Reflecting upon my Systems Engineering experience at UVa

I write this entry as I approach the brink of concluding my academic career at the University of Virginia. This is indeed an opportunity for introspection and reflection with regards to the past four years and the future that awaits me after graduation. I believe this sort of reflection is beneficial so as to recalibrate my current strategy and plan ahead for the future. In retrospect, I must admit that my journey at UVa has been rewarding and self-fulfilling. I recall visiting Princeton University’s campus during my early formative high school years. The idea of living a college town with a historical legacy behind it appealed to me since. I worked ardently during my two years in the International Baccalaureate program make this dream crystallize.

Ironically, during my university application process, UVa had never crossed my mind. I applied to over twenty universities in the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, the United States, and Canada. Not one of my applications had been addressed to the UVa. Oddly enough, I sent my last college application to UVa on its official application deadline. Even stranger was the fact that my first acceptance letter arrived from UVa. When it came to making the final decision, I chose UVa over Hong Kong University at the last minute. What really motivated my decision were the American education system’s flexibility, interdisciplinary nature, and superiority in science and engineering.

Looking back, UVa has equipped me with a strong technical background coupled with linguistic, leadership, and interpersonal skills. My immersion into UVa’ rigorous engineering program taught me to think in a systematic and analytical way and the discipline and work ethic required to succeed in school, work, and life. Specifically, the Systems Engineering curriculum transformed the way I go about solving problems in any and every situation. I have learned to think holistically about any situation and to determine the different political, economic, and cultural forces involved. In every aspect of my life, I have learned to untangle complex situations, work with time and cost efficiency, and evaluate different alternatives to select the ideal scenario. The curriculum’s collaborative environment has allowed me to learn from my colleagues’ skill sets.

I would have to say that the most valuable experience with Systems Engineering hitherto has been my fourth year capstone project. This experience has allowed me to apply Systems Engineering’s concepts and methodologies in a real world setting that truly interests me. I have always been interested in improving the lives of communities in developing countries. The opportunity has allowed me to lead a group of students from diverse backgrounds and work with real stakeholders to address the water sanitation needs of an indigenous community on Guatemala’s Lake Atitlan.

Working on an engineering service project in the developing world has taught me how to provide technical solutions that are culturally sensitive to the host environment. This experience has taught me everything from the design of point-of-use water filters to how to actively engage our clients in a participatory approach. Most importantly, I learned the importance of sustainability of any engineering project to ensure its long-term success.

Where do I intend to take my Systems Engineering background? Ultimately, I aspire to succeed. This is a very vague aspiration, but it is the concept of embarking on any task and accomplishing it with distinction. I pray that my academic background has equipped me with the determination, courage, and discipline to excel in life and serve others.

Another Mystical Night With Z

In my moleskin planner, the 30^th of November stands out from all the other dates in its bright highlighter-fluorescent. I’ve been anxiously anticipating this day. Fortunately, I have had a lot to think about since to get it off my mind. Whenever a milestone appears in my life, my imagination tends to get the best of me, and I begin base my every move on how I am to face what I believe to be a turning point of my life. Tonight is a case in point.

Earlier this month, the University of Virginia’s secret Z Society clandestinely invited me to a recognition dinner. I did not know what to make of invitation. Was it an induction ceremony, would the guardians of UVa’s most revered society finally unveil their society to those invited, what had I done to earn their recognition? These were but a few of the issues running through my mind. I began to consider every single feat I may have possible accomplished in my life. Sure, I give everything I do my best shot, but I am not an overachiever. Could the Z Society read my intentions? Do they really understand my altruistic motives behind every miniscule task I pursue in my life?

Speculations aside, I decided to attend this recognition dinner with a clear mind and sincere heart. After classes today, I hastily biked home through Jefferson Park Avenue’s damp streets. I had less than half an hour to prepare for what my mind kept telling me was a defining moment in my life. Feeling a bit drowsy, I brewed myself some yerbe mate to arouse my senses a bit. I quickly shaved, splashed on some tantalizing after-shave, and oiled my hair with Mediterranean olive oil. The only other occasion when I’d be putting this much meticulous effort in my appearance would be my wedding night! I then put on some slacks, an oxford shirt, and the beige corduroy blazer I hadn’t sported in some time. A second later, I was out the door with Mozart playing on my iPod.

The venue was Michael’s Bistro so I decided to take the route that would take me through the Lawn. As I passed by the fences of the Lawn’s hidden gardens, I reminisced at how rewarding me experience at UVa has been so far. I’m going to miss dear old Uva.

Not surprisingly, when I reached Michael’s Bistro’s entrance, there was a salient sign with the words: Michael’s Bistro will be closed tonight from 6 o’clock to 8 o’clock. This was a sign that tonight was the night. As I walked up the staircase, I could already sense the mystic aura that surrounded this night. When I reached the top, I could see two tables lined parallel to one another with candle light flickering on each of them. I was one of the last guests to arrive and I had to peer over my fellow UVa students’ shoulders to find my assigned seat. At my seat, an envelop with the name “Mr. Allam” in elegant cursive awaited me. After taking my corner seat, I introduced myself and exchanged my greetings with Laura and Rachel, the two who sat by my side; they were truly endearing! We had a lively conversation the whole dinner; more about that later.

Without any signal, we all instinctively ripped open our respective envelopes. As I read the words on the paper before my eyes, I was moved like never before. Never have I been so appreciated and recognized for my efforts in my life. The words were almost divine. It had been as if God had written them. How could someone know exactly what had been behind every one of my intentions all along? Before attending this dinner, I wondered to myself, what could I possibly be recognized for? This letter recognized me for everything I had sweat over during my years at UVa, and there is nothing more rewarding than recognition by the secret guardians of UVa. The words of wisdom that the letter leaves behind for me will inspire me for the rest of my life. As much as I would love to disclose the words of this letter, I shall abstain this time around. Rather these are words worth treasuring in one’s heart…

Laura snapped me out of my dignifying trance by mentioning, “This is a letter worth framing.” I think down the road, this will be a letter that I shall treasure even more than my UVa diploma, since this letter speaks to my personal achievements, which I value more than titles, statuses, or awards.

In this lifetime, I don’t want to do good to be famous. I’d rather be anonymous.

After savoring our letters for a couple of minutes, an English professor sitting among us stood up to make an announcement. He was speaking on behalf of the “mystical” Z Society. The eloquence of his speech was flared the night with even more charm. He mentioned that service come in various shades, but its ultimate impact is one and the same: good in the name of honor and serving one’s fellow human. At this point, it all clicked! All of the words inscribed on UVa’s various buildings finally made sense to me. Every time I had passed the various epigraphs in Jefferson’s Academic Village, I had absorbed his words and implemented them. The virtues I had learned from Mr. Jefferson are honor, integrity, freedom, devotion, i.e. to name but a few. One of the sayings of Jefferson that have stuck with me to understand my purpose at UVa have been:

This institution will be based on the illimitable freedom of the human mind. For here we are not afraid to follow truth wherever it may lead, nor tolerate any error so long as reason is left free to combat it.”

This and many other Jefferson sayings have come to give me purpose in life. After clinching the speech with “…Mystically, Z” the English professor congratulated us earning a seat among him at this spectacular dinner.

I believe this recognition is just a taste of “what goes around comes around.” I believe in the end of time, call it the “hereafter” if you wish, everyone will earn the reward or punishment they deserve. This dinner was just a sample of it. It reminds me of the Quran’s words:

“On that Day will men proceed in companies sorted out, to be shown the Deeds they had done. Then shall anyone who has done an atom’s weight of good, see it! And anyone who has done an atom’s weight of evil, shall see it.”-Sura 99

I love it when I get epiphanies like this and everything in life intertwines together so naturally. For everyone else sitting on the table, we all seemed truly endeared by this moment in our UVa career. Most of us were third or fourth years. I could seem to relate to everyone of them on some level. Laura had a global experience like me. Rachel was a writer, reader, and had gone through the International Baccalaureate program like I did. There was another girl who had lived in the International Residential College like I did. With each one of these comrades, I believe I shared something. If it weren’t our past experiences, then I am certain it will be our future success and goodwill.

I ordered duck glazed dipped in pomegranate sauce over basmati rice and asparagus. It was truly delicious to say the least. Over our meal, we discussed a plethora of issues, but the one worth noting is the one I shared with Laura. She revealed that she is a Religious Studies major, so I decided to test my knowledge of religion on her. I thought I understood Christianity and Judaism before talking to her, but I found out that what I knew was very elementary. My perception was that both religions were mere diversions from Islam, but essentially all three religions belong to the same family. Laura revealed to me that despite the fact that we recognize the same prophets, our approaches to following their messages are very different. After exchanging our sides of the story, I realized that despite their same root, the three monotheistic religions branched out very differently. To my regret, the discussion was cut short. Dinner was over at this point, but I promised Laura to continue this discussion over a cup of coffee.

Overall, this deserves the speculation I previously had for it: a life-changing event. If there is one memory I am to cherish from my experiences from UVa, it is to be this night. And if there are words that will inspire me along the way, it will be those of the Z Society.

Beautifying the Mosque: A Jewish-Muslim Partnership

"Do you love your creator? Love your fellow-beings first."-Prophet Muhammad

Over this year, I've had several revelations that have led me to conclude that if one has an outlook based on love, peace, and empathy, he or she can make this world a better place. It is for this reason, I have become more active when it comes to pro-peace initiatives. Fortunately I have had the opportunity to push forth this agenda as a member of the Middle Eastern Leadership Council's (MELC) executive board. This is a very young organization whose aim is to better serve the Middle Eastern community at the University of Virginia and in Charlottesville. It is sad that many of its members have given up hope on this organization and have become inactive. I have seen potential and opportunity in this organization from the outset.

Every Friday, I have organized MELC Fridays, which is a lounge on the Lawn in front of the Rotunda. In the setting of Middle Eastern music, students interested in the Middle East gather over dishes of hummus, dates, and tea to discuss everything from Middle Eastern politics to culture, society, and personal life. In my opinion this project has been a great success.

I sought the opportunity to tackle pertinent issues through MELC, such as Arab/Muslim-Jewish dialogue. My opinion has been that we students should always strive to set an example for the world. We should be idealist and progressive since we are in an academic setting. I remember specifically saying in a joint meeting between MELC and the Jewish Leadership Council (JLC) something to the effect of:

"We shouldn't be thinking like the political idiots running our countries! We should base our relationship based on mutual respect. Hate will get us no where. Rather, if we work together to serve our respective constituents, we will learn more about each other and dispel any misconceptions."

During this MELC-JLC meeting I suggested a service project based on cleaning up the local Charlottesville mosque. Unfortunately the mosque here is in a very run-down condition. This was an ideal opportunity for us to work on a project that would serve the local community. Surprisingly, the JLC were the ones who really pushed for this project. I volunteered to manage this project.

After receiving an invitation form the mosque officials, I assessed the mosque's requirements and prepared of plan of action for us to execute as a part of the project. I was surprised to see how organized the JLC was in prepare its members and equipment for this event. On the day of the event, they were the first ones to be at the mosque. Even when it came to cleaning up the mosque, the were the most dedicated to the cause. I was impressed by the preparation, dedication, discipline, and work ethic of the JLC.

When discussing some issues with them, I discovered that the JLC has about 300 members at UVA. Apparently, Hillel International, which is an foundation that supports Jewish students worldwide provides them with services to be more effective on campuses across the world. After doing some research, I discovered that Hillel's mission statement is to "enrich the lives of Jewish undergraduate and graduate students so that they may enrich the Jewish people and the world." By providing them with the tools and means to become more efficient, Hillel is investing the Jewish generations of the future. Every university I have visited to date in the U.S. has its own building part of the university campus. I have come to revere the Jews for their discipline and organization.

Today, I finally saw my project materialize. After two hours of work on the mosque, we left it more beautiful and elegant than when we began. My father has always taught me to leave behind a place cleaner and more beautiful than when I go to it. We did every meticulous task, from raking the leaves to cleaning the gutters. I am grateful I had the opportunity to do good especially before Eid El Adha. Even though our task was merely cleaning, it was such an ecstatic joy to clean the a house of God. Muslim and Jew alike did their work with devotion. I believe it is at moments like these that we put our differences aside and submit ourselves as slaves to God.

After the clean-up, Alla (a friend of mine and the president of the Muslim Student Association) and I gave the JLC members a tour of the mosque. Its a small place, but we showed them the Qurans, the prayer lines, the Mihrab, and some Islamic artwork. Their curiosity was boundless and they asked us questions about how Muslims pray. It was such a gratifying experience sharing my religion with others. I believe that it is the duty of every Muslim to be an ambassador of his faith to others, even if there may be some friction between them.

At the end of the venture, both MELC and JLC thanked me for organizing this event. I refused any recognition because if it weren't for them, it wouldn't have been a fun experience and we wouldn't have gotten any work done. I have to say that this must have been one of the most gratifying experiences I have had at UVa.