted. It was a glory after the long warfare; I called my director and told her about my good news hoping my teacher would know about me getting the scholarship.

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JENNIFER EL HAJAL Business USP 3

“Big dreams begin with a small step”. Day after day, I realize that life is full of opportunities that can transform one’s path. Who can imagine that a simple application form could lead me to study at LAU? I never did. I submitted my application hoping that I will be accepted. Every time I received a call from LAU, I felt closer to reaching my dream until that Monday morning when I woke up with my phone ringing to know that I finally had been chosen to be a USP III student. That phone call was the turning point for a new beginning. This scholarship made me more confident; it proved that nothing is impossible in life if we take advantage of every single chance that we are given. Although I was thrilled, I was worried because every fulfilled dream is accompanied with responsibility, and such a big opportunity needs a bigger challenge. USP changed my life; it made me achieve my small dream that will open wide horizons for me. Walt Disney said: “All our dreams come true if we have the courage to pursue them.” All we need is hope, perseverance, and faith in ourselves. So I will keep on dreaming and being ambitious because dreams make a future, a life, and a victory.

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JIANA SULEIMAN Civil Engineering USP 3

- Jiana? - Yes. - Congratulations you got accepted to LAU. That one phone call made my day and made me a USP student at LAU flipping my world, plans, and expectations upside down. Without the slightest exaggeration, being a USAID scholarship recipient is the best thing that has ever happened to me. When life brings you to a moment when you feel all your dreams are within your reach, all the hard work, the tiredness and the endless nights finally paid off, all your mother’s prayers and calls have been finally answered, or when you become that one-in-a-million person whose determination, will power, and diligence rendered him a role model and a set example, the feeling you get is quite spectacular, a feeling that is beyond joy, beyond pride, and beyond relief. It is a feeling of God’s gratification upon you. And that’s how I felt upon becoming a USP student at LAU. I felt blessed. I remember stepping in vigorously ambitious, yet timid; determined, yet a little lost. Armed with persistence and self-esteem, I never doubted my abilities or my plans. But there was LAU, an eyeopener, an awakening slap that made me realize my estimations were wrong. Secondary academic evaluation, though important, is only one part of your self-portrait. Life can astonish you with challenges and difficulties that require skills superior to academic performance. Never have I imagined life embracing such great deals of pressure and responsibilities. You learn to pull off your own thorns with your own hands. You learn to tackle your problems, to face your fears, to push yourself to the fullest, to invest all your abilities for your own as well as your community’s good.

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You realize you have duties towards your society that are quite as important as your academic requirements. You intentionally start to care and worry. Such precious life lessons cannot just be learned at any university. With the gracious help of USP I was able to learn much more that I had anticipated. Truly, with the help of USP, I literally became a better person. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m now officially an enhanced version of myself. Among all the blessings God has bestowed on me, being a USP scholar, with honor, surely tops all.

JIHANE EL AMINE Nursing USP 3

Writing about my new life is an exciting thing because I can share with others the unbelievable experience I’m glad to be a part of. The moment I knew that I was accepted at LAU with the help of USAID was a life changing moment. I screamed with happiness and all my family members were happy for me. But then I realized something: by getting accepted at LAU I would have to move to Byblos, and Byblos is very far from where I live in the South. I realized that I won’t be able to come home whenever I wanted and that made me terribly sad because I knew that I would be far from my younger sister who I had never spent a day without. Since I came here, I haven’t spoken to anyone about my life back in my hometown. I’m trying to live happily and study hard because I’m looking forward to continuing into higher education levels. But with this story I am writing, I want everyone and especially my friends to understand me and to know why I’m mysterious – as they say. I come from a separated family, and my parents have been divorced since I was nine. I live with my sister at my grandparents’ house. This had affected my personality a lot. In the beginning, I had feelings of inferiority and shame. At school I was too shy to talk with my friends because they would ask me about my parents. I was the oldest child so imagine how my little sister – who needed more attention and affection from my parents – felt after what happened. After we came to live with my grandparents, I was the responsible one and took care of my sister. I spent hours helping her with her homework. I even went shopping for her and a lot of other stuff that parents do just so she won’t feel in need.

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In fact, I did all that because we were left alone as kids, and I recall the day my parents got divorced when the little crying face of my sister asked me â&#x20AC;&#x153;Jihan will you be my mother now?â&#x20AC;? When I started to pack my stuff to leave home I was heartbroken, I felt scared and guilty about leaving my little sister alone. But at the same time I thought that by being a part of USP I will be able to support her more than ever, to influence her into never giving up, because if I gave up when my parents left I would never have had the opportunity to meet all the great people that I have met at the orientations and university who have influenced me to be strong and get more involved in society. Now I have friends who became for me the caring family I never had. Thank you USP family for the boost of courage you gave me to open up and tell everyone about my story. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s how USP changed my life.

JOE TANIOS Computer Engineering USP 3

From Ordinary to Extraordinary Life has its ups and downs, this long road hides for us a lot of problems but we should always brace up and stretch to our full capacity in order to overcome those problems and do the best for the future. A student’s life is ordinary but not mine. I was an ordinary high school student, obedient, hardworking, and serious. Like many, I was weak in French. Consequently I needed to work harder on other courses to overcome that weakness. Because I was good at math and physics and I can easily obtain an A, I should take advantage from that to fill the gap. Undoubtedly languages are very important nowadays. English is the most important. I started to learn English when I was in grade seven, and I got my first scholarship in grade 10 which is called “ACCESS 7”. From that moment I started to take English seriously and to work deeper in the language. Besides that, I got paid 1000L.L for each hour of English I learned. Nevertheless, I improved my English enormously; I contributed in lots of activities, discovered multiple friends, and experienced unforgettable moments. Beside the fact that I wasn’t an ideal student, I had a special feeling of hope, an extreme passion of dreaming and an unstoppable power of work. Because every problem comes with a solution, I always believed that wherever I go and no matter I face, I will somehow find a way to overcome all different kinds of

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problems. That’s when USP coordinators came to our high school and explained to us a scholarship called USP III which is the second scholarship that I have received. We used to dream, we used to work, and we used to live every day by day. That is our worst mistake in life. Therefore, believing is the most powerful weapon that can overcome all of today’s and tomorrow’s problems. Moreover, USP program had polished my life. After the long process that the USP coordinators had to take in order to elect us, I was one of the applicants who got chosen among hundreds of applicants. USP program isn’t just about learning and academic achievements, USP is a program that mainly graduates leaders that can and will make change in the society and community we are living in. Nevertheless, USP made me proud of myself and aware of the responsibilities I have toward myself and the community. Now I know the importance of myself being a part of a big community that depends on everybody’s involvements and thoughts. Living day by day is nothing but a dangerous weapon that kills your ambitions and slows your life down. So, frankly, it is a waste of time. Study hard, love what you are doing, work toward your goals, and most importantly of all believe in yourself. Self-confidence is a cornerstone for a positive happy life.

JOHNNY ESTEPHAN Civil Engineering USP 3

Everything started when LAU representatives visited our high school in Ibreen. The purpose of the visit was to inform us about a full scholarship to the Lebanese American University. Since that day I had been interested in this scholarship and haven’t stopped of saying:” Why not? Everything is possible. It is worth trying…”. And, I started filling out the application; I had worked hard with my dad trying to get all the required documents, and I right now I’m trying to write an interesting and meaningful essay. Day after day, time was passing very slowly until I received a call from LAU to do the EEE and SE exams: it was a good start. After those exams and the official Lebanese baccalaureate exams, they called again to tell me that I had passed those exams and I would move to the next stage: the interview. When I received this news, a battle of feelings was announced in my heart: on one hand, my happiness could not be well expressed, and on the other hand, the responsibility became much bigger. So I decided to do my best and prepare myself very well before the interview because it was my last chance to make my dream come true. After a certain period of time and at the end of summer, the day of the result announcement came. I hadn’t slept the day before hoping that everything would be okay and that I would be accepted. Finally, the big new was announced: I had been accepted to a full scholarship at LAU. It is an honor for me to be a part of a team of very successful students and a staff of very professional people. Thank you USAID, thank you LAU, and I hope the end of this successful story will be as great as its start.

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JULIEN AL BOUERY Mechanical Engineering USP 3

Becoming a USP student was a big challenge for me. I am very proud to have the opportunity to study in the Lebanese American University. Life has been hard financially. I appreciate what the scholarship I received means. It will not only benefit me, but it will also benefit my family and my hometown. Without the USP, attending a university would have been much more difficult. I love USP!! It has done so much for me and I love coming to the LAU campus in Byblos as much for the learning as for the friendly atmosphere and beautiful surroundings. I learned to appreciate all the blessings that I have received whether they were big or small, and never forget that after a hurricane comes a rainbow. Being a USP student is a very huge blessing but there is a big responsibility too. What I wanted to say is that this scholarship has really changed my life!

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KAMAL METLEJ Civil Engineering USP 3

Everyone has a turning point in his/her life, but mine was being considered as a USP student. It turns my life at many levels, specifically at the level of finding out my personality. Being introduced to many people and being far away from my family were factors that help me find myself somewhere. Before coming to LAU, I was a little bit shy. I think that I am a very normal person, but after being introduced to a new atmosphere, new kinds of people, and after having new dreams, I became aware that I have the ability to change myself by myself and my world by myself. Some people help me understand my personality, myself, and my life in a good way. They help me with different lectures to understand that everyone has a power inside him to be able to change everything he wants. In addition, we come here to participate in many leadership activities that will help us be very interesting people. Finally, being a USP student is my first step to make my life different from othersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, to make a different and important future.

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KHAWLA ABDUL SATER Biology USP 3

“The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience” – Eleanor Roosevelt As the proverb says it is life and we live in it in order to be involved in experiences and learn from them. As a matter of fact, I consider my scholarship as an experience in which I am working hard to reach my goals and be an effective woman in the future. In addition to that, my scholarship is like a miracle from God because I have never expected that I would join LAU and study there. Before joining LAU I was sure that I would study in the Lebanese University because my parents’ financial situation did not allow me to go and study in well-known universities such as LAU. But fortunately, I was surprised when LAU came to our school and told us about the scholarship. At first I decided not to fill out and submit my application, because I was afraid that they would not accept me. However, my mother insisted that I submit my application. Finally, I did that and did the EEE and another exam but without hoping for much. Moreover, one month later they called me to attend the interview. I was shocked by that because I had never been exposed to such kinds of interviews. I got there, and I was terrified. Four instructors were sitting in front of me and I was alone. When they started asking questions, I felt that I could answer correctly and confidently, so I spoke about my major and what I am going to be in the future. Three weeks later, they told me that I was accepted. I was very happy, but I knew that I am going to bear a responsibility that will allow me to fulfill all my dreams.

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Despite the fact that we are studying and exerting lot of effort in order to get high GPA, we are also participating in many activities in and outside the campus. For example, on November 10, I participated in the Beirut Marathon; by the way, it was the first time I ran in a marathon. It was a very exciting experience that made me run for the dignity of humankind and for Lebanon. Furthermore, I consider the reforestation campaign that took place in Bchari as the greatest event in my life because it allowed me to plant a tree in my country in order to reduce pollution. In addition, there are many activities that took place on the campus; for instance, the event about breast cancer and others related to the Red Cross helped me a lot in addition to clubs that were effective. In the end, I feel proud of myself, and I thank God because I belong at LAU because I had never dreamed that I would be.

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LARA ABOU AMMAR Business USP 3

At that moment when my phone rang, my heartbeats started racing and I could not catch my breath! Once I heard the word “congratulations”, the only thing I could see were the shining stars. I am a USP III student at the Lebanese American University, my journey started at this program from the day I answered that call. Although I have experienced this feeling before when I was accepted to the YES program, The Kennedy Lugar Youth Exchange and Study, but this time my joy was bigger because my accomplishment is much larger. God has flooded me with His blessings from the first day I was born, gave me what I have never imagined that I would have, and I am so thankful for that. Along my life path, I always made sure to get the best out of what I’m given, and that’s what I am planning to do in my three year journey at university and USAID had given me the chance to experience it in one of the best universities in Lebanon. New life, new people, and new responsibilities! I am against a new challenge that will refine my personality, which will prepare me to be responsible for my choices and decisions and to be ready to survive in the real world and succeed. From the first day at LAU, I realized that I could make a change, because my achievements will be recognized and my thoughts will be heard; I will have the power to do an alteration, even a small and simple one, but I will contribute in something. One of the most crucial things that this scholarship offered me is the chance to plan for my future. It opened the door for me to many options when I had none before; all what I had were dreams and fantasies, but now, and because of the USAID scholarship, I might be able to make them true.

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After receiving this scholarship, I have a bigger appreciation for life, and a strong belief that when there is a will there is always a way. Now I know that without trying and struggling we canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t reach our ambitions and canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t become successful. I also learned that to be strong I have to be confident about every step I take, to take the initiative, and to try to make every dream a reality. USAID gave me hope for tomorrow that I will be a leader in my society and help it like USAID helped me. USAID did not give me only a free college education; it gave me a life! I am so thankful for this great opportunity, I hope that I will make the best out of it and take the right steps toward the stars of success.

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LARA ISSA Communication Arts USP 3

When I was asked to write a short paragraph to describe what USP changed in my life, at the time I, Lara Assad Issa, a USP III student who spent only till then three months here, was totally confused. That’s because till now not too many changes occurred but I can say that USP was able to teach me a lot of lessons. It taught me that when I want something I have to fight and work hard to get it. It taught me that I should be patient along the journey to reach my goals because everything should take its time to happen. It taught me that nothing is impossible if you have the audacity to do it. It taught me that there is in life what is called “the golden opportunity” which will give you the opportunity to fight for your dreams. It taught me that engaging in community service is something fun and important at the same time. It taught me that happiness is when you have another big family that will take care of you just like the wonderful family that USP allowed me to meet, a family that is always there for you to support you and share with you happiness, success and friendship.

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LORITA HANNA Business USP 3

Everyone in life waits for the right and best opportunity. When I first filled the form to apply to the scholarship program, I thought that I was not going to have the chance of being accepted, and then I discovered that it was time to take this unbelievable chance. I worked hard, I tried my best, I suffered from the hot weather, traffic, and so on, but I did not give up. The big day came: I received the scholarship. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thank you Godâ&#x20AC;?. The first day at university was really difficult. I chose to stay at a dorm, and, to be honest, I spent all the day crying and I returned home at night. I decided to do not return back, but I realized that this is a dream coming true; I realized that this is a chance which is not going to be offered again. Today, I am an LAU student, and I am proud of myself. The University Scholarship Program changed my life. It makes me able to discover the dark side of my personality, and I discovered that I can be responsible, successful, and useful to better serve my community. Finally, a bird cannot fly if he has a broken wing, and that is why we will fly high, under the blue sky, depending on our wings: academic life and civic engagement.

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LUBNA AL MAJTHOUB Biology USP 3

USP did not change my life. It made it!! As Cinderellaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s story was about dreaming of that prince who would change her life, so was my story with the USP. USP was like a dream, not only for me, but for every person who wants to translate his dream to successful steps. My dream started with preparing the application with many people around me saying that it was impossible. But it happened! I received the call that changed my whole life. I started my journey with USP on the first day when I brought the application and I stumbled at the lower gate. At that moment I felt that LAU would be my home. Today, LAU is my second home and USP is my second big family. USP gave me my chance in this life and taught me that we should never lose hope. It is not shameful if you fail, but it is shameful if you did not try at all. USP was my dream, but today USP is making my dream, and with every cheerful morning my dream is growing inside of me and USP is playing an important role in helping me achieving it. USP helped me engage in my society, and it taught me that whoever I am I have a role towards my community. With the help of USP I will get to the top, and I will help others try to find their successful way. Finally, USP gave me the chance to meet great friends and share great moments with them that I will never forget. Thank you USP because you taught me that hope should never be lost and that the taste of success is completed when you take part in othersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; success too.

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LUIGI YAMMINE Business USP 3

There are many things in life that can change the track of a person’s life. It can either make a positive impact or a negative impact on it. For me, I have had a positive experience that has changed my life forever and that is earning a USAID scholarship. Throughout my life I used to be a quiet and shy person who never had the guts to be a leader. I grew up as a kid who was afraid of expressing his opinion and speaking in front of the others; but not anymore because I have become a new person since I started my first college year. First of all, living far from my family has taught me to be more confident and more conscientious. Secondly, I started to make new relationships that helped me break the religious barrier and accept others, and now I’m more open to those around me. Moreover, today I’m a leader who’s able to accomplish what he aspires for, not a follower anymore. Thanks to the USP staff, I’m having more than one chance to express myself as a strong and smart individual. I believe that my personality has changed a little bit and will definitely change more as I continue in this ideal program.

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MAHA AL KHOMASSY Social Work USP 3

I am the small town girl that left her town to study and succeed in a university in Beirut. This started when I filled out the application for a scholarship to the Lebanese American University (LAU). It was the most beautiful dream that glimmers from a far place. I thought I would not reach that light, but I did, and now I am hear. I am living my dream. I am working to make my dreams come true. My village Hasbaya is the place I love the most. When I go there to spend my weekend I feel a tender love, and I still miss it a lot. However the chance to live in Beirut and study my major at LAU is invaluable, and living alone provides me with a great opportunity to build myself, raise my self-confidence, and to be responsible for everything I do. During this short period I have spent in Beirut, I faced many challenges, many beautiful moments that I wanted to experience, and many conflicts. I discovered what responsible freedom means. I have to free myself to be who I want to be, and to find myself but without forgetting who I was, without letting go of my village, my parents, my morals, my culture, and my traditions. I grew up in a village where people are judged according to their values. In Hasbaya, a person cannot be judged according to wealth or by the level of their education. Beirut is beautiful and it provides you with a lot, but everything always has two sides, good and evil. It is dangerous to let these bad traits control a person. In my childhood, I always dreamt of doing something, to achieve success for myself and for my society. I dreamt of proving myself in my society by getting a higher education. The University Scholarship Program (USP) provided me with this opportunity to study social work, so that I could establish a service organization and assist people in my village by helping them to solve their problems. I specifically wish to help the women and children of my village. LAU is a wonderful institutions that can make this dream a reality. That is because LAU is a university that educates its students both academically and socially, and it raises them to become functioning members of society. This is the opportunity that I have waited for, for a long time. This is the chance that I will use to make my dreams come true.

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MAHMOUD BADRAN Mechanical Engineering USP 3

The University scholarship program (USP) is not only a stage to complete your education. USP is a special way to live, a method to increase your sense of humanity, and a process to obtain the real meaning of life. On my first day as USP student, I based in the philosophy of giving and taking to judge on this program. I thought that no one gives you without taking something instead. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why I thought that USP offers all the facilities of studying in order to motivate us to do some charitable activities. But then, I realized that these activities benefit me and my society more than any one else, especially because they increased my sense of humanity and self-confidence .In addition, we did a lot of workshops that aimed at making each one of us a leader in his society who has the ability to overcome problems, make good decisions, improve his society, and achieve his goals. I participated in many activities, such as reforestation and visiting some Lebanese celebrities to learn from their experience as leaders. Students in this program treat each other as a family; we help each other to face problems and to do activities. USP gives us a lot, and whatever we do we can never return the favor, we can never return the favor. USP really changed my life and made me a better person with many skills. So thank you USP and USAID for your support.

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MARGUERITA KHOURY Nursing USP 3

I remember the afternoon I found out that I was to be the recipient of the LAU scholarship. Without any exaggeration, it was the best thing that has ever happened to me. That I would attend one of the most famous universities in the Lebanon was a dream coming true. It has always been my goal to get the best education possible because when I will return home, I will be better equipped to serve my community and my country; and this scholarship has enabled me to work towards achieving this...I know I owe so much to the Lebanese American University and to the American citizens. I feel like it has impacted my life in more ways other than just providing financial support. I would really like to thank all donors for investing in all of us and giving us the chance to learn and grow at such a top university. Here a student has the opportunity to take part in plays, charity events, and national celebrations. The scholarship opens up a world where you no longer see limitations.

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MARIE REZEK Nutrition USP 3

An LAU scholarship?!

“Oh you must be very lucky,” I have heard this sentence more than a hundred times. Well, yes I’m lucky, USP let me be sure that dreams do come true, and now I’m sure that when you believe in something no matter what it is, then you can do it. But that is not everything. This summer we had discovered that my dad had liver cancer. This news was shocking especially for me. I started to wonder: what is the meaning of our lives if we are going to die? Does it really matter what we are going to do in our lives? For a moment I felt like I wanted life to stop!

After 2 days, LAU called me and told me “Congratulations!”

me.

Really, no one could imagine how much good this has done to

It changed all struggling ideas in my mind.

USP has really changed my life, and stopped me from making some really bad decisions. Life does continue. There are downs but there are ups also. My potential is now high and I feel that I’m capable of changing everything around me to something better. So, I can’t be more grateful for anything in my life than I am today with USP!

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MAYA BOU DAGHER Biology USP 3

I had submitted the USP application and I was not sure if I would be accepted at LAU. Actually, the day I got accepted was the best day of my life; it was the beginning of a whole new path. The USP gave me the opportunity to enter a new world full of chances. It allowed me not only to shine academically, but also socially by helping my society and getting involved in many activities in different domains. In my village, I used to help some children improve in a specific subject; I love sharing my knowledge with other people. In fact, I was planning on majoring in biology and then to have my PhD. One day, I got an email about a volunteer teachers program that helps grade 9 students in public schools to progress academically to pass the Lebanese baccalaureate. So, I directly applied to this program and I got accepted after a one month period. I chose to teach biology because that is what I am majoring in and because it has been my favorite subject ever since I was a kid. I will have many training sessions after Christmas holidays and then I will start teaching in a French public school in Byblos. I hope that the students will love me as an older sister and I inspire them to work hard and continue their studies at college. I am sure that I will be inspired in return from their different personalities and their level of culture and intelligence. My final wish is that all the students I have taught will succeed or even shine in the Lebanese baccalaureate. On a personal level, I wish that this program will give me more confidence and will make me a better person. Finally I am very thankful to the USP, specifically to the American people who had open many horizons to me and have offered me a wonderful expedience to accomplish my responsibilities toward my community in a domain that I consider my hobby and my job at the same time.

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MAYA EL HAJJ Business USP 3

I still remember the day I received the call from the LAU scholarship office. Without any exaggeration, it was the best thing that has ever happened to me because it has always been my intention to get the best education possible so that when I return home I can be better equipped to serve my community and my country. This scholarship enabled me towards achieving this. To begin with, my story with this scholarship is unbelievable. Unfortunately, I wasn’t lucky in my official exams because my biology exam was lost, so the final result was blocked. Although this happened, LAU believed in me and in my ability, competence, and capacity. It gave me the chance to continue in the student evaluation process until the issuance of the results. In reality, this scholarship offered me the opportunity to live in a dorm in which I established strong relationships with all my colleagues especially with my roommate. For instance, in that place I discovered the real meaning of” friendship”. Finally, I don’t know how to adequately express my gratitude. I simply want to write “Thank you.”

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MIRIELLE MOODAD Business USP 3

In the words of Albert Einstein, the father of modern physics, there is a driving force more powerful than steam, electricity and atomic energy: the will. In other words, every USP student possesses an iron will. Each and every one of us has a strong will witch made him or her get this marvelous scholarship from the American people. When one first enters to LAU, all persons in charge are warmly welcoming even the huge campus itself. Our responsibilities keep boosting us and enhancing our self-esteem through giving us valuable hints, starting with the â&#x20AC;&#x153;wingsâ&#x20AC;? of Mr. Samia to the beneficial workshops. Moreover, it is a dream coming true and changing my whole life. When I was first accepted at LAU, I was so elated that I achieved such a crucial and great success which revolutionary changed my life. Therefore, I am so proud of being a part of the LAU lovely family and also meeting such special persons and friends. Real friends are hard to get but USP students are so friendly and reliable, especially my friends in USP III whom I spend my best days with. Last but not least, this scholarship is a great challenge which is going to stamp my whole life. Thank you USAID, LAU, and all the activities that helped us from the beginning, reinforced our will, and finally made our dreams come true!

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MOHAMMAD RAMMAL Biology USP 3

Opportunities in life strike, with us unaware of their value and existence. We tend to abjure some, though they offer us the chance to transcend the life we know. I am a believer in the law of attraction which I came across in the book The Secret which states that: “positive thoughts attract positive events.” Thus as I applied for the scholarship, I had confidence in myself that I was going to be an LAU student, though to be honest I was not cajoled by the urges of hesitating or giving up; on the contrary, it kept my dream alive. My demure sparkles of hope exploded in the face of failure and here I am proudly a USP scholar. To be real the whole idea of this scholarship is out of this world; you get treated like a king just to learn, I still remember one of my friends saying in the USP orientation: “Am I dreaming? Please somebody pinch me”. When I remember the process I had to pass through and the obstacles I had to abolish to reach the top of the mountain, a Mona Lisa smile strikes my face. USP frankly changed my life; and if I had to compare the person I was on August 27 and the person I am right now, I would be elated to express the difference. The point is USP made me deal with people that not only drank from the bottle of life but also poured some water back in, and when you deal with professional people who excelled at what you both do, you keep inflating the world of knowledge you are living in with the air of perfection. We are taught to fly above difficulties by the means of the Wings of Academic Excellence and Leadership by Mr. Elie Samia. We USP scholars are being prepared to gnash the world with the alacrity of planting progress and development in our country. We are the seeds; we are the water, and frankly who knows? Maybe we are the soil.

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MOHAMMAD SHEHAB Civil Engineering USP 3

â&#x20AC;&#x153;USP changed my lifeâ&#x20AC;? is a great topic to talk about. USP was a turning point for me. Many things in life have been modified. The most important things that have been modified are responsibility, lifestyle, and social life. At first, it was very hard for me to accept that I had a new life full of responsibilities and challenges. When we were in school, there was no responsibility. But at this stage, there is no place for fun. Maybe one mistake gets me out of this grant. Another thing that is important to any one of us is lifestyle. My lifestyle changed because I live in the dorms. So, it is essential that I should get know new students from different religions and cultures and accept them because they will become my second family; and all students will become sisters and brothers in spite of the differences between us. At school, I went from my house to school and back. So, I was very fanatic about my opinions and religion but when I came here I learned how to accept others. In addition, I learned how to cook food and make food by myself. For me it is the most important thing. Furthermore, my social life changed. USP strengthened my personality and self-confidence. With the social activities and workshop, I can improve my social relationships and I can talk to any person without any hesitation or fear. Also, there is an important thing that any person hopes to achieve which is a perfect personality that leads him/her to a good career and relationships with his/her society. Finally, I thank USAID and USP for this grant and I hope I will be as they expected.

225

MONALISSA HALABLAB Biology USP 3

People say heroes don’t exist. In fact they do. A hero is not that person we see on TV and movies with supernatural powers; a true hero in the real world is a person who gives voices to people who can’t stand up and speak, a person who gives others the chance for a better life, sharing his life advantages with the disadvantaged. That hero of mine is USAID. They did not just give us scholarships to learn, they gave us a key that opens the door to a brighter future, a future full of wisdom and knowledge. They gave us the ability to make a difference in the world. Like Mr. Elie Samia says: “In order to fly we need two wings.” Honestly without the USP program I would be now a shivering, one-winged bird having dreams and no means to achieve them. Without this program my life would be a graveyard with buried hopes and dreams. Simply put, this scholarship changed my life. It made me realize that even in the darkest moments God still pours out His blessings on us. Every single detail in the university had changed me. It made me be more optimistic, self- confident, strong and independent. At first, I was like there are 1000 of students applying, I have no chances”. But then I realized that I was given a chance that was worth embracing. In the morning they were calling to announce the ones that were accepted. I was sleeping when the phone rang. I woke up, answered, and was given the news that I was accepted, then I went back to sleep. After 5 seconds I realized what happened so I started screaming and dancing like a maniac. That fraction of time in my life was the thing that changed my life: I could attend LAU and achieve my goals. I can only say that I have an enormous feeling of gratitude towards USAID and the LAU staff that made this possible.

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MOUHAMAD AL SAYED Electrical Engineering USP 3

I am a shy person. I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think I ever really hated anything about myself except for that. Being shy used to make me really mad because this thought was printed on my mind and controlled my actions. I felt like people were judging me all the time because I was quiet. Before my acceptance into LAU and participation in all these workshops, everyone thought I was a fragile shy boy who always followed rules and got perfect grades. I did not stop trying to be an outgoing person, and with the entire USP III team I got the opportunity to learn about friendship skills and earn these skills. Adapting to this new environment was not easy, but with all my friends in USP III program I was able to overcome this issue. Now with my big family, the USP program, I am able to participate in all the discussions and workshops because I have become a trustworthy leader.

227

NADINE EL KOJOK Nursing USP 3

Receiving the scholarship plays an integral role in helping students realize their educational ambitions. I have always heard about some students who get scholarships to some respected universities, but I never thought that it would happen with me. USP III!! The first time I heard this word was when a delegate from the Lebanese American University came to our school to introduce to us what this program was about. I liked it a lot, but I was first confused over whether to apply or not because I wasn’t sure if I would be accepted but then I said, “Why don’t I apply and see what will happen?” A couple of weeks later I start receiving calls telling me every time about the next step. But after I saw the enormous number of students, as I went in for every test I was almost definite that it would be my last. Finally I got this wonderful and generous scholarship and it really changed my life. This experience taught me to have confidence in my abilities and skills, confidence in what I can do and achieve. It brought me to a new world full of energy and life, to make new and good friendships. A special thing that I learned from here is to benefit from and take advantage of all the opportunities that we might face because some things just happen once in our lives. In the end, your generosity has inspired me to help others and give back to the community. I hope one day I will be able to help students achieve their goals just as you helped me.

228

NAWAL HARFOUCHE Biology USP 3

“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhh !!!!” This was my first reaction when the beautiful lady who worked at LAU office called me. First of all, I was chocked and full of joy and happiness by the awesome news that has completely changed my life. As far as this scholarship has turned me into a more responsible person because I have learned how to take care of myself without the help of my parents. Also, I have discovered the real deep meaning of independent because of USP, and it is having the freedom to choose either this or that referring to your own personal ethics and beliefs. In addition, my self-confidence has developed because after this achievement I’m sure that all my dreams can come true with wellness, persistence insistency and hard work. Today, the sky is my limit and I don’t have the word surrender in my dictionary. I’m certain that the past is the past and I have learned from all my faults; the future is what will happen when I’m excelling in mthepresent with my passion and ambition. Last but not least loving what you do and doing what you love in life is the ideal deal; therefore, never say never to your dream, goals, or something you love because the love in our souls is what makes us alive.

229

NOURHAN AHMAR Chemistry USP 3

The story began when this blond woman entered our humble class. My classmates were so excited as if they were waiting for the moment to get distracted. The woman started telling us about this university called LAU and a scholarship program called the USP. My friends started babbling about their previous knowledge about this scholarship; on the other hand, the sparkles filled my eyes, those eyes that carry the dream of creating a change in the universe, the dream of becoming a scientist. Indeed, this dream was like a miracle for an ambitious girl. The woman left and I started thinking about what my life would become if I got the scholarship; however, the image of this woman never left my mind. She is the one who spreads the sprinkles of hope all over my life, a hope that one day my dream will come true. I was overwhelmed with the idea of going to a traditional university where horror and fear are the slogans for these types of universities or, as everyone was saying, the prison of education and mistreatment. The seemingly tired eyes, the piles of books I will be buried under, and the introverted personality. That is how I imagined my life in a traditional university. But thank you USP since after the hard procedure that I encountered during the selection process, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m finally living the dream. USP did change my life. It showed me the real route toward success, and it taught me that everything can be possible; thus, the dream of changing the world is not an impossible task. For all the people who doubted my ability, for all people who tried to convince me to quit, for all those who dubbed me insane I would like to say I did not surrender and I believed in myself. In addition, I knew that with persistence I would reach. USP changed my life. It taught me the concrete meaning of responsibility, humanity, and benevolence. Finally, I will be thanking the USP my whole life for helping me find myself and making me a better person. 230

OLA SYAGHA Business USP 3

“Congratulations, you have been accepted into LAU University,” were the most pleasant words of very few that made my heart literally jump between my ribs. Those words were just a preamble for a novel and salient life that even I did not know about, but my heart longed for it and it was always a wish that tickled my dreams and was the center of my prayers every night. Little did I know that this opportunity would be a complete makeover for my personality. It would create a new me. At the beginning, after I had moved to the university and dwelled on the campus, my happy feelings took a step backward, for everything was different and new, and suddenly I found myself having to do everything on my own, and my mom isn’t here to do my chores for me, and my sister isn’t there to help me, also my friends weren’t present to assure me that everything was going to be okay. I felt depressed and alone, but I did not know till later that these hard times were going to bring the best out of me; if you want to make lemonade you get to squeeze a lemon or two; for I learned how to depend on myself in working hard to get what I want, without wishing any aid from others, and I also understood how to use my eyes in looking behind the horizon, and in longing behind the limits. Moreover, I found out how to be optimistic and positive, because I am sure that as luck blew my seal once, it will do again; and if it blows violente storms, I am sure I am well prepared and capable of handling the wheel and reaching the safe shore. There are many valuable lessons that every teacher fails to teach and that can only be perceptible and felt by the senses, for the most crucial and beautiful things in life can’t be touched or seen, but can only be felt by the heart, and university life gave me the opportunity to try them. So, I am very grateful to USAID that granted me this precious opportunity that I will sow, hoping that time will be as bloomy and flourishing as my toils. 231

PATRICIA MATAR Business USP 3

I still remember that moment when Ms. Grace called me: “Congratulations Patricia, you have been accepted at LAU.” And I still can’t forget my parents’ tearful laughter at that moment. The dream came true. 2013 was a very challenging year for me. I was so confused about my future. I did not think much about which university I would choose, because I had no choice. The Lebanese University is the least expensive one. But I was constantly thinking about what major to decide on and who I wanted to be. LAU made it all easier for me and made it all possible. The University Scholarship Program USP has offered and is offering me the best opportunity, not only in education, but also in civic and social engagement. It is helping me to be a future leader. I am now a business major student. I am living in the dorms near the campus with my roommate who I have newly met, having a whole new life. I thought it would not be easy to detach from my family and live in a different area. Even though I was concerned about distance, courses, grades, acquaintanceship and friendships, I decided not to let my anxiety affect my life and hold these things over me. It is a good new experience that I should go through. USP has not only changed my life but it has also improved it. Now I am adapting to the new environment, having new friends, enjoying life on campus, attending workshops and lectures to enrich my knowledge, and participating in activities and events to have some fun. In short, I am happy and totally satisfied thanks to USP, to my parents who believed in me, and to God for all His blessings.

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PATRICK AL KHOURY Business USP 3

As a small kid I used to be a very bright student with high grades and I had a goal to continue my education as far as I could. Time went by and my family was not very well. My fatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s death made me drop out of school because there was no income and I had to work every day in a restaurant to help support my family. As the three years I was working in passed, I realized that this was not the goal I had promised myself a long time ago and these were not the ambitions I had visualized in my head. That is why after three years I decided to go to school again and work on the weekends only. And as I did that, I got really high grades but yet again money problems were staring down at me, limiting my every chance to go any further in my education. I filled out the USP application and thought it was a long shot I would never get. With every acceptance call I got from LAU, one thing was getting clearer and it was that my goal to continue education might be attainable once again. I was at work when LAU called to tell me that I had passed the final selection process and that I was officially going to get a higher education. With every passing day I thank USP for helping me achieve the goal I thought I would never see accomplished. Now I walk on the road to success, success in both academia and civic engagement.

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PERLA AL NAJJAR Nutrition USP 3

Studying at LAU has always been a dream of mine, but it always seemed hard to achieve. However, on August 12 that dream became a reality. After a long wait, I got a phone call that changed my life: I was accepted as a USP student. Being a part of this amazing program not only offered me the education I dreamt about, but it also showed me the good aspects of life. I got to help a lot of people and engage in humanitarian projects. As Ralph Waldo Emerson once said : “The purpose of life is not to be happy, it is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lives and lived well,” this is exactly what USP has taught me. I have been part of the USP for four months now, and during this short period a lot has happened. I learned so many skills and made a lot of new friends that are now like family to me… If so many positive things happened in my life with only four months of engagement in the program, I cannot wait to see what will happen next!

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RASHID SLEEM Computer Engineering USP 3

Everything has a start and an end eventually. However, truly pleasant things go as soon as they come though we really wish their existence would be eternal. The University Scholarship Program funded by USAID has given me the opportunity to excel with a great quality of education, abundance of extracurricular activities, and an amazing faculty. It has given me the chance to do and to use my abilities and skills to be and not only to dream. In other words, it gives me the opportunity to help me reach my goals of becoming a successful computer engineer. It is my first fall semester as a USP scholar in the Lebanese American University. Throughout my short experience, I have met many amazing professors who give me their time despite the amount of students they teach. In this short time, I live a life experience that made me stronger, more determined, and more sociable than ever.What I like most about USP is the variety of activities one can get involved in and the diversity of people. These activities make me more sociable and allow me to be a leader who can serve the Lebanese society. I was honored to be accepted into the USP. I hope to be able to continue studying at LAU and get a PhD degree. That for now is my most important goal. The financial aid that this award has given me is of tremendous help. I greatly appreciate the help you have given me so far. Your help means a lot to me. Finally, after one semester as a USP scholar in the Lebanese American University, I would like to personally thank the LAU family for all of the emotional and financial support which they have allotted to me during my time at the university. Also, I want to say that I love my LAU and USP family.

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RAYAN AL TULYANI Mathematics USP 3

Every person has his own interests. Ever since I was in the first grade I have been interested in math and I considered Einstein as my model .When I started my third secondary year, I started to think about university. Being a student from the middle class, paying for college was surely a struggle for me. But one day, an LAU representative came to my school and talked about the USP program, explained it, and gave us the application. I decided to apply for this scholarship since I knew that I could not fund the tuition, along with textbooks and housing. But this scholarship could achieve my dream which was studying math in an important university like LAU instead of being an English major student that I did not want at the Lebanese University. After a long process of submitting documents, making exams, attending interviews and workshops, I got accepted into the program .This scholarship, or what I called it “the gift of God” has changed many things in my life .First USP have gave me the opportunity to major in what I love, and without it I would be studying English. Second, it has changed many things in my personality. For example, I became an optimistic person with a stronger desire for socialization. In addition to that, USP has made me more responsible and helpful through our leadership activities. Moreover, the USP program has given me the chance to see many places such as MEA and Beirut Marathon that I would not be able to visit if I had not been accepted. Finally by accepting me, USP has given me a future. To illustrate, USP gave me the chance to study and take a diploma from a university like LAU. Furthermore, participating in social activities and having internships will make my future career and employment much easier. Finally I want to thank the American people for this gift, and I advise every student that loves to complete his/her education to never give up because miracles exist if we believe in them, and as I say “Every problem has a solution”. 236

RAYAN GAZALAH Computer Science USP 3

In life, we all have something that has changed the way we perceive things. Most things that change a person’s perception happen to be an experience that they have gone through and learned from. The moment I was accepted as a “University Scholarship Program” (USP) student I started thinking about my future in a serious way. In addition, this experience taught me more about social and academic responsibilities, and how to cope with new situations. To begin with, my experience with USP made me a more responsible person. First of all, as a USP student there are several academic requirements. For example, I should maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. Moreover, I have social commitments to fulfill. For instance, each and every one of the USP students is required to do a project, in different areas, as a community service and civic engagement activity. Therefore, the responsibilities that USP students need to carry out is enormous. Furthermore, such a colossal acquaintance made me a carry on individual. First, I learned how to respect other’s assessments. To illustrate, in the USP family there are many people who are intellectually different, and USP taught me to estimate others’ beliefs and opinions. Also, I became more flexible while dealing with problems. To demonstrate, when I face an academic dilemma, or any kind of conflicts, I can easily solve it. Furthermore, if I were exposed to a new situation, I would smoothly cope with it. Thus, this stunning experience made me resilient. To conclude, everyone will face something that is going to change his life. For me USP changed my life for good as I became more responsible and a carry on individual. Also, USP is the most stunning experience I have ever had.

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REEM HASHEM Civil Engineering USP 3

Like any high school senior, I was really lost and depressed about my future. At which university will I be accepted? What will be my major? And a lot of other questions were crossing my mind. Then, the USP people visited our school. I, like everyone else, was overwhelmed with the amazing generous program, wishing that I may be accepted into such a program. I wasn’t that lucky in my life so I wasn’t really sure that I would be accepted, but still I had hope since my grades were very high. Everybody took an application and was very excited about it. Actually, I had some troubles in getting an application since they ran out quickly, so I photocopied it with a friend of mine – she was accepted too and she is a USP III scholar now. Then during the month when we stayed at home because of some political reasons, I filled the application with great desire and collected the necessary needed papers. I feel great when I remember that period of my life since I feel that I was on the right track. Of course, I did the exams and started applying for other universities and programs. Here came the shock. I failed the Lebanese University’s entrance exam which was the biggest shock ever since I was one of the smartest students at my school. Then all the doors closed in front of me since I could not afford the tuition for private universities. I spent the whole summer lost and worried until I had that great call asking me to come and do the interview at LAU. I decided that I wanted that scholarship more than anything in the world. I did the interview in a confident way, and after two long weeks I finally got the acceptance call. That call actually changed my whole life. It was the best thing that had ever happened to me. I gained my confidence again and showed my friends and relatives that I am a successful lucky woman with the best scholarship in the world. USP did not actually change my life. USP saved my life, my future, and my self-confidence. Now I feel great since I am financially independent from my parents at this young age. USP is a great experience that I am going to tell my children about.

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RONY BOU ROUPHAIL Mathematics USP 3

After a long trip of learning at school, making the first steps to the future, and searching for the success, I heard about USP. I was very surprised, it was beyond my expectations. In one word, it was a dream. From that moment on, it became my biggest challenge. I started to work hard, study, and collect all the documents that were required. Then, after a long adventure of testing and competing, I won the challenge. The dream was coming true, and USP was changing my life. It had opened the door for me to embark on the world of LAU and be a member of this great family. USP has also given me the chance to get the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s attention, and to make it proud of me. My family, friends, and all the people around me were happy, giving me their support and love; thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s how USP helped me improve my self-confidence. It was a way to meet new people and build new relationships. In addition, this program has given me dependence, and has charged me with responsibility. Also, USP gave me the opportunity to take advantages of what it offers. USP is the best gift I have ever received, and I really appreciate it, I am truly grateful for your generosity. I can say that USP is a new story to add to the book of success, and it might be the best one because it is where the other stories begin.

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ROUBA KAAFARANI Civil Engineering USP 3

Many things in this life go in unexpected directions and change everything for the better sometimes and sometimes for the worst. My experience is in the Lebanese American University, especially in the University Scholarship Program which is known as the USP. When I first submitted my papers I had no hope of getting accepted. This feeling grew in me when I went to the exams, especially after I saw the huge number of people from every region of Lebanon there. After I finished my official exams, I totally forgot about the scholarship till they called me and told me that I was accepted as a part of the LAU family. Many emotions were inside me, happiness and satisfaction were the two first. Thanks to USP, I found new and nice friends that I became very close to. I learned that a brilliant student should have academic intelligence and leadership skills. Also thanks to this program, I can help my society and even my country to develop. It gave us the opportunity to study in one of the most famous universities in Lebanon. Moreover, each one of us, the scholars, became more sociable and helpful to other people. I can finally say that this experience cannot be written with words; it should be written with feeling and a big â&#x20AC;&#x153;thank you Americaâ&#x20AC;? for such an opportunity.

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SADEK ABED ALI Civil Engineering USP 3

I had never imagined myself as an LAU student. It was just a dream that I did notâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; believe would be a reality some day. The hope to fulfill this dream began when an LAU delegate visited our school to introduce the USP program. From that day on, I was determined to get this scholarship. Thus, I worked myself to the bone, and I did whatever was possible to improve myself. The scholarship was my only hope. Besides this hope, a feeling of fear accompanied me. But finally, I got the scholarship, and the dream of being an engineer became very near. The reality was greater than the expectation. The life at LAU is a very interesting experience. USP gives me the opportunity not only to improve myself academically, but also to improve my personality. Due to the activities at LAU, my leadership skills have improved a lot, and I have become more self-confident than ever. Moreover, USP gave me the chance to live in a dorm. Thus, it taught me how to be responsible person. Also, I have become more sociable than before; I have built a lot of friendships and other relationships. It is easier to make friends when everyone lives within close proximity of each other. We live all together as a one big family. At last, I want to thank LAU, USAID, and the American people for giving me such a chance which can create my expected future.

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SAFA HAMZEH Communication Arts USP 3

About half a year ago I applied to USP scholarship program. After I got accepted in the first selections, I waited for the finale. The week after these selections was dreadful. As I waited, it felt like the process was taking forever. Then I got this phone call. I was accepted! It was one of my best days of life. I knew I was a lucky student as I was chosen among hundreds of Lebanese applicants. My confidence grew the day I stepped into this outstanding university. With LAUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s excellent education and activities, I am sure that I will get the chance to have a brilliant resume and thus a great future. I am thankful for USAID and LAU for giving me this amazing opportunity to embark, explore, and discover.

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SAFAA AL HAJJ Computer Engineering USP 3

USP III, the first time I saw this word was after getting the application. I did not know what it meant and I did not imagine that it would change my life and my ambitions. I started filling the application with the appropriate information and when I arrived to the page of majors, I was confused. Since my childhood, my dream was to be a doctor and I entered the Life Science track because I planned on going to the Lebanese University to study medicine. But, when I looked at the majors, unfortunately medicine was not included: it is not covered by the scholarship. So, I chose two majors: nutrition and computer engineering. Then, in the interview they told to me that they would accept the first major which was nutrition. But, I told them that I preferred computer engineering and they accepted my demand. This scholarship changed my plans from medicine to another totally different field which is computer engineering. However, now, I am so happy because I chose this major and I think that the scholarship opened to me a big window to a prosperous future. Also, I am a lucky person because I was accepted into this wonderful big family, the family of LAU.

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SALLY SHAABAN Education USP 3

The story began at that biology class. All of a sudden the teacher stopped the lesson telling us that LAU would like to give us a visit. When I first got introduced to the LAU-USAID program, I could not believe what the American government along with LAU was offering...I felt something special about that program and based on that I started preparing the necessary documents before the application deadline. And I used to receive calls from LAU every now and then informing me about the exams and the interview which I passed through. On normal summer day, my phone rang unexpectedly. Oh! That’s the number that makes my heart beat faster and faster each and every time! When I heard that I was accepted as a USP student, I did not know what to say...That phone call really left me speechless! I’m one of the students that LAU was seeking. After that, days were running fast: signing papers, attending orientations and workshops. I then packed my things and moved to the dorms. Actually I could not imagine myself leaving my family...But here I am and in less than three months I made a wonderful family along with amazing friends. Now I’m enjoying an amazing life on campus joining different clubs and participating in activities such as the Beirut Marathon which was really a beautiful experience! I could confidently say that this new life made me a different woman as I increased my self-confidence and now I’m capturing every single opportunity to benefit from this chance! All in all, I can proudly say that USAID, along with LAU, made my life such an amazing one to live where I can in terms of both academics and leadership skills. Thank you LAU and thank you USAID for such an opportunity that each one of us should benefit from!

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SAMIRA ABOU ALFA Political Science/ International Affairs USP 3

On December, 6, 1995 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 18 years ago â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a girl called Samira Abou Alfa was born somewhere in Lebanon and had a special story. She was the first born in her family. In fact, this girl was growing up with some difficulties where she had many problems in her life; for instance, she was somehow shy and silent. She did not have friends and was always lonely and isolated. Moreover, they all blamed her silence and lack of selfconfidence, and they did not even try to understand her; thus, no one expected her to be a special person in the future. Although she was silent, she heard each comment the others said about her, so she aimed to make a difference. Day by day, she had been growing up with her dream till she started to achieve it by the age of eight where she became the first in her class, and she started to show many talents which had been hidden for many years. Despite all achievements that she did, no one respected her but considered her success as luck. The most important change in her life was when she applied to a challenging scholarship, the USP scholarship. As usual, nobody expected that she will get it, but she insisted on proving them wrong.

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Therefore, she studied well for the official exams in order to get a score above 12.5, she collected all the required papers and did her best to not skip any details, she did well in the entrance exams, and she performed well in the interview. It was a Monday when a good person told her that she got accepted to this scholarship. Then she achieved the victory which changed her life completely. Now, she is a USP III student which means that she is a sociable, intelligent, and efficient person is respected and appreciated by all. The USP program changed her life for the best and made her a successful person who will be well educated and well trained to integrate successfully in this hard society.

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SANDY AL BITAR Nursing USP 3

â&#x20AC;&#x153;You have been accepted to the Lebanese American University for the BS in nursingâ&#x20AC;? That was the best statement that changed my entire life. After I received a call from LAU, I could not believe myself. At that moment, I realized that the time had finally come to start building my future and choose my path toward success and unlimited dreams. At that time, I was puzzled, got flashbacks of my life before, and drew an image of what it will become. First of all, I was hopeless and I was trying to adjust to the reality of being unable to attend university because of our financial need, saying deep inside that this university will never be that place that I can call my second home. After applying to the USP scholarship, a spindle of hope entered my life even though the chance of being accepted was little and out of reach. I never lost hope and always stayed optimistic. My insistence, strong determination, and belief in myself and in my abilities allowed me to be one of USP students after all. Moreover, I started seeing life from a different perspective and felt that I became independent and responsible for protecting this huge chance. This program increased my self-confidence, changed my personality, made me more sociable, gave me the chance to discover new cultures and meet new friends who became in a very short time my second family. In addition to that, the door toward success has opened in front me all because of this marvelous opportunity that I gained.

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SARA ABORIDA Computer Science USP 3

Few months ago I was dreaming about succeeding in my dream major, and becoming a successful programmer, and showing off my abilities. I was dreaming of opportunities to help and improve my community and spread joy all around. Now, I cannot be more thankful to be able to achieve a high quality education at a very good university. Because of this scholarship I had the opportunity to achieve my ambitions and make my dreams come true, to learn the major that I love, and to do social activities to serve my community. Since the new academic year started, I have collected plenty of skills that I always wanted to learn in my major, I have gotten involved with so many social concerns and issues, and I have volunteered in beautiful community serving activities. Planting cedars for Lebanon was one of the most remarkable and beautiful experiences I ever had and one of the most beautiful services Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d ever wish to do for my country, in addition to the other opportunities Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m grateful for participating in! With faith, life can take you wherever you dream to go, and this scholarship gave me wings to achieve few of my endless dreams. It was a turning point and a start for me to walk on the path of my dreams in life. I could not be more thankful about being able to learn experiences in education and in life, about the ability to serve and make others happy hoping one day I might graduate and succeed and be halfway on the life learning journey.

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SARAH KHAMEES Business USP 3

My mother used to whisper in my ear, â&#x20AC;&#x153;God helps those who help themselves.â&#x20AC;? I was a little kid when she told me that opportunities were made for everyone, but we just have to find our way to them. It was when I looked around me and found that there was no one to depend on and that I only had my mother, who had believes in me and believes that I could change my world and hers to a better one. Her beliefs where all she could offer to me, so I always thought to myself that I needed I miracle. Thank you USAID for turning this miracle into reality. I always dreamed of being here, thirsting for whatever knowledge I could squeeze out of this great school, but what I found here has been more than fulfilling. Knowledge radiates from every corner of the buildings. This scholarship has literally changed my life. I am so thankful here where I have found everything I was seeking. I have nothing but an enormous feeling of gratitude towards those who made this scholarship possible through their donations. I am having a great academic and social life, friends from everywhere, and the opportunity to serve my society. I could not be in a better place without scholarship patrons like you. There would be many students such as myself unable to pursue the career they have dreamed of. Thank you for awakening my ambitions and reviving my dreams, thank you for changing my life and the lives of many.

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SHAZA AL SHALL Business USP 3

I still remember the morning I found out that I was accepted into the USP program. It was the best thing that has ever happened to me. At first, I could not believe what happened; it was a really amazing morning. It is not every day that a girl who grew up in Baalbek from the middle class gets the opportunity to attend LAU and receive a scholarship. It has been always my dream to get the best education in order to have the chance to serve my community and help people in my area who are in need. Even though it has not been a long time since I got this scholarship, it helped me to improve many things in my life especially my personality. This USP program made me independent because I became responsible for myself, living alone without my parents and having an income. This taught me how to handle things without othersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; help and to be independent. Moreover, it strengthened my personality and made more flexible through the workshops and activities. I learned how to communicate and present myself with confidence in front of others. In addition, the diversity in the USP program made me accept people from different sects, religions, and regions. This scholarship helped me a lot by changing my personality towards the best. I really appreciate and respect the people that are responsible for the USP program; I just want to say how thankful I am for them and for this amazing program that gave me and many other people the chance to be a part of the LAU family.

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TAREK ABDALLAH Computer Science USP 3

After obtaining the scholarship opportunity, I started realizing that a billion details were changing in my life. First, I became more involved in societal development by being a part of the OCE, NGOs, and university clubs and events which were targeted at serving the community. Moreover, while serving my community, it has in return improved my understanding of people, enriched my knowledge about many things, and made me feel satisfied about who Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m becoming. Second, the USP experience supported our creativity and encouraged us to give our best, especially after meeting Mr. Al Hout who started from nothing and achieved a lot. Also, my dreams are no longer limited to live, now I dream to not only be effective in my environment but also be a good worker with a proper job. The USP team is always working on leading us to the right way and showing us the huge number of available opportunities which motivate our ambitions. Third, after becoming a part of the LAU family, I started meeting people from different backgrounds and living with them as humans despite the minor differences between us. Finally, being LAU alumnus with the different skills I am learning will give me priority in labor force. USP did not give me only a good education, it is getting me a successful and happy future.

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WAEL KOSSEIFI Electrical Engineering USP 3

The USP scholarship is a scholarship that everyone dreams of. It isn’t just a scholarship that gives you education; it is the one that gives you a high level of education and makes you a better, socialized person. I was a person that did not want to share with others, but after I had been living as a family with the USP scholars and after doing activities and community services, I found out that life isn’t about having success and making money; it is about living this life and then dying with a self-satisfaction that in this world there is someone I have helped and who will remember me. There is a quotation that says: “Tell what have you done, I tell you who you are.” No one will remember me for my money or for my car… Life is giving us everything, we should give back.USP taught me many precious qualities like perseverance and never giving up. Once I put a goal, I should keep following my goal until it is accomplished. It is a good feeling to know that there is someone looking after you, telling you what to do to prevent making mistakes. Mr. Frederick Mourad, Miss Rita May, Miss Rana Salloum, and Mr. Hassan Baalbaki are like guardian angels. Thank you for watching my back and helping me not to lose this scholarship. These people are my family. USP gave me this opportunity for higher education and social activities, and lately I realized what Mr. Samia said about the two wings: education and extracurricular or social activities. From the beginning he was right. Everyone needs to know that without these two wings, no personality is complete.

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ZAHIRA AWAD Business USP 3

I want to thank the American people who through their empathy made the USP program to help the Lebanese people who need it in many domains. One of these domains is education. It offers scholarships for Lebanese students who are in public school sand have financial problems which prevent them from going to university. I was one of the ninety four students who applied to Lebanese American University (LAU) scholarship program and were chosen from five hundred students from all over Lebanon to take this scholarship which support two domains, academia and civic engagement which are helping our society. This scholarship not only gave me the opportunity to study in one of the best universities in Lebanon but also changed my personality, my way of thinking, and my behavior as well. After I took this scholarship, I became more confident. I trust in my abilities and believe that nothing is impossible if there is the will and insistence. Moreover I started to feel that Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m responsible for my community to make it better, and as I was helped by the American people I should help others who need me as much as I can by working as a volunteer. Really, I thank the American people and everyone who worked on the USP program for giving me this opportunity.

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ZEINA MHANNA Nursing USP 3

Since I was young, I started drawing my future and dreams using the pencil of imagination. However, year after year a lot of them were erased because of challenges and experiences. Suddenly, opportunity opened its gate to achieve the most important and amazing dream which is the USP scholarship. If you are asking me about it, I will tell you that USP program differs from all other programs. It is the light which beams out a thousand stars and one soul which animates all men. USP really changed my life and personality since the day I did the required exams in at LAU. At that day I was saying to myself, â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is next to impossible to be chosen from about 800 students.â&#x20AC;? Then, I reached the second stage and did the interview, but my panic did not stop until I got the USP scholarship. The challenge gave me more self-confidence, hope, and power to achieve my goals and to never give up in hard times. The events continued to be more interesting after I began the semester. Actually, I had never before seen a program that, besides academic improvements, always searches for beneficial workshops, activities, joyful events, etc. and watches students to give them support to reach their highest levels like the USP does. It is an honor to be one of the USP students for its generosity has continued my inspiration to struggle more and overcome obstacles. It also gives me the chance to be a part of my second family, LAU. Finally, I can have no other answer, but thanks, and thanks.

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Class of 2014

DOHA ADI Communication Arts

NOUR AL ANDARY Nursing 258

Class of 2014

FIDAA AL FAKIH Business

FATIMA AWALA Nursing 259

Class of 2014

ZAYNAB AYYAD Communication Arts

HIBA BAZZAL Business 260

Class of 2014

MAJDOLEEN AL CHMOURY Communication Arts

ABDELRAZZAK EL BABA Nursing 261

Class of 2014

WISSAL EL CHAABAN Business

MARY FADEL Business 262

Class of 2014

SUZAN FARAJ Nutrition

KINDA HANNA Communication Arts 263

Class of 2014

SALWA KOBEISSI Computer Science

ESTEL SAADEH Business 264

Class of 2014

HANEEN CHABCHOUL Communication Arts

ISRAA YASSIN Computer Science 265

Class of 2014

SALAM ZAYDAN Nutrition

SANDRA AZZI Major 266

267

270