Ending

I hate endings, but as Ralph Waldo Emerson once said: “Our life is an apprenticeship to the truth that around every circle another can be drawn; that there is no end in nature, but every end is a beginning, and under every deep a lower deep opens.” This academic year was unique in every aspect. I practically didn’t have any holiday since the previous academic year. I spent my whole summer doing an internship to fulfill one of my degree requirements. Despite this fact, I came back ready. I’m not sure what was the exact reason for that. I think, though, that it was because I knew I was spending my last year here.

I met so many great people, such as Ms. Dima Khatib, who inspired me and gave my life another meaning. Some of these people were around me for the past few years, but I didn’t get to know them. It is sad to meet them just before leaving the country.

Yesterday, I was talking with my best friend about memories and remembering people who made an impact in our lives. We were talking on how you wish to meet them, but borders before anything else separate you from them.

In this spirit, Ms. Dima, you have no idea how greatly you’ll be missed. I’m counting on you to come and visit me in Bahrain so I can show you around. Maybe you can convince my mom that she shouldn’t push me to get married as well. I could use any help :p

Classmates, I knew most of you, but not others. It was a pleasant spending this semester with you in this great course that we choose to take. It was also a nice change to have Dana fighting for the class rights, not me. I can retire in peace now :p

Readers of this blog, I can’t believe you made us reach over a 2,000 view! We have been writing and writing. Your support meant a lot!

Lastly, I can’t conclude this post without thanking Mrs. Sophie Boutros  and Dr. Carol Melhem Moufarrej for making this possible. You have been there for us so many times and listened to our demands and worked hard to make them true. You have no idea how much we appreciate that! I’ll miss both of you a lot 

P.S. “It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.” ― Ernest Hemingway

On the right steps of being a triumphant journalist

Frankly speaking, I still can’t believe that we are done with this course and with the entire semester, I’m wondering how time is passing so fast to a moment that it becomes not even sensible. Are we growing old?! Sorry to say but I think yes we DO!!

Well, for me I do not regret any moment that I’ve spent during my entire four years in AUD, being accepted in the school of journalism was  such a bless, as I’ve always been passionate about media in all its platforms since my youth, and I’ve been inspired by the way it changes, shapes and influences the entire world!

Yes Thanks God.. Thanks God for being an MBRSC graduate, and Thanks God for getting the chance to take this Editorial and critical writing course with the renowned Dima Al-khatib.

This course was in fact a challenge to me, unlike my Capstone project which was a short documentary film. Yes, I was worried about my gradation project, yet at the end I was sure about the way I will depict it to the public; visual/audio pieces are always easier to grab the attention of the audience, and faster to fascinate them. However, not everyone is indeed interesting in reading articles that are made of hundreds and thousands of words. People would rather read 140 words on twitter rather than reading the whole article on its official website.

Globalization has changed the world dramatically, we become so materialistic and totally dependent on technology and new media platforms; it’s rare to observe real media production, but it’s obvious to witness a real content consumption!

This course taught me to be tolerant, organized, well-prepared, knowledge seeker and literally a real journalist. Regardless of my modest experience in print journalism, Dima has taught me a lot about categorizing articles, analyzing them, besides knowing the effective input that each should deliver. This course taught that being a journalist means, to always be updated about internal and external incidents, and to be part of them in a way that would make a difference in any concerned society.

Eventually, Journalism equals to knowledge, anyone can become a journalist because it’s the profession of influence and Change and if I achieved one of those or both of them, I’d consider myself a triumphant journalist by then.

Farah AH

What I learned?

Okay, remember my first post about truth; where people are brutally honest?

This is the post where I planned to be completely honest and drop a bomb that will leave everybody’s jaw on the floor.

Well, change of plans.

Ok not really.

I learned this semester to believe in my abilities more. To be completely honest, I always knew I was good, but not good enough. You might call me a stuck up but it’s important to know that you’re good, as long as it doesn’t make you believe you are better than others.

I loved this class, I really did. Even though no one understood my crazy ideas or writings, I still liked it. I was free yet misunderstood; people thought I’m only trying to write something outrageous just for the sake of it which is not true.
I really wanted to write the piece about being high in Lebanon but I couldn’t. Ms. Dima thought it would just be about weed but that wasn’t the case. I guess what I’m trying to say is that I wanted to be believed in a little bit more, and not be taken as someone whose trying to get attention. I could have done it, but I just didn’t. I felt like the passion was gone.

My message was simple; think outside the box, inspire others, try to ignite a sense of rebellion in others, and make sure everyone believed in peace.

Anyway, let me tell you what I learned.

I learned that Zainab is the best writer in class, she is just phenomenal and should get a book deal right now! I learned that Shrimpy is the funniest and strongest woman I’ve ever met, seriously, all jokes aside she is going to rule a country; just watch it happen.

I learned that Abdullah fights for what he wants, and that he is more of a strong black woman than Oprah (now watch him snap after reading this and you’ll see my point). I learned that Amina is full of grace and that she will make a great teacher one day.

I learned that Dana is hardworking, Duha is determined and creative, and that Wasan has the most beautiful positive energy I’ve ever encountered.

Marina and Maria I learned that one day they will become strong Egyptian women, who will stand up for women in Egypt and make a change.

And finally, I learned that Farah is truly full of passion. But gurl, seriously, gurl..Don’t write poetry again, it’s just not your thing. I’m kidding I love you!

Finally, I learned that Ms. Dima housed us all in a small classroom and opened the platform for us to appreciate each other for what we really are. I hope that you one day you get to meet the moon.

Fake Happiness

Yesterday, journalists of 2013 presented their work in front of the juries in the screening room. Until the last moment, I did not realize what is happening around me and the fact that we submitted our 2 months work. In three hours’ session, all the class screened their work.

It is true that we became free of a major burden, but after I thought of it, I got a bit depressed. I wasted two months of my life working mainly on the capstone. I did not go home; I was isolated from the world around me only to present my capstone in 10 minutes to the audience.

Does it deserve??? Even I would be happy after the juries admire my graduating project, how important the complements are??

Many things happened around me that I  did not know about. War in Syria got escalated and I did not watch the news. Everyday, many people are killed and I wake up to go to the lab to work while others wake-up on the sound of the bombs. My goal was to finish my project while other children, women and men in Syria aim to have one more day in life before their homes collapse on them.

What can I say more than this,,?? How materialistic I became and for the sake of what?? And why the environment around us try to make us busy with school work all the time, letting us forget about what is happening. Should not discussions about serious and sever things become open and regular. Should not our project aim to deliver a certain needed message beyond entertainment? 

What did I do except working in this documentary..on the level of the things I like, Art Dubai which I was waiting for one year ago passed and I attended no exhibitions!!! WHY ??

 Okay, I am giving a kind if an example that may seem ridiculous but touches upon a desire I planned to achieve. 

It is bad .. life should have a meaning and purpose and I should work on this belief. To accomplish this, I think I need to stop worrying too much because it is restricting me from everything where I have a hard time with regard to the things I like, hate and duties.

International Dark :)

The loud music was shaking the whole AUD and specifically, C building where we were editing our capstone projects. It was Thursday and theoretically, we were supposed to rest and have fun at that day. Most importantly, it was the international night in which AUD got crowded by visitors from outside the university who came attend the event. We, seniors, were trapped in the LABS working and unable to take the lift to go down to attend this event, which takes place once a year. I do not want to generalize, but may did not go. I do not want to generalize again, me and Farah were not able to watch the event as the others did.

The capstone work was so stressful and we had to adjust many things. Each one says a different thing and I was not able to take a final decision as a director, ironically. I was not happy and convinced about the timeline I have and I though the project needs lots of work to be polished. Mrs. Maya Hojeij, our capstone professor, asked me to go take a rest and leave Farah to edit with a fresh approach without my interference.

I did what was requested from me and left Farah peacefully where by the left, I became in the international nigh or “dark” as I want to call it. All people surrounding me were happy and excited, exactly unlike me. I felt it is a meaningful event. One reason may refer the fact that all my friends were participating in the event. So I felt I would not enjoy it by walking alone though my other friends were wandering in the event as well. I was moody and wanted to walk with certain people J

I saw a friend who was working at AUD before and left it to work in another place. Seeing Hiba revived me a bit since I had a good connection with her.

My Sudanese friends made an interesting Sudanese performance on the stage who I were proud of. After it ended, they came down the stage and I congratulated them. I wandered around the small tents made for each country and seeing the people around me made feel more depressed. actually , I had a bad mood at that day, so everything seemed irritating to me!

20 minutes and I went back to my room in the dorms. After 10 minutes, I went back to the lab to see the edited timeline that Farah was working on. I disagreed with her with regard to its organization and we went into discussion about some points as usual.

By that time, it became 10 and Farah and I left that lab, but we went back to the event and had a quick look around the place. I took some photos for Farah and the last photos marked the end of the event for us since she left and I went back to  the dorms to complete my work.

Om, utilitarianism ethics revolve around bringing the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people. But, what about the minority… either all happiness or all sadness,,, either all black or all white,,, the equation is not balanced and one side should be adjusted to equal the other mathematically, but not necessarily as a rule in life.