By
Nuha Dadesh
What is life but a cruel, ironic, magical, and an enchanting journey?
It seems like it was just yesterday that I was that high school
sophomore portraying a presentation about the rise and fall of the notorious
dictatorship that governed Libyans over the course of 42 years and its aftermath
in Current Events class. Nevertheless, that wasn’t yesterday; it was almost
four years ago in what was a politically-stable America. Flash-forward and I
found myself amidst the Libyan struggle I was trying so eagerly to make my
fellow classmates comprehend.
The disappointing consequential turmoil of the “Arab Spring” has only
deteriorated. Whatever conspiracy one adheres to believing in, there’s no
denying that the revolutions that took place a few years ago all over the
Middle East were meant not for its prosper, but its ultimate dismantlement. Moreover,
the education sectors are among the crippling fundamentals of what was once
hoped to be a civilized, safe state. On the contrary, as the dichotomies of
good and evil strive for dominion, the good in the world always ends up with
the upper hand.
My third semester in the beloved faculty of Pharmacy began with a rough
start. Firstly, I was among the many unfortunate students who didn’t get their
names registered for taking and passing the Organic Chemistry Lab the pervious
semester. Moreover, I got the impression that the majority were cursed with
this nightmare called “Conflicted Classes!” Furthermore, the prohibition from
rightfully taking some classes due the new limitation that was launched as to
how many students can take each course caused frustrations to all, except the lucky
ones who registered early. Also, a declaration of a new rule every now and then
became the norm. The most shocking one was the ban on the “Sheets” that the
students were accustomed to studying from. But just like Trump’s many executive
orders, that was repealed swiftly. Irrefutably, the students and the professors
of the faculty were like the tributes of the Hunger Games under the new dean’s
administration. Fortunately though, the odds were ever in our favor for the
most part!
The clashes among the thugs and gangsters had an unambiguous consequence
on the rest of the nation. Abductions were a topic that wasn’t uncommonly
spoken of in the hallways of the faculty. Alas, they were spoken of because
some were the kidnappings of students and staff members. Furthermore, the
intolerable, prolonged power cuts during those bitter cold days left us in
despair, and they resulted in the postponement of the finals after a massive
demand.
On one blessed night, I read this post about Allah that altered my
perception on everything: “I am as my slave thinks of me.” For approximately a
month, I was always perplexed in the lectures because of the hovering gloomy clouds
that would shower a torrent rain of negative thoughts: “I missed another quiz!” “I was marked absent
once again!” In addition, my conscientious companions were taking more classes
than me, which made me feel behind. Although it was an instinct of mine, I knew
better than to complain to my fellow human beings. And so, I cried and prayed to
Allah; I relied on him for miracles that would leave me ever so grateful.
Everything happens for a reason, you just have to have faith that it’s
for a very good reason. A positive mindset that I worked hard on maintaining
eased the rest of the semester. Subsequently, I began indulging in the
appreciation of the miracles this world has to offer. For instance, the fascinating
Dr. Iman Al-Mahjoubi intrigued me by her explicit teaching and lecturing.
On the last day of the finals, Dr.Feras Al-Qaed, promised us that he
would put out his well-known list of the top five students for Physiology on his
Facebook page. Being the geeks that we are, we stayed up all night waiting for
the results to come out. And as he pronounced each name from bottom to top, I
found myself freaking out when I saw my the names of my friends’ and I pop up
on my phone screen. Indeed, with hardships comes ease. To congratulate and
encourage us, Dr.Feras generously invited us to his office where handed us
wrapped gifts with numbers indicating our spot on the list!!!!
Conclusively, this semester has been a roller coaster ride that I would
love to go back in line for anytime! I befriended a group of geniuses who
touched my life in a way I never thought possible. Whether it was the awesome “British
Girls,” the sweet Aisha that lent me her favorite book, the enthusiastic Farah
and Maram, or the wonderful Sabaa, I was enchanted to have them become part of
my story. Finally, the faculty is full of resilient, open-minded people who
continue to impress and inspire me.
