Ali Shehata

Professor Bryant Scott

ENGL - 104 - 503

23 January 2024

The Beacon of Light in a Gloomy World

There I was alone, with my suitcase on the floor, staring blankly at the exit to a bright

new chance. A fresh experience. A new country. Education is more than simply an academic

endeavor; it is a lifelong, dynamic process that all people go through, regardless of race, religion,

nationality, or economic status. Every human being's educational journey begins at birth when

we learn to crawl, then walk, chew, and swallow, and we continue to learn even as we approach

death. The beloved Muslim prophet Muhammed, may peace and blessings be upon him, states

that, “seeking knowledge is a duty upon every Muslim,”and that, “there is no envy except in two:

a person whom God has given wealth and he spends it in the right way, and a person whom

Allah has given wisdom and he gives his decisions according and teaches it to the others”. Here,

the prophet (PBUH) connects wealth with knowledge, emphasizing the significance of acquiring

and utilizing information. This narrative essay will throw light on my lifelong quest for

knowledge and how it has shaped and altered me.

My early academic experiences were difficult. Between the ages of two and five, I moved

from school to school and nation to country. Following my father as he left for new employment

prospects. At the age of five, it appeared that my father was settling in Abu Dhabi, UAE, where I

could attend the same school and avoid the stress of moving schools and meeting new people.

My earliest recollection of school was sitting alone in the corner, fighting to make new friends
since I had just been admitted, and relocating from Oman to a new nation didn't help my case.

Eventually, it got easier, and as the years went by I started getting accustomed to the culture and

trends within the school. And after spending seven years, my parents delivered the devastating

news that we would be moving once more to Qatar. This information pierced my heart, as I was

much older and understood the consequences of such actions. Nevertheless, I continued my

education in Qatar while reminiscing about the past few years. After a few months, I noticed that

settling in the new school was much easier, as the school here felt more like a community, and

the system implemented aided in making long-lasting friendships.

My fondest memory in this new chapter of my educational life was that my school would

provide us with an opportunity to explore Qatar’s scenic views and wonderful winter all at once

by taking many students on a hike of around 40 kilometers over two days, while also allowing us

to camp in between both days in the middle of the desert in Zekreet near Film City, where a

Qatari tv show was filmed in the area. The students enjoyed the true bedouin experience that was

put in place by the school to teach us many skills and lessons that are required from us to this

day. We were required to complete up to forty community hours, where we were asked to aid in

improving our community in a plethora of ways. After that, we were grouped in random order, to

teach us teamwork and improve our communication skills, and we were provided with key

equipment that are vital for long hikes such as water, a compass, etc. We were told that we had to

carry our own water and equipment for the entirety of the walk, which was exhausting, but it

taught us perseverance and willingness to fight through hardship to succeed. My greatest

memories and friendships have come from an event that the school did not have the obligation to

have, however, it showed us that we do not need to be in a classroom to learn.

 One thing that kept me motivated throughout my trying journey of education was my

parents. They were always there for me when I found complexity in the subjects I was taking and

would always take time out of their schedule to make sure that I understood the concepts in

subjects like math, chemistry, and physics. Even when they did not understand the concepts for

themselves, they would read up on the topic with me or hire a tutor. I remember struggling in

such subjects and would always be below the average in all my tests and quizzes but once I got

the help I needed, it dawned on me the amount of progress that I have been making and that I

have started to consistently finish one of the highest in my class. The high level of care that my

parents provided for me lit a fire in me to always excel in every subject I take. That was the main

reason when I received my steller IGCSE and AS level results (equivalent to final high school

grades) they were the first people I celebrated with.

After my twelfth grade, there was a new challenge. University. I was perplexed by the

countless university options. I was stressed as I also did not know what field I wanted to enter

and that any wrong choice would take years to reverse. I took advice from my parents as we

reached a consensus to apply for mechanical engineering since I was always fascinated by math,

physics, and the practical application of both of them. I decided that the best option was to

follow my brother and continue my education in Montreal, Canada. It was the hardest decision I

have ever made in my life, however, my friends and family assured me that it would be a great

experience which eased off a bit of the pressure. Initially, I imagined Canada as a country filled

with hope and prosperity and therefore my excitement could not be tamed. I would get more

anxious as the days passed, as I could feel the stress start to eat me from the inside out. Is this

going to be a successful venture?

 Studying abroad was the most difficult aspect of my life, as I did not have anyone to take

care of me as before, and I was always under a mountain of assignments, quizzes, midterms,

projects, and finals. I found myself in a vicious cycle of waking up before sunrise to have the

chance to consume a small breakfast and then hurry to my first class. Then, as soon as I was

done with university I would speed home sto squeeze in 5 to 6 hours to solve assignments and

projects, have dinner with my brother, and sleep to do it all over again. Studying was all I could

think about and do. I was unable to take advantage of the beautiful Montreal weather and go

sightseeing or immerse myself in the diverse culture that Montreal has to offer to relieve some of

the stress. I did not even get to enjoy playing football, which is my favorite hobby to do in my

past time, on top of Mount Royal, which overlooked the city skyline that had skyscrapers

reflecting the mighty sunset off its glass windows. This in turn intensified the stress that was on

me until I reached a breaking point. I was diagnosed with a chronic health issue that required me

to take a moment off my learning and focus on my health, which forced me to sideline my

education and made me focus on my health, both mentally and physically. All this has led me to

my education path now, with a much better mindset and look on life.

Education is a tempestuous, never-ending, but worthwhile endeavor that is not only

prevalent in classrooms but wherever a person goes. The resilience that I build and the

willingness to overcome obstacles from previous learning experiences, it has helped turn each

difficulty in my way into a stepping stone, propelling me further and improving my quality of

life. Moreover, I believe that the right to education is one of the most fundamental and essential

rights and that everyone, regardless of background, should have the privilege to learn and grow

as an individual.