Post by Reem Al-zuhairi

On 12/12/2023, I gave a presentation on the village of Al-Araqeeb in Palestine. Safe to say… it was a mess. My nerves were through the roof. Forty people in the room, and I could barely get my words out the way I wanted. But that moment stuck with me — not as a failure, but as a starting point. Fast forward a few months, and I found myself applying to be President of the University of Manchester Arab Society with two goals in mind: 🎤 Learn to enjoy public speaking (for real this time) 🤝🏻Lead as many impactful charitable initiatives as possible. Working alongside my Vice President Marwan Tahoun , and 18 incredible committee members, we set out to make ArabSoc more than just a society — we built a home away from home for Arab students in Manchester. Some proud moments from this year: - Partnering with the brand Arabesque, where all profits went to supporting orphans in Egypt. - Organising a charity hike to support the rebuilding of Hayfa Eye Hospital in Gaza. -Fundraising for our brothers and sisters in Sudan and Lebanon, amidst unimaginable hardship. - And one of the biggest highlights: hosting our Welcome Dinner in front of 350 people. Gone were the nerves. This time, with the right preparation and mindset, I found genuine joy in presenting. Of course, this journey wasn’t all smooth sailing. Endless late-night meetings, last-minute changes, and far too many emails to the University of Manchester Students' Union But every moment paid off because we were building something bigger than ourselves, a space that truly embodied our motto: “الأصدقاء بالغربة هم الوطن” Yousef Al-Anzi left behind big shoes to fill, but through his mentoring early on, I was able to ease into this leadership role with more confidence and direction. And now, after a whirlwind year filled with growth, purpose, memories (and a cheeky nomination for Fundraiser of the Year🏆) it’s time to pass the presidency to Abdullah Atassi To anyone who’s ever doubted themselves like I did that day in December: Sometimes the most powerful transformations start in the moments that shake your confidence. So here’s to leading with intention.