[Music] [Applause]
but because I just had two hours ago
but because I just had two hours ago my final and last exam you know that
my final and last exam you know that
my final and last exam you know that feeling you have when you’re having the
feeling you have when you’re having the
feeling you have when you’re having the last exam and you just like come on last
last exam and you just like come on last
last exam and you just like come on last question that’s it I’m dying okay bye
question that’s it I’m dying okay bye
question that’s it I’m dying okay bye and am i right like it’s really an
and am i right like it’s really an
and am i right like it’s really an awesome feeling and I remember when I
awesome feeling and I remember when I
awesome feeling and I remember when I was I first came here in 2015 I came
was I first came here in 2015 I came
was I first came here in 2015 I came from Lebanon I wanted to do my masters
from Lebanon I wanted to do my masters
from Lebanon I wanted to do my masters in health sciences here at the
in health sciences here at the
in health sciences here at the University of Lucerne and I remember in
University of Lucerne and I remember in
University of Lucerne and I remember in December 2015 it was the first semester
December 2015 it was the first semester
December 2015 it was the first semester and I was doing my exams
and I was doing my exams
and I was doing my exams my very first exam actually and at that
my very first exam actually and at that
my very first exam actually and at that day I was already thinking about the
day I was already thinking about the
day I was already thinking about the last exam I will be having which is
last exam I will be having which is
last exam I will be having which is today that tells you how much I stress
today that tells you how much I stress
today that tells you how much I stress about exams but I also remember the
about exams but I also remember the
about exams but I also remember the reason why I wanted to pursue this
reason why I wanted to pursue this
reason why I wanted to pursue this higher education leaving my home leaving
higher education leaving my home leaving
higher education leaving my home leaving my family coming to a country which I
my family coming to a country which I
my family coming to a country which I still do not speak the language of I’m
still do not speak the language of I’m
still do not speak the language of I’m sorry about that and this whole
sorry about that and this whole
sorry about that and this whole stressful situation and being a student
stressful situation and being a student
stressful situation and being a student again education really helped me
again education really helped me
again education really helped me overcome a lot of challenges in my life
overcome a lot of challenges in my life
overcome a lot of challenges in my life but for you to understand why education
but for you to understand why education
but for you to understand why education and particularly like why I chose
and particularly like why I chose
and particularly like why I chose education to be my tool to overcome
education to be my tool to overcome
education to be my tool to overcome challenges in life I need you to
challenges in life I need you to
challenges in life I need you to understand or to know my story
understand or to know my story
understand or to know my story you see when
you see when
you see when I was growing up in my childhood nothing
I was growing up in my childhood nothing
I was growing up in my childhood nothing much happened I was an average kid
much happened I was an average kid
much happened I was an average kid average mom and dad five sisters and two
average mom and dad five sisters and two
average mom and dad five sisters and two brothers yes we were like a football
brothers yes we were like a football
brothers yes we were like a football team and nothing special happened
team and nothing special happened
team and nothing special happened everything was normal everything was
everything was normal everything was
everything was normal everything was standard I do remember one thing which
standard I do remember one thing which
standard I do remember one thing which that I had a terrible haircut I don’t
that I had a terrible haircut I don’t
that I had a terrible haircut I don’t know how my mom thought it was like a
know how my mom thought it was like a
know how my mom thought it was like a thing I had a terrible haircut for like
thing I had a terrible haircut for like
thing I had a terrible haircut for like five years and my childhood short bangs
five years and my childhood short bangs
five years and my childhood short bangs from the front short back hair I looked
from the front short back hair I looked
from the front short back hair I looked like a mushroom from the Super Mario
like a mushroom from the Super Mario
like a mushroom from the Super Mario games I have a picture for you yeah can
games I have a picture for you yeah can
games I have a picture for you yeah can you tell which one is me how could she
you tell which one is me how could she
you tell which one is me how could she ever I don’t know but the thing is it
ever I don’t know but the thing is it
ever I don’t know but the thing is it was till the age of 12 years old that
was till the age of 12 years old that
was till the age of 12 years old that things started happening in my life I
things started happening in my life I
things started happening in my life I remember one day it was an afternoon I
remember one day it was an afternoon I
remember one day it was an afternoon I had my backpack I was walking my way
had my backpack I was walking my way
had my backpack I was walking my way back home I was four minutes away from
back home I was four minutes away from
back home I was four minutes away from home and I was just going back and I saw
home and I was just going back and I saw
home and I was just going back and I saw this man behind me you know when you’re
this man behind me you know when you’re
this man behind me you know when you’re a kid you don’t think about it who’s
a kid you don’t think about it who’s
a kid you don’t think about it who’s walking behind you in front of you next
walking behind you in front of you next
walking behind you in front of you next to view even now no one thinks about it
to view even now no one thinks about it
to view even now no one thinks about it who cares who’s walking behind me or
who cares who’s walking behind me or
who cares who’s walking behind me or next to me but somehow that man managed
next to me but somehow that man managed
next to me but somehow that man managed to come really close to me and he
to come really close to me and he
to come really close to me and he managed to put his hands on my shoulder
managed to put his hands on my shoulder
managed to put his hands on my shoulder and to hope grabbed me very hard and
and to hope grabbed me very hard and
and to hope grabbed me very hard and when I turned that turned around to see
when I turned that turned around to see
when I turned that turned around to see who is he maybe he’s someone I knew but
who is he maybe he’s someone I knew but
who is he maybe he’s someone I knew but I found out that he had his pants and
I found out that he had his pants and
I found out that he had his pants and his underwear pulled down at that moment
his underwear pulled down at that moment
his underwear pulled down at that moment I didn’t know what to think or what
I didn’t know what to think or what
I didn’t know what to think or what should I do
should I do
should I do I stood still for a solid minute not
I stood still for a solid minute not
I stood still for a solid minute not knowing what should I do
knowing what should I do
knowing what should I do until I managed to push him away from me
until I managed to push him away from me
until I managed to push him away from me and to run I ran full speed away from
and to run I ran full speed away from
and to run I ran full speed away from him I didn’t look backwards I didn’t
him I didn’t look backwards I didn’t
him I didn’t look backwards I didn’t want to know if he was running behind
want to know if he was running behind
want to know if he was running behind I didn’t want to see it I was four
I didn’t want to see it I was four
I didn’t want to see it I was four minutes away from home but because I was
minutes away from home but because I was
minutes away from home but because I was so scared I ran and I didn’t even see my
so scared I ran and I didn’t even see my
so scared I ran and I didn’t even see my home I ran past my home and after 15
home I ran past my home and after 15
home I ran past my home and after 15 minutes of running I realized oh I
minutes of running I realized oh I
minutes of running I realized oh I missed my home I need to come back I was
missed my home I need to come back I was
missed my home I need to come back I was so scared that man took away my
so scared that man took away my
so scared that man took away my childhood and my innocence from me
childhood and my innocence from me
childhood and my innocence from me and I didn’t know what to do I wasn’t in
and I didn’t know what to do I wasn’t in
and I didn’t know what to do I wasn’t in control of that situation I was a victim
control of that situation I was a victim
control of that situation I was a victim in the age of 14 years old a war started
in the age of 14 years old a war started
in the age of 14 years old a war started in my country not in the entire country
in my country not in the entire country
in my country not in the entire country but in specific regions of my country
but in specific regions of my country
but in specific regions of my country and I happen to live in those regions I
and I happen to live in those regions I
and I happen to live in those regions I didn’t belong nor my family did ever
didn’t belong nor my family did ever
didn’t belong nor my family did ever belong to a specific political party
belong to a specific political party
belong to a specific political party nothing we were neutral we don’t
nothing we were neutral we don’t
nothing we were neutral we don’t understand politics we don’t speak
understand politics we don’t speak
understand politics we don’t speak politics we don’t want any type of war
politics we don’t want any type of war
politics we don’t want any type of war who would want war and I remember that
who would want war and I remember that
who would want war and I remember that when the worst started we remained home
when the worst started we remained home
when the worst started we remained home we didn’t move because we we are not
we didn’t move because we we are not
we didn’t move because we we are not part of it so why should we run but I
part of it so why should we run but I
part of it so why should we run but I remember the very first bomb hitting a
remember the very first bomb hitting a
remember the very first bomb hitting a nearby building of our house we were
nearby building of our house we were
nearby building of our house we were home my sister’s my brother is my mom
home my sister’s my brother is my mom
home my sister’s my brother is my mom and my dad and when we when we heard it
and my dad and when we when we heard it
and my dad and when we when we heard it we just ran all over the house we were
we just ran all over the house we were
we just ran all over the house we were screaming we were crying we were yelling
screaming we were crying we were yelling
screaming we were crying we were yelling we were so afraid we wanted to reach a
we were so afraid we wanted to reach a
we were so afraid we wanted to reach a room that had no glasses in it or
room that had no glasses in it or
room that had no glasses in it or windows because we were afraid the
windows because we were afraid the
windows because we were afraid the pressure that the bomb creates would
pressure that the bomb creates would
pressure that the bomb creates would shatter the glass all over us and we
shatter the glass all over us and we
shatter the glass all over us and we were sitting on the floor I wanted to
were sitting on the floor I wanted to
were sitting on the floor I wanted to tell them that I’m scared that I needed
tell them that I’m scared that I needed
tell them that I’m scared that I needed help but I couldn’t because they were
help but I couldn’t because they were
help but I couldn’t because they were scared as well and watching your family
scared as well and watching your family
scared as well and watching your family your whole family afraid and you can’t
your whole family afraid and you can’t
your whole family afraid and you can’t do anything about it and you’re not in
do anything about it and you’re not in
do anything about it and you’re not in control of the situation
control of the situation
control of the situation and you obviously didn’t decide for this
and you obviously didn’t decide for this
and you obviously didn’t decide for this situation to happen to you war just
situation to happen to you war just
situation to happen to you war just brings defeat instruction and it brings
brings defeat instruction and it brings
brings defeat instruction and it brings the worst in people
the worst in people
the worst in people and I get to experience that the
and I get to experience that the
and I get to experience that the following week we had to run away from
following week we had to run away from
following week we had to run away from home and I remember my mom and my
home and I remember my mom and my
home and I remember my mom and my sisters and my brothers half of them
sisters and my brothers half of them
sisters and my brothers half of them they were getting in a car and I was
they were getting in a car and I was
they were getting in a car and I was getting into a different car and I
getting into a different car and I
getting into a different car and I remember at that moment thinking oh my
remember at that moment thinking oh my
remember at that moment thinking oh my god what if a bomb hits them when we’re
god what if a bomb hits them when we’re
god what if a bomb hits them when we’re driving away well I see the bomb hit
driving away well I see the bomb hit
driving away well I see the bomb hit their car oh I see my mom will they die
their car oh I see my mom will they die
their car oh I see my mom will they die will I die what will happen to me where
will I die what will happen to me where
will I die what will happen to me where are we going even I didn’t know anything
are we going even I didn’t know anything
are we going even I didn’t know anything again I was victimized
again I was victimized
again I was victimized I was completely afraid the situation
I was completely afraid the situation
I was completely afraid the situation wasn’t mine to take control of it wasn’t
wasn’t mine to take control of it wasn’t
wasn’t mine to take control of it wasn’t my decision and I had absolutely no
my decision and I had absolutely no
my decision and I had absolutely no power over it and that was it I was like
power over it and that was it I was like
power over it and that was it I was like this is the worst thing that could
this is the worst thing that could
this is the worst thing that could happen to me seriously like what’s worse
happen to me seriously like what’s worse
happen to me seriously like what’s worse than war right
than war right
than war right what could ever happen after this I was
what could ever happen after this I was
what could ever happen after this I was wrong at the age of 18 I was with my
wrong at the age of 18 I was with my
wrong at the age of 18 I was with my sister’s two sisters and a friend of
sister’s two sisters and a friend of
sister’s two sisters and a friend of ours we were in a car we had dinner in a
ours we were in a car we had dinner in a
ours we were in a car we had dinner in a restaurant and we were driving back home
restaurant and we were driving back home
restaurant and we were driving back home so my sister was driving I was sitting
so my sister was driving I was sitting
so my sister was driving I was sitting in the front next to her and my sister
in the front next to her and my sister
in the front next to her and my sister and our friend were sitting in the back
and our friend were sitting in the back
and our friend were sitting in the back as you can see it was a highway nothing
as you can see it was a highway nothing
as you can see it was a highway nothing can happen on a highway there’s people
can happen on a highway there’s people
can happen on a highway there’s people all over you all around you but there
all over you all around you but there
all over you all around you but there was a car or an SUV who tried to block
was a car or an SUV who tried to block
was a car or an SUV who tried to block our road continuously until they
our road continuously until they
our road continuously until they succeeded we were driving and they just
succeeded we were driving and they just
succeeded we were driving and they just blocked our way – man get out of the car
blocked our way – man get out of the car
blocked our way – man get out of the car with rifles and heavy machinery I don’t
with rifles and heavy machinery I don’t
with rifles and heavy machinery I don’t know what type of guns they
know what type of guns they
know what type of guns they but I know I was the long one it wasn’t
but I know I was the long one it wasn’t
but I know I was the long one it wasn’t the small one and one man came and stood
the small one and one man came and stood
the small one and one man came and stood next to my window and the other man next
next to my window and the other man next
next to my window and the other man next to my sister’s window and they had their
to my sister’s window and they had their
to my sister’s window and they had their rifles aimed at us they didn’t want to
rifles aimed at us they didn’t want to
rifles aimed at us they didn’t want to kidnap us but they did want us to leave
kidnap us but they did want us to leave
kidnap us but they did want us to leave the car so they can steal it
the car so they can steal it
the car so they can steal it I at that moment I was screaming and
I at that moment I was screaming and
I at that moment I was screaming and crying I was so afraid I couldn’t
crying I was so afraid I couldn’t
crying I was so afraid I couldn’t breathe I blacked out and I don’t know
breathe I blacked out and I don’t know
breathe I blacked out and I don’t know how but my sister managed to hit the guy
how but my sister managed to hit the guy
how but my sister managed to hit the guy and just drive directly full speed away
and just drive directly full speed away
and just drive directly full speed away from them but the story didn’t end here
from them but the story didn’t end here
from them but the story didn’t end here when she drove they shot at us and
when she drove they shot at us and
when she drove they shot at us and bullets were going through the car
bullets were going through the car
bullets were going through the car physically none of us got injured but
physically none of us got injured but
physically none of us got injured but the fact that after they shot us and we
the fact that after they shot us and we
the fact that after they shot us and we continued full speed driving away from
continued full speed driving away from
continued full speed driving away from them they drove after us they didn’t
them they drove after us they didn’t
them they drove after us they didn’t stop till we reached a military
stop till we reached a military
stop till we reached a military checkpoint then obviously they had to
checkpoint then obviously they had to
checkpoint then obviously they had to leave or they would have been get caught
at that point I was fed up I said I will
at that point I was fed up I said I will no longer be victimized I refused that
no longer be victimized I refused that
no longer be victimized I refused that this is my life I refused that people
this is my life I refused that people
this is my life I refused that people get to decide what happens to be I want
get to decide what happens to be I want
get to decide what happens to be I want to be in control of what happens to me I
to be in control of what happens to me I
to be in control of what happens to me I want to choose it
want to choose it
want to choose it I want to choose when where with whom
I want to choose when where with whom
I want to choose when where with whom and what is the thing that happens to me
and what is the thing that happens to me
and what is the thing that happens to me I wanted to choose they had their
I wanted to choose they had their
I wanted to choose they had their weapons I needed mine and at the age of
weapons I needed mine and at the age of
weapons I needed mine and at the age of 18 what could I have had and that’s why
18 what could I have had and that’s why
18 what could I have had and that’s why I really focused on my education that’s
I really focused on my education that’s
I really focused on my education that’s what it means to me it is my weapon that
what it means to me it is my weapon that
what it means to me it is my weapon that they cannot take away from me they took
they cannot take away from me they took
they cannot take away from me they took away my childhood they took away my
away my childhood they took away my
away my childhood they took away my innocence they took away my knowledge my
innocence they took away my knowledge my
innocence they took away my knowledge my understandings of things my experience
understandings of things my experience
understandings of things my experience as a childhood as a teenager they took
as a childhood as a teenager they took
as a childhood as a teenager they took everything there
everything there
everything there gonna take anymore because now I have my
gonna take anymore because now I have my
gonna take anymore because now I have my weapon it is a power it is a great
weapon it is a power it is a great
weapon it is a power it is a great strength that you can have inside you
strength that you can have inside you
strength that you can have inside you and really no one can ever disarm you of
and really no one can ever disarm you of
and really no one can ever disarm you of I don’t know what education means to you
I don’t know what education means to you
I don’t know what education means to you I don’t know how you overcome challenges
I don’t know how you overcome challenges
I don’t know how you overcome challenges in your life
in your life
in your life I really don’t but for me it was my tool
I really don’t but for me it was my tool
I really don’t but for me it was my tool it was my power my strength that I am in
it was my power my strength that I am in
it was my power my strength that I am in control of and my mom you know her eyes
control of and my mom you know her eyes
control of and my mom you know her eyes would seriously light up whenever she
would seriously light up whenever she
would seriously light up whenever she hears about someone may have made it in
hears about someone may have made it in
hears about someone may have made it in this world because of education she made
this world because of education she made
this world because of education she made sure that my five sisters my two
sure that my five sisters my two
sure that my five sisters my two brothers and I all went to school to
brothers and I all went to school to
brothers and I all went to school to universities to get that strength in us
universities to get that strength in us
universities to get that strength in us even my dad he used as a kid as a
even my dad he used as a kid as a
even my dad he used as a kid as a teenager he used to walk miles and miles
teenager he used to walk miles and miles
teenager he used to walk miles and miles just to get to his school who does that
just to get to his school who does that
just to get to his school who does that for two hours a day just walk to get to
for two hours a day just walk to get to
for two hours a day just walk to get to school you see for people like my dad my
school you see for people like my dad my
school you see for people like my dad my mom myself
mom myself
mom myself we need this it’s not what the system
we need this it’s not what the system
we need this it’s not what the system makes us do it’s not what what you just
makes us do it’s not what what you just
makes us do it’s not what what you just go with it because everyone else goes to
go with it because everyone else goes to
go with it because everyone else goes to school and that’s made by the system no
school and that’s made by the system no
school and that’s made by the system no it is our choice and we need it because
it is our choice and we need it because
it is our choice and we need it because we need a force inside us we need
we need a force inside us we need
we need a force inside us we need something to help us overcome the
something to help us overcome the
something to help us overcome the challenges they disarm us of so many
challenges they disarm us of so many
challenges they disarm us of so many things we need a weapon that we can hold
things we need a weapon that we can hold
things we need a weapon that we can hold we want to be a moving power we don’t
we want to be a moving power we don’t
we want to be a moving power we don’t want to be victimized anymore I don’t
want to be victimized anymore I don’t
want to be victimized anymore I don’t know guys I would take seriously I would
know guys I would take seriously I would
know guys I would take seriously I would take hundreds of exams every day for the
take hundreds of exams every day for the
take hundreds of exams every day for the single for the rest of my life and I
single for the rest of my life and I
single for the rest of my life and I wouldn’t even be bothered about it I
wouldn’t even be bothered about it I
wouldn’t even be bothered about it I can’t I can’t change what happened to me
can’t I can’t change what happened to me
can’t I can’t change what happened to me and nor will I ever forget it
and nor will I ever forget it
and nor will I ever forget it but I do believe in what Nelson Mandela
but I do believe in what Nelson Mandela
but I do believe in what Nelson Mandela said and
said and
said and education it is your weapon it is the
education it is your weapon it is the
education it is your weapon it is the most empowering weapon that we can use
most empowering weapon that we can use
most empowering weapon that we can use to change the world but I don’t know
to change the world but I don’t know
to change the world but I don’t know really about changing the world but I do
really about changing the world but I do
really about changing the world but I do know that to me that my education is my
know that to me that my education is my
know that to me that my education is my power my weapon which no one gets to
power my weapon which no one gets to
power my weapon which no one gets to disarm me of nor take away from me in
disarm me of nor take away from me in
disarm me of nor take away from me in the end
the end
the end education is a power it is strength
education is a power it is strength
education is a power it is strength which you control
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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