For a friend

After selection by my high school, I got the opportunity to visit Japan for a Chemistry Olympiad. This was the very first time that I had set foot outside my home country, a fact that explains the immense excitement that had beset me. Japan is a country very different from Pakistan in almost every realm. I knew at once that the short visit to this culturally rich and diverse country will forever enrich me in my intellectual development. It is a testament to the unique quality of the human spirit that despite the multifarious differences that are discernible between countries, humanity is bonded even in this fine line of distinction. It really is astonishing how social norms and values differ in each part of the world and that something inconceivable in one country would be perfectly normal in another. Herein, lies the beauty of human civilization and it was only my trip to Japan that had expanded my horizons and instilled in me the sense of varied cultures of the modern world. Understanding the range of cultures of our times is pivotal to my understanding of how the world operates. Perhaps, the most striking realization was the recognition of the difference between cultures amid the appreciation of the qualities that make us all akin. I felt that I had changed after the trip, as the way I made sense of the world was forever altered.
Qatar is a country that is a showcase of Middle Eastern culture and values. As an ambassador for TAMUQ, I would like to elucidate the social customs that are present in the Middle East. Qatar is increasingly defining itself as a melting point and the very fact that Education City is home to students from more than fifty countries stands as a testament to this. The country, in line with the 2030 vision, seeks to become a knowledge hub with Texas A and M being a focal point for the study of engineering and liberal arts. The negative picture of Islamic countries painted by the media cannot be generalized at all times, and I would like to remove some of the stigmas that are normally attached to this region. These conventional notions about the Middle East as being rigid and unreceptive to change no longer hold credence as epitomized by Qatar’s inspiring growth in the last decade. The country is increasingly becoming liberal and tolerant to the torrent of changes that have emerged in the last few years. It is noteworthy that Qatar is the world’s biggest exporter of liquefied natural gas which in turn means that engineers are in high demand as Texas A and M supplies the workforce in the one of the world’s most important energy producing region. Education City is perhaps the most globalised campus on Earth which is a reflection of its cultural diversity. It is the fusion of education in an interracial setting that has helped me to interact with students from different races who I otherwise would never have met. I would like to enlighten my peers at College Station that the Aggie spirit runs high in Education city and it is this very spirit that so tightly bonds the two campuses despite the thousands of miles that separate the two.
In our globalised era, international student exchanges serve as an important bridge between cultures and nations as we come to appreciate the multifarious aspects that make us all similar, as world citizens. Such an opportunity would help me to understand the workings of American culture and society, a topic for which I have developed a profound and deep craving ever since I came cognizant of the world around me. The experience of meeting new people is beyond doubt an opportunity that I have never let go of. This would greatly aid me in improving my interpersonal skills, a skill that is increasingly defining itself as pivotal in any field of study. Upon my return to TAMUQ, I aim to share all the amazing experiences with my peers in Doha, aiding them in our collective realization of how the Aggies in College Station are not so different from those in Education City. I also plan to shed light on the cultural values and norms of the United States and how Texas A and M is educating the world’s next generation of leading engineers, not only in College Station but also in the Doha campus. It is this geographical and cultural diversity that set Texas A and M apart and give it the edge required in this interconnected world. I would fine immense pleasure in sharing whatever I learn in College Station with my peers in Doha and my intellectual development would transmute me into a better student leader at TAMUQ.