"Irrespective of different philosophies, the most important thing is to have a tamed and isciplined mind and a warm heart." Growing up First Generation West, I have experienced and encountered many different people,
             from different countries, with different beliefs, different challenges and
             different dreams. This has influenced who I am and how I approach
             situations. It has taught me how important it is to revel in our
             differences and educate ourselves rather than fear what we do not
             understand. It is this bigoted mind set that impedes society's ability to
             integrate cultures and benefit from their respective cultural riches. I am
             who I am because cultural diversity has enriched me through my travels,
             international sensitivity and living with foreigners my whole life.
             Spending my childhood and teenage years in London, I was exposed to an
             extremely heterogeneous society, primarily due to the close proximity of the
             European mainland, but also because I went to an American International
             School. This had a fundamental impact on my perception of other nations and
             their people, and enhanced my communication skills. Going to school with
             such internationality shaped my dominant personality. Fundamentally,
             internationality cultivates the individuality. Being a Christian Egyptian
             in London, I was driven to develop my individuality so to understand myself.
             Education helped me evolve into my identity. I was tenacious in my quest
             to be different, if not in the grand scheme of things, at least within my
             family. This meant that I have been, and continue to be, pertinacious, so I
             can prove to myself, and my parents, that my education is profoundly
             paramount to my personal growth. The love of learning has been instilled in
             me ever since I can remember.
             However, beneath it all, this is not why I am so passionate about learning.
             My desire to learn comes from wanting to bett...