Leena Khalifa

When I first switched my major to international relations, I hadn’t realized that besides taking a completely different path for a career, I would have the opportunity to develop a unique and enticing university experience that would allow me to store memories for the years to come.  Over the course of my freshman year, I had the chance to interact with new people of many different backgrounds through events and conferences organized by the department and its students. Not only were the students that I had met warm and friendly, but also the department itself was always available to guide me whenever I requested assistance or needed it. It felt like I was a part of a new family. 

The international relations field of study and the department itself provided me with a platform to broaden my capabilities in research, public speaking and presentation skills through courses provided to us, alongside the ambience of the classroom experience. Moreover, activities and events hosted such as the American University of Sharjah Model United Nations, in which students from various places gather and participate in heated debate over contentious issues, helped me gain a greater fundamental understanding in the art of negotiation and provided me with a path to challenge new limits whilst having a good time. 

I have had so far a wonderful experience and I’m excited to store more memories as I progress throughout the rest of my college education. Although I’ve been only been around for a year, the atmosphere allowed me to quickly adapt and hence, feel right at home.