Razan Alaqeel's

I tried to wait until Friday to share my experience in the International Education Week after giving seven talks in two days.  Seven talks, and a lot of inspiration to me as a person who was sent to a foreign country to fix wrong images about my country, and, make a change.  As the first Saudi exchange student in the history of North Carolina, I must say that those three past months weren't easy, but this is a great challenge, and I was determined to make a great change, and be a good representative of my country. At the end of Monday some students said that they were very interested in visiting Saudi Arabia, they were very serious about that, and when I asked why they said it's because they liked my presentation.  I was succeeding, I was reaching my goal through talking.  I didn't even realize how powerful communication could be if was between knowledgeable people who basically seek for mutual understanding at the end of the talk.  Well chosen words and topics helped me

November 9th, 1997. I was born with a broken arm, came to life with an injury, struggled to breathe and stay alive, and survived. Year after year, I got older between two great parents, and four siblings. We created memories on each birthday, had different cake flavors every year, but we all shared the same happiness as it grew through out the years.  My dad sent me a text this morning and said "This birthday is exceptional dear.". My mom called me and we talked for a long time as I told her how I'm spending this day, without them.  التاسع من نوڤمبر، عام ١٩٩٧. ولدت بذراع مكسورة، جئت للحياة بإصابة، كافحت، و عشت. سنة بعد سنة، كبرت بين والدين رائعين، و أربعة إخوة و أخوات.  صنعنا ذكريات مختلفة في كل يوم ميلاد، أكلنا نكهات مختلفة من الكعك كل سنة، و لكن تشاركنا السعادة نفسها بينما كبرت و إزدادت مع مرور الأعوام.  رسل لي والدي رسالة هذا الصباح و كتب "هذا يوم ميلاد إستثنائي يا رزان".  و تحادثت مع أمي لفترة طويلة بينما قلت لها كيف سأقضي هذا اليوم، من دونهم.