When I heard about the 2016 Student Leader Global Summit, I knew this will be a life changing experience due to the level of professionalism I envisioned in it. Of course expectations were high than ever before.  I couldn’t wait to go.  Finally the day came and I had to board the plane but I was asking myself, What would you tell people Libia if you were asked to do that? Having in mind that I will be meeting highly educated leaders from across the globe, I did not easily come up with an answer to that question. But of course there are issues that I am concerned about and I think that is what leaders are supposed to do (being answers instead of questions). I was also excited to go see the McGill University which accepted me in 2014. I indecisively disappointed McGill but now not ashamed by that. Looking forward to meet my brothers and sisters who go to McGill the joy filled my heart.  Getting to McGill the weather was so different; it was ten times colder than I thought. But I was too excited for my first experience in a global summit and seeing my friends I haven’t seen in two years.  The first morning of the conference came and I headed to the conference tower expecting to see thousands of people in a big room or a theater or something that looks more like unusual. But I was disappointed to see only 26 people in a relatively small room waiting for me and I told myself this is not what I have been imagining. But I was not right; I judged a book by its cover. I was in shock until the president of ACPA came in and introduced the conference and left. Apparently he did that in more than 10 rooms where promising students and educators were attending their small workshops downstairs but I had no idea at that time. 

Later on, we started the workshops with a group of three educators and I will never forget, the courage, knowledge and care they had. It was so inspirational to the extent that even people were extremely tired due to long flights were focused like there is an exam right after the meeting, everybody stayed awake for 3 hours without showing any indications of boredom. What did they use that touched student’s hearts? They know what it is to be a student, to be a student leader and to be different. They spoke to our heart. It was important for me to know that leadership itself does not have a universal definition like economics instead leadership is situational. However, there is values that are fundamental in leaderships, these include but not limited to better communication, awareness of self as a leader, awareness of others, collaboration and courageous action. It also crucial to mention that leadership is about serving people not what you expect from them and leadership is not what you do in the office Monday to Friday because true leaders lead 365 days a year. The people you are serving might not be perfect because if they were perfect they would not need you in life. Johann wrote a quote that will always guide my behaviors and I am sure if I don’t deviate from it, I will be what I want to be. “Treat people as if they were what they are ought to be and you will help them become what they are capable of becoming”. This quote implies two important things. One people have enormous capabilities hidden but different constraint in life obscure them. Second, respect everyone no matter what he/ she is.  This also reflect to one of the well known sentence “Manners will take you where money cannot” , it implies that it’s not about how much you are worth because money cannot buy everything in life. My biggest take away from the conference was nonverbal communication though I have listened to people talk about it before I have never deeply understood how much nonverbal communication is very important. knowing that  more than 90% of what we communicate are usually through signs and tones. I learned how to create a voice for others because when you are in a team there are many Talents, abilities, gifts and skills (TAGS) hidden among your colleagues so as leader use them. The last but not least is this: Information+ application equal transformation, all we say might mean nothing if we do not apply in everyday life.

Thank you for your time!