Dubai: Students were inspired to follow their dreams after Ben Southall, winner of the ‘best job in the world,' paid a visit to the Dubai Men's College (DMC) last week.
Southall landed the ‘best job in the world' out of almost 35,000 applicants from around the world, who submitted one minute YouTube videos as entries.
Under a A$1 million marketing campaign launched by the Tourism Board of Queensland, Australia, 34-year-old Southall took up his duties as Island Caretaker on July 1, 2009.
The six-month post for a salary of A$150,000 (Dh510,000) consisted of exploring the islands of the Great Barrier Reef and reporting on them through regular blog posts.
"I'd done the standard thing most people do in England, which is go to school, college, then university. After that they get a job, get married, have children and that's it really, their life is finished," the Briton said.
"I just wanted to do something different, I'd gotten my engineering degree, but I didn't use that straight away," he added.
For Nadine Al Mazroui, film and broadcast student at Zayed University, Southall's words hit home.
"It's true, there is more to life than going to university, getting married and having children, I used to think that way too," she said.
"The problem is we don't have access to get out into the world and explore like him, but maybe this will motivate us to do something in our own country," she added.
Currently working as an intern at a local television station, Nadine said: "The only thing to do is continue with my reporting and then going around the world interviewing people."
Anything is possible
"He showed me that if you are determined you can do it," Saeed Karmostaji said. The DMC business student said Southall's perseverance to emerge victorious amongst thousands of global competitors has given him a fresh perspective on life.
"He has showed me anything and everything is possible in this life. You can do whatever you want and if you have a goal and are determined, you will reach it," he added.
Before taking on the "best job in the world", Southhall drove around Africa and ran marathons to raise money for charity. He said he entered some of the most dangerous parts of the continent armed with a smile as his only weapon, from which Majid Ali derived some wisdom.
"Smiling breaks down barriers, cuts tension and unites people," Ali said.
— Follow Southall's adventures by visiting www.bestjobben.com
