Where did you go, and what program did you participate in?
I went to the Technical University of Berlin in Germany to join in their summer university program. I participated in the Blue Engineering course, which stands for engineers with social responsibility. The course covered a variety of topics that engineers are not heavily invested in, ranging from climate change to gender diversity, colonialism, power dynamics, and democracy.
Why did you decide to go abroad, and more specifically, why did you choose that experience?
Apart from the countless benefits that could be attained by putting yourself out there and experiencing new things, I have a personal story that influenced my decision. I come from a war-torn country, Syria, and I went through the experiences of being internally displaced to seeking refuge in other countries. I deeply believed there was a world bigger that the one I had lived in, and I knew that education was my only way out. Therefore, going abroad to further my studies was a goal I dedicated a lot of time, resources, energy, and effort to achieve. After coming to McGill, the concept of studying abroad became a key element to understanding human experiences, bridging communities, and building a network between different cultures. I wanted to go specifically to Germany because the Blue Engineering course resonated with me a lot and because I wanted to have an insight into how Germans engineered their postwar recovery.
What was the most interesting thing about the experience?
The most interesting part for me was Berlin, a city that beats with art, music, activism, politics, culture, history, capitalism, communism, contradictions, and extraordinary questions. Every day included a new inspiring story that would spread hope and positivity in my inner self. In Germany, I realized that an education that doesn’t influence better actions isn’t a true education.
What was the most challenging aspect of your time abroad?
We sometimes think we are doing the right thing, yet we are not, simply because we’re not aware of the other part of the story – we are not inclusive enough. It’s one of the direct outcomes I attained from the Blue Engineering course.
Any particular anecdotes that you’d like to share?
“The generation before you failed; environmentally, politically, social-morally, and spiritually. Our air and water are threatened not to mention the weapons that could destroy life on Earth today in minutes so graduates it’s now up to you, and I’m serious, it’s up to you to not repeat history”. This was part of the commencement speech of my graduation convocation at McGill. In Germany, I realized the fact that most of our current world problems are caused by university graduates. From being heavily involved in weapon development research during World War II, to having its students take social study courses as part of its curricula, the Engineering faculty of TU Berlin gives an example on how it’s our responsibility to raise awareness and take action whenever needed. A quote on the Berlin Wall summarizes it all by “Du hast gelernt was Freiheit heisst und das vergiss nie mehr” - "You learned what freedom means, never forget that"
What did you take away from the experience?
My exchange taught me to pay attention to power dynamics and to the importance of empowerment from a very small company scale to a country scale. It also left me with the realization that no matter how much I think I am aware of a specific situation, there could always be uncertainties around it that I am missing. I believe it is my duty to dig for these uncertainties and tackle them, whether on a personal or a professional level.
What advice would you have for McGill students who are thinking about going abroad?
Keep learning, keep rising! Take advantage of every single opportunity you encounter at McGill, and don’t let negativity beat you down!
What’s up next for you?
I graduated from McGill right before my exchange started. Going abroad was a great opportunity to take a break while learning and explore new industries. It helped me become international oriented so that I’m currently pursuing a career in the aviation industry!