![]() I met the most brilliant people, had the most riveting conversations, laughed about things I never knew existed and yes! I shook hands with the most powerful man in the world.ĭeena Adel Eid was born and raised in Cairo where she worked as a journalist for three years. ![]() Because here I am: one year later, in a reality that far exceeded my dreams. I guess what I’m trying to say is dream big, work harder. Obtaining the Fulbright grant was my proof that when you work hard, you will be rewarded. It took me multiple rounds of tear gas, speaking to victims of abuse, attending trials of strangers and friends, witnessing inhumane violence, dealing with hostile crowds, dozens of applications, rejection letters and more work, draining and exhausting persistence. It took me three years of hard work, tough career decisions and reporting on the ground when everyone else avoided the streets. I haven’t been just working hard in my classes throughout the year I worked even harder to get here. I’m not going to lie there were days that I wanted to give up because of how challenging everything was, but I didn’t.ĭeena Adel’s graduation day, Columbia University Let me tell you about the exhausting times, the sleepless nights, the stressful days (so stressful, in fact, that I collapsed and had to be taken to the ER during finals week), the hundreds of emails, the daily deadlines and the re-writes of the re-writes. We all boast about our accomplishments and share our shiny, smiley photos however, you rarely ever see behind-the-scenes. Make no mistake about it getting this degree was anything but effortless. It was a wonderful, enriching, surreal, magical and, by far, the most exciting year of my life. It was the Fulbright Commission letting me know that I received the grant that would send me to my dream city to attend my dream school: Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism. I was at a conference in Cairo when my phone rang. In May 2013, I got a phone call that changed my life. Last month, at least three of my dreams did: I graduated with a master’s degree in Journalism from Columbia University I lived in New York City (the capital of the world) for a year and not only did I go to the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, but I also received an award at the event and I got to meet Mr. ![]() The truth is dreams do come true, if you work hard enough. ![]() Was I still dreaming? When I saw photographic evidence of my encounter with Mr. Last year, I was in my room in Cairo watching YouTube clips about the White House Correspondents’ Dinner dreaming of attending it one day. Obama at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner ![]()
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